The Anatomy of Domestic Violence & God’s Healing Power

Someone can be brilliant, educated, kind, and still be trapped in an abusive relationship that ends in tragedy. That fact alone destroys the lazy myths our culture repeats about domestic violence and intimate partner violence. I start with real stories of women killed by spouses or partners, then push back hard on the stereotype that survivors are “weak,” “codependent,” or somehow responsible for what was done to them.

From there, I dig into how media framing shapes what we notice and what we miss. When abusers are always portrayed as obvious monsters, we overlook the charming, successful, controlled image many perpetrators maintain. I also talk about how victim blaming gets worse for Black women through racist and sexist stereotypes that reduce empathy and protection. We connect these patterns to deeper history, including patriarchy and colonization, and we look at violence data that shows why home should be safe yet often isn’t for women.

The thread that holds it together is identity and purpose. I argue that trauma, control, and spiritual drift fracture the soul, and that true healing goes deeper than surface coping. Using Scripture and practical Christian teaching, I share how knowing God, staying rooted in Christ, and relying on the Holy Spirit helps us resist evil, renew the mind, and move toward real peace. If you’re tired of shallow takes on abuse, faith, and healing, listen through to the end and then share this with someone who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell me: what’s one myth about domestic violence you want to see die for good?

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Truth Drips | Motivational

Transcript

Welcome And The Purpose Question

Dina LaFargue Augustin 0:00

Greetings and welcome to another episode of the Drip Line Healing for Your Soul, a place where one can contemplate the relevance of life, the purpose of one's life, discover answers to some of life's most common questions about self, destiny, and God, and hopefully find solace and a sense of peace in a world engulfed with disorder, violence, and confusion. This week's episode is about purpose, about knowing God and overcoming the violence of the world through Christ. In past episodes, I have discussed the main human activity that seems to be a major contributor to the disordered violence and confusion we live in, and that was disordered sex, meaning how sex has been used historically to undermine our true identities. Now, it may be expressed through religious sexual rituals. Disordered sex may occur through the growth of patrilineal societies that have marginalized the role of women and children. It might manifest through the ancient practice of selling women and children for profit as objects, or even through modern-day sex trafficking, human trafficking, prostitution, and our own voluntary habit of engaging in sex for comfort and pleasure outside of marriage. I also focused on how our own lack of knowledge, our lack of self-discipline, self-love, and the fact that we self-medicate with disordered sex has helped us create a society filled with misogyny, marginalization, violence, meaning domestic violence in interpersonal relationships and other abuses of all kinds. I was indeed mortified recently by the multiple killings of women in my local community at the hands of spouses and intimate partners. One woman was a very intelligent, confident, and kind, and highly educated woman, the vice mayor of the city of Coral Springs in Florida. She was brutally murdered at the hands of her husband. Was she weak? No. Was she masking low self esteem? Highly unlikely. Was she the fault of her own death? Never. Another woman, a co-worker of mine, lost

When “Strong Women” Get Killed

Dina LaFargue Augustin 2:35

a cousin a couple of years ago by the hand of her husband in the process of divorcing him. Her husband lost it and brutally shot her to death. She was in no way a woman who lacked a strong sense of self. Another woman and co-worker of mine was attending school to further her education. Yet, she frequently expressed the fear of leaving her abusive husband because he had threatened to kill her multiple times if she left and threatened to take their baby back to his home country where she would never see him again. Well one day, she did leave. And soon after she was found dead in a grassy field. He fulfilled his promise. He not only killed her, but he did flee to his home country with the baby. She was a talented, hardworking, loving woman who had dreams to do more, and she was snuffed out. Neither did she lack a strong sense of self. Neither was she a codependent woman. Neither did she deserve all the abuses and the threats that she tolerated to survive. She was stuck. Let me say this, all abusers are not uneducated, and all abuse victims are not low-income, unmotivated, brainless women who feel worthless and who lack self-esteem. Psychologists and sociologists globally, mind you, most until recently were mostly men, have repeatedly labeled female victims of abuse as weak, codependent women who have lacked the means and self-esteem necessary to choose a better partner or to leave and not linger. With that in mind, let's look at what the outrageous and prejudicial views the world portrays about victims and their perpetrators in the media. How can we overcome if the media is perpetrating stereotypes and demeaning victims worldwide? In the article, Representation of Perpetrators and Victims in Media, Framing Harm and How Media Shapes our Understanding of Domestic and Sexual Violence states, a useful starting position for examining media portrayals of domestic and sexual violence is understanding how the media characterizes perpetrators and survivors. One of the most common depictions of an abuser used in fictional movies and television tends to be the greasy, brutish, and

Media Stereotypes And Victim Blaming

Dina LaFargue Augustin 5:15

unintelligent man who lashes out on his spouse, oftentimes under the influence of alcohol or drugs. While this stereotype is true for some, it is overused in Hollywood depictions of abuse. Abuse is often subtle and hidden and not out in public and extreme. This portrayal of a perpetrator and their behavior allows us as viewers to easily identify this abuse. In reality, the article continues, many abusers do not fit this narrative at all. Many exemplify charisma, intelligence, and affectionate qualities and make good money, are well off, and are skilled in hiding their abusive qualities from those outside their relationships. Again, this isn't true for all perpetrators, but the overused stereotype of sluggish and evil abusers can make it difficult for viewers to distinguish other examples of abuse, particularly in their own relationships or experiences. This stereotype also tends to have negative consequences on the perceptions of victims because they are oftentimes depicted as weak for not leaving their abusive relationship. This indeed fosters a sense of culpability for their abuse, which is extremely harmful and can lead to victim blaming. With such perversive stereotypes in society that go unchecked, I say, women carry the burden. But why is the responsibility ours to carry? Could it be that as colonization and imperialization grew, patrilineal societies also grew unchecked and morphed into chauvinistic, modern day misogynistic cultures that only nurture the male ego? And don't be a black female to boot. The insults and blaming increases dramatically being a minority woman. Now, why as women is our self-esteem, income, and education and mentality considered a factor for abuse? It's insanity and definitely adds to salt to the wounds of any victim. And I've been one. According to the article, "How Stereotypes Deny Black Women Protection", it says stereotypes that portray black women as too loud, angry, argumentative, promiscuous, lazy, and dishonest are often used to justify the high rate of intimate partner violence they experience. For instance, after Tori Lanez shot an unarmed black woman, the rapper Megan the Stallion, in the summer 2020, many publicly speculated that she brought it upon

Why Black Women Get Less Protection

Dina LaFargue Augustin 8:15

herself. How dare you? How dare anyone? Black women victims are perceived to be more culpable and receive less empathy than white women. The Jezebel, as well as the strong black woman stereotypes, dampened empathetic response some would otherwise have for victims of domestic violence. This is according to Brundage 2025. Given that our society does not see African American women as victims in the same way as white women, they are placed in a more imminent position of danger because they often have to overcome the extra hurdle of proving they're not at fault. And this is according to Lisa Martinson's report on domestic violence victims use of resources in Wisconsin. Now these theories and positions have always been an insult to any woman who has experienced violence at the hand of a man or been in any violent relationship. It is obvious that the world has not caught up to the reality of the problem. United Nations "Gender stereotyping OHCHR and Women's Human Rights and Gender Equality" article states, that whether overtly hostile, such as women are deemed irrational, or seemingly benign, women are nurturing, harmful stereotypes perpetuate inequalities. For example, the traditional view of women as caregivers means that child care responsibilities often fall exclusively on women. Further, gender stereotypes compounded and intersecting with other stereotypes have disproportionate negative impact on certain groups of women, such as women from minority or indigenous groups, women with disabilities, women from lower caste groups, or with lower economic status, such as migrant women. In the article "Thinking Otherwise, Theorizing the Colonial Modern Gender System in Africa ", Boris and Beltort write, patriarchy became accepted in African cultures and solidified the subjugation of women in Africa. According to scholars, patriarchy can be thought of as an ideology or political system where men direct women on what roles they shall or shall not play in society, and women are thought of as inferior to men. Yet, mind you, patriarchy and patrilineal societies were not Africa's

Patriarchy And Colonial Damage Explained

Dina LaFargue Augustin 11:00

primary system of political and social organization prior to colonization. Listeners, hear me. We must understand who we are and who we were created to be. In continuing in the article, many matriarchal societies have existed throughout Africa's history where women played important roles and maintained social equilibrium. In precolonial Africa, there was no transition from matriarchy to patriarchy since the social structure was fundamentally matriarchal in that women held power, passed down property and lineage, and were the flexible party in marriage and sexual unions. This changed drastically with the introduction of colonialism. Coloniality of power illustrates how the power imbalance between men and women became severe with the introduction of colonialism. Now, mind you, before the pre-colonial system by Europe, the introduction and hostile takeover by Arab Islamists also contributed to the fall of matriarchal societies and the equilibrium between men and women. It was a culprit. It was a culprit in contributing to the downfall of women's safety and women's power in the male-female relationship. This cannot be ignored. It's not even a necessity to take a deep dive into Islam and colonial culture to discover and understand the disruptions and corruptions they both brought on to healthy male and female relationships and their interaction. This corruption spread globally, spilling into Africa, Asia, and the Americas. We must understand the true identity of mankind, men and women. We have an identity that we were created with that has thus become corrupted over time. And I will outline that a bit later. Violence is on the rise, and both male and females are at risk, although in differing ways. But I tell you, because it is men that are majority of the perpetrators, it is also men that are truly at risk. We must heal the male psyche, and we must know who we are as women and children of God and as men of God to help men overcome. Let me share some statistics. Women versus men in violent deaths in the U.S. In the United States, men are far more likely to be victims of violent crime overall, but women face higher risk from certain types of violence, especially intimate partner violence. Overall violent crime victimization states that from 2015 to 2026, men accounted for about 507,000 violent crime victims compared to 473,000 female victims in 2025. And this is according to ConsumersShield.com. This

The Numbers Behind Intimate Partner Homicide

Dina LaFargue Augustin 14:30

pattern has been consistent with men more often targeted in aggravated assault, robbery, and homicide, while women are disproportionately affected by rape. Homicide rates in 2024, the FBI reported 12,144 male murder victims and 3,538 female murder victims. This means men are roughly three times more likely to be killed in a homicide than women. However, the nature of these homicides differs significantly. Gender-specific homicide patterns. Men, most male homicides, occur outside the home. This is important. They are committed by an acquaintance or friends that are more likely to involve firearms or stabbing injuries. Women, most female homicides, occur inside the home, almost always by an intimate partner, 62.7% of the cases. Women are more often killed by blunt force trauma, strangulation or asphyxiation, and are less likely to be killed by firearms. Now, even though that might be the case, it's still alarming. Femicide context. Femicide is the killing of women because they are women. It is a major concern in the US, where about three women are killed by an intimate partner every day. Globally, the U.S. ranks 34th for intentional female homicides at 2.6 per 100,000 women. Key takeaways. Well, in 2018, 92% of female homicides involved a man the victim knew, and 63% were current or former spouses. Women face a higher risk of being killed by someone they know, especially intimate partners. The circumstances, causes, and perpetrators differed markedly between male and female homicides, reflecting distinct patterns of violence. But these differences highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies, public safety measures for men's higher exposure to stranger violence, and domestic violence intervention for women's disproportionate risk from intimate partner homicide. We are supposed to be safe at home. Home is supposed to be where we can live in comfort and peace, feeling secure and loved. But for women, it seems that it's not. According to "Victims of Violent Crime by Gender Trend" in 2026, society views males as more aggressive and violent than females. Violent crime statistics established that this stereotype rings true. Males are more likely to perpetrate violent crimes. Surprisingly, both males and females who murder an intimate partner tend to target women. Overall, 30% of female homicide victims had an intimate relationship with their killers, including two-thirds of women killed by other women. Understanding victims of violent crime by gender is crucial for grasping crime trends in society. The following data reveal how gender impacts victimization, focusing on how many women are killed by men each year and what percentage of domestic violence victims are female. According to Speakoutloud.net's article entitled or titled, "Are Women Who Live with Abusive Partners Codependent?" It says, blaming the victim is tantamount to abusing her. So I'm coming against the stereotypes of women being codependent, weak, or having low self-esteem. I'm also coming against the fact that uh many women are killed by intimate partners that are also female. And this is also due to the abuses and perspectives on men or having a male psyche or acting as a man gives power. These

The Myth Of Codependence Labels

Dina LaFargue Augustin 18:50

are all false narratives. Let me get back to the article. And I hope you're following me. Anyone who gives a codependent label to anyone who is living with the man who engages in a degrading pattern of psychological abuse and control is blaming the victim and pathologizing her. This label implies the victim has behaviors that pull the abuse out of the man. Yet, Jeff Hearn's in-depth interviews with male perpetrators shows, for example, that some men threaten suicide as a way of ensuring women do not leave them, and other men threaten to harm or kill pets, children, family, friends, and or the woman herself. Changing her values and integrity to avoid rejection or anger are often consciously chosen strategies of self-preservation used by abused and controlled women. Women I have interviewed, he says, would confront the man, avoid the man, lie to the man to get some freedom, be completely honest to the man to try to make him stop controlling them, become violent themselves, retaliate verbally, be passive or silent. Yet these women would secretly harbor knowledge of their true selves, whilst attempting a variety of behaviors and self-defense mechanisms that may have gone against their values in order to avoid or stop the abuse. These are not strategies of a codependent person. It is indeed dangerous, the article says, to give the codependent label to victims of intimate partner abuse. Codependence implies a lack of assertion, whereas if a woman asserts her opinions, needs, or rights to a controlling man, he could then engage in more or worse abuse to stamp out her assertiveness. It may therefore be dangerous for a psychologist or any counselor to coach a woman to assertively stand up to her partner. Anyone wishing to help such a woman should respect her reasoning for not asserting herself. The article goes on to state codependence implies women stay with violent and otherwise abusive men because they are attracted to being abused, like it and want it. Whereas in reality, women engage in multiple strategies to indeed stop the abuse, to help the man change, to protect themselves and their children, or to avoid being abused in the first place. It may be dangerous for a counselor to encourage a woman to leave. Social workers should honor women's knowledge about what will and will not keep her safe, and that might mean staying with the abuser for a period of time. It definitely means that multiple services are required to support the woman's safety and the family's safety, such as police, safe housing, and financial support agencies. But there is a caveat. Again, as I briefly mentioned, Domestic violence and inter-partner violence are just as prevalent in the LGBTQ community. Partner on partner crime among same-sex couples is just as prevalent, if not more. Hence, we have a problem. I hear many girls from a teacher state that they would rather deal with a female partner than a male to avoid all the control and manipulation suffered at the hands of their male counterparts. The Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime

Same Sex Domestic Violence Reality

Dina LaFargue Augustin 22:35

Prevention states for several methodological reasons, non-random sampling procedures and self-selection factors, among others, it is not possible to truly assess the extent of same-sex domestic violence. Studies on abuse between gay male or lesbian partners usually rely on small convenience samples, such as lesbian or gay male members of an association. Yet some sources state that gay and lesbian couples experience domestic violence at the same frequency as heterosexual couples, while other sources state domestic violence among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals might even be higher than that among heterosexual individuals, that gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals are less likely to report domestic violence that has occurred in their intimate relationships than heterosexual couples are, or that lesbian couples experience domestic violence less than heterosexual couples do. By contrast, some researchers commonly assume that lesbian couples experience domestic violence at the same rate as heterosexual couples and have been more cautious when reporting domestic violence among gay male couples. There are many reasons for that lack of reporting. Lesbian domestic abuse statistics source in 2026 on the website GITNIX.org, written by Stephen Wentz, states: "while society often envisions domestic violence as a man harming a woman, the staggering truth is that lesbian relationships experience intimate partner violence at rates equal to or even higher than heterosexual couples. A hidden epidemic exists. A hidden epidemic revealed by decades of data showing over 40% of lesbian women will indeed face abuse from a partner in their lifetime." So I say, understanding why people abuse is key. It says that we have lost our way. We have lost our identity. I have concluded that when people suffer, they lose part of themselves. When people are abused, many times they become the abuser or lose sight of self altogether and become something other than who they were created to be. They become a fractured soul, a shipwrecked heart. They become someone struggling to survive, and that struggle is masked in aggression. There's a fatal loss

Lost Identity Mental Health And God

Dina LaFargue Augustin 25:15

of identity in men and women today. And I believe the further we get away from God, the further we turn away from the truth, the more vulnerable we become to the attacks on our lives, the more we can become and the more lost we are. Let's consider the US. This is where I was born and live. Why are people enrolling in more self-help groups every year? Why are people seeking more methods to gain control of their life? Why are more people engaging in counseling more than ever? Why are people turning away from God more than ever? There are more atheists and agnostics in the U.S. than there were 20 years ago. On the website, Thehill.com, it is recorded that the number of Americans seeking mental health treatment is almost twice as high as it was two decades ago, reflecting a historic, recent decline in mental health, but also an increase in virtual care access and a positive trend in destigmitization. Yet in 2004, just 13% of adults said they have visited therapists, psychiatrists, or other mental health professionals within the past year, according to Gallup polling. In 2022, fortunately, that number was up to 23%. Despite this, I believe we have lost our way and thus lost our sense of identity. I believe because people are afraid to really go deep and really afraid to go within, to expose their true pain, we will remain trapped in pain and trapped in unhealthy relationships. Self-medicating will continue, and self-medicating only masks the problems. Counseling can provide only so much when we're not willing to go the length. We have to develop better coping skills, and even those are not enough when we truly need God, because God is the only true healer who heals inside out. Medicines mask coping skills, help cope what lies beneath. Or should I say, help us cope with what lies beneath. Violence among adults and students and children is on the rise. We see it in the news. If anyone is on social media or watches any news, we will know that children are killing children, children are abusing children, adults are abusing adults and children. Mental health issues are an issue. Mental disorder is all too common among families and children now. Many of these issues go unchecked and undiagnosed, and many people will never find the help that they need or the help that they get might only be superficial and temporary and will ultimately manifest in other ways if God is not considered. Even medical doctors now realize more than ever that many physical and psychological issues are results of spiritual and emotional problems. According to Harvard, research as to why more medical professionals are turning to spirituality in patient care states, medical professionals are increasingly incorporating spirituality into patient care because research shows it can improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and support decision making in both serious illness and everyday health. This is according to Harvard.edu's article. One, it states evidence of positive health outcomes - Large-scale systematic reviews such as the Harvard Chan School and George Washington University study found that attention to spirituality is a vital part of whole person-centered care. Spirituality is defined as seeking ultimate meaning, purpose, connection, value, or transcendence. These can influence quality of life, coping with illness, and adherence to treatment. These studies also link spiritual interventions to reduce anxiety, depression, and improved spiritual well-being. Two, the article states, addressing spiritual distress is a human right and should be seen as such. Experts like Christina Buchowlski emphasize that spiritual health is as important as physical or emotional health. Ignoring spiritual distress can hinder healing, so many clinicians now view it as a human right to address. Sadly, though, I state, belief in God in the U.S. is declining and statistics show it. Over the past 20 years, U.S. surveys shows a modest but consistent decline in belief in God alongside broader trends of reduced religious identity and practice. Hence, if medical doctors are going in the direction of spirituality and people are going in the opposite direction, we have a problem. Pew Research Center data indicates that while the percentage of Americans who say they have no religion has risen sharply from about 27% in 1996 to 59% in 2020, the share who still identify as Christian or religiously affiliated has fallen. This includes both those who believe in God and those who hold other religious beliefs. The decline is most pronounced among younger adults who are far less likely to identify as Christian or to say they have a religious belief than older generations. Barna's analysis of data from 2000 to 2025 shows that the perceived importance of faith has dropped by 20 percentage points from 74% in 2000 to 54% in 2025. Springtide's article posted January 21st, 2025, in "Data Drop, Religion and Spirituality", discusses the belief in God among youth. Now, while there's a slightly less than 50% amount of youth that state they believe in God, being Protestant, Catholics, etc., many others state that they just believe in a higher power or are atheists. And that's the problem. What is that higher power? Well, it could be in the form of practicing witchcraft or other occultic practices, which can be a dangerous thing, even though some may say there's such a good thing as white witchcraft. But no, there is not because all witchcraft is involved in manipulation of someone's life, whether it be for one's perceived good or not. So hence, believing in a spiritual higher authority does not mean believing in the one true God. We need to know who we are. We need to know what God says about us. And I will reiterate this over and over until it sinks in because even most Christians do not acknowledge the depth of the relationship that we should have with God or understand who they really are and how they should live their lives. So I say, one, we really need to know and acknowledge who made us. Two, we really need to understand why we were made. Three, we need to comprehend what that really means. And four, we need to operate as such effectively. We cannot afford to be passive and superficial, superficial about any of it. So first I'll address who made us? The God of all creation, the God of Jesus Christ, God the Father, the Son, being Jesus Christ, the Living Word, and the Holy Spirit.

Who Made Us And Why It Matters

Dina LaFargue Augustin 33:50

In Genesis chapter 1, verse 27, it reads, So God created men in his own image. In the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. Job, the oldest book actually written of the Bible, chapter 33, verse 4, the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Psalm 139, 13 reads, For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother's womb. And Colossians chapter 1, verse 16 reads, For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. See, I read many holy books and religious books representing other faith systems in the world, and I have not seen any that are as clear and concise and consistent as the creation story in the Bible. First John chapter 3, verses 1 through 2 read, See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God, and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved we are God's children now and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know when He appears we shall like Him for we shall see Him as He is. Point two, Why are we created? So I just addressed who created us, and now why? To know Him, to serve Him and to subdue the evil in the world and to operate in power. It's simple. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 20 reads, For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Hence, my listeners, we have a thing to do, and that is about doing good on behalf of and in partnership with God. Now what does that mean? Well, Romans chapter 8, which I suggest you read the entire chapter of Romans eight, verse 37 says, Now in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. And I say, conquerors of what, you might ask? Well, spiritual wickedness that seeks to obliterate God's good creation. As I've stated in previous podcasts, every religion in the world, unless you're an atheist, acknowledges that the spirit realm exists. And many people believe that of all the galaxies and stars and planets that exist, there must be life elsewhere. Hence, what are we to do? Well, we're to operate on God's behalf in this earthly realm on this planet to deal with the spiritual wickedness. And again, that's an entire podcast in and of itself. But John 10 10 states, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full, or more abundantly, as the King James reads. Ephesians chapter 6, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Hence, that can only be done by linking up with and acknowledging Christ Jesus as Savior, acknowledging that there is a God, and knowing that in God we have power and we have authority. John chapter 14, verse

Spiritual Warfare And Christ’s Authority

Dina LaFargue Augustin 37:45

6, Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John chapter 15 verse 4 says, Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Hence, we are created by God and for God. We were created in God's image to be his workmen on earth to overcome the evil forces that oppose God that dwell in heavenly places in the spirit realm. This may sound all too mystical for you, but if you again are a part of any religious system or have practiced witchcraft, you know that the spirit realm exists and there is power to be harnessed. And it's all about how you do that. You can do it with God or outside of God, but all power originated from God. You must know and acknowledge that good and evil forces exist outside of humanity. And if you are agnostic or atheist, you cannot argue my point. You have zero foundation to argue because you're in total denial of anything beyond the physical. We indeed do fight against the issues of life that manifest in the natural due to our own lack of relationship and adversary that takes advantage of our ignorance. GotQuestions.com's article puts it this way. Satan is our adversary. He sends all kinds of life-defeating, joy-stealing attacks to threaten the well-being and faith of God's children. Many of those attacks are listed in Romans chapter 8, verses 35 through 39. Remember, I said read that entire chapter. Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, and the sword. Paul is encouraging us to stand firm in our faith when those attacks come, reminding us that not only will we win in the end, we will overcome. Now truly, the entire world is suffering, not just God's children, but God's children do have a way out. We do have power, and we have a guaranteed victory. My next point is we need to operate effectively. So how do we do that? We need to operate in knowing who God is and who we are and what is at our disposal. We have power, we have weapons, and again, we have the victory through our position in Christ. The article in God Questions continues to say, but Jesus enables us to win now. Not just in the afterlife, not just because we have a life eternal, but now we do live in victory. We do have power over the enemy's attacks. We just have to know what they are and how to employ, deploy them or employ them. Satan lacks the power to steal our eternal destiny,

Armor Of God And Mental Discipline

Dina LaFargue Augustin 41:15

and he cannot separate us from the love of God right now. That's fact. Nothing we face worries God in the least. That's fact. If we are his children through faith in his son, then we have his pledge of love and protection. In John chapter 10, verse 27 through 29, Jesus said, My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. Here is the power. God's power. It's God's power. If we are in Jesus' hand, we have power, and it is to be utilized. It is to be accessed. It's not through yoga or tai chi or witchcraft. Its purest form and most powerful and honorable form is by the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. First Corinthians chapter 3, verse 16 says, "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? God's Spirit dwells in us for a purpose. First, it is confirmation that we indeed have given our life to Christ and we are joined with Christ. But it is more than that. It is the power to overcome, the power to pray in a way that overcomes the powers of darkness. It is the power that we can access to be comforted in our distresses. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 13 reads, Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand, and with your feet fitted t with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And in verse 18 it reads, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." That's powerful. It needs to be read and meditated upon over and over. Second Corinthians chapter ten, verse four, For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Hebrews four, chapter twelve, for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. We have to apply the word of God to our lives and in every situation. What does the Lord say about it? We must remind ourselves about what He says about how to live and how to live by it. We are to live in Him, live in His way, and work His word for our life's sake. James chapter 4, verse 7, Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Temptation only comes through our minds, listeners. Temptation can be rejected by our mind. Temptation can be overcome through our relationship with God who enables us by the power of the Holy Spirit who quickens us and strengthens us. God essentially becomes our strength when we are weak. Second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 7, By truthful speech and the power of God with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left. Yes, we have tools to overcome. We have a means to beat the enemy of our soul down, to beat down all the doubt and the negativity that fills our mind. Philippians chapter 4, verse 8 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. And that is the Lord. Think on the promises of God, the truth of God, the faithfulness of God, the character of God, the power of God, the omnipresence of God, the all-knowingness of God. Think of all of the depth and immeasurable power and love of the God who created you, who created everything seen and unseen. That is who we should think on instead of on what we cannot do, what we cannot have, and what people have said we are and what people have done to us. We have to turn our minds to Christ. We have to turn our minds to his truth. We have to remind ourselves of his promises and apply his word to our lives. That is how to operate effectively. My last point. We have to know God and accept Jesus Christ first as Lord and Savior. We have to know and acknowledge the Holy Spirit as our comforter, teacher, and source of power to overcome all evil. We have to utilize the gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate as God's hands, as his feet, as his mouthpiece, and his shoulders. We have to learn to think like him, to think as he would have us to think, to act as he would have us to act, to do as he would have us to do. And we need to apply sincere real faith that tramples all doubt and fear and trauma. It's not just believing in what Jesus did. It's not just believing that he is the Son of God and that he is God, but it's by applying his power and his love and what he did in life to our lives. It is about locking in. So I've addressed the things that we need to accept. We need to know who made us. We need to acknowledge and understand why He made us. We need to comprehend what that really means. We need to operate effectively, and we need to actively participate and be consistent partners with God. That's my fifth point. We cannot afford to be passive, we cannot afford to be superficial about any of it. As I said in my last episode, it's not enough to believe in a God or that

Activating Faith For Real Peace

Dina LaFargue Augustin 48:00

there is a God or a higher power without activating faith in the one true God. Faith is power. Matthew 17, verse 20. He said to them, Because of your little faith, for truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. Meaning, all ills get out of your way for you have the power of God going before you and dwelling in you, for he is a shield and your rear guard. His word in Hebrews chapter 11, verses 1 through 40 is powerful. Read that chapter. But it says, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Yes, the spirit realm exists. God exists, God is real, and we are made of him and by him with power. Romans chapter 10. So faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ Jesus, who is the living word. Romans chapter 5, verse 1. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace. We all want peace. A disturbed mind, a controlling mind, a manipulative mind is not one of peace. A violent person is not a person of peace. It is essential that we connect at a deep level with God, not a superficial one. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us to connect us and to intercede, to lead and guide and comfort us and to teach us. Got Questions article says, the Greek word translated Praying in the Spirit, because I suggest that praying in the spirit and being a spiritually connected individual with God. is necessary, reads, Praying in the spirit does not necessarily refer to the words we are saying, but rather refers to how we are praying. Praying in the spirit is praying according to the Spirit's leading. It is praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for. Romans 8:26 tells us, in the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. So it's not necessarily praying in a spiritual language, but it's praying from a place of connectedness with the Holy Spirit who dwells within if you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Many times we go through things so horrendous and so trying that we're at a loss for words, that we just can't express it anymore. We don't know exactly what to say or how to get through, or or what is exactly necessary. But relying and depending on the Holy Spirit is a game changer. Go deep. Life requires it. We can overcome all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. We do not have to suffer mental illness. We do not have to live in the grips of trauma despite the trauma. We do not have to live impoverished lives feeling like we don't matter, are unseen, and/or without purpose. All of that is contrary to the loving, living God that made each and every one of us. And if you feel born some type of way without a purpose or that you were in accident, or are born in the house of violence or negativity, hold on to the Lord God Almighty, because despite your circumstances and despite any wrong thoughts, all of it is contrary to the loving, living God. Again, you may be living in grief, you may be suffering from abuse and trauma, but I urge you to reach out to the one true God who loves you immeasurably and who will hold on to you with the right hand of his righteousness and never let you go. He will deliver you from the hands and grips of the enemy who has lied to you, who has infiltrated your life even before you could speak. Jesus has overcome the world and the enemy of our souls. He has overcome the one that fights wholeheartedly and with evil intent to steal our identities and all things good and all things that pertain to God. But my God, who is all powerful, not a created being, your God still sits on the throne and is waiting for you to call upon his name that you might be saved, that you might prosper. Domestic violence can be exterminated when we walk in knowing who we are. Interrelationship or inter-partner violence and domestic violence is unnecessary. It is a tool of fear that a person uses to fight and to control another. Domestic violence or any form of violence is a tool to manipulate and a tool to survive their own depravity. But when the love of God is allowed, when the love of God is welcomed in, then

Identity Healing And Ending Violence

Dina LaFargue Augustin 53:45

that love conquers every lie and every tool the enemy and the world has used to destroy one's psyche and own well-being. The devil is a liar, but God is the truth. And Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way to the Father. God is the one who fights for us when we are too weak to fight for ourselves. He is the one who never grows weary or tired. He is the battle axe that fights for us daily. He is the one that has given us life and the power in him to overcome any and all challenges of any kind. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12 says, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, joining and mirror and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Now I read that before, but it means whatever is wrong in us, the word of God corrects us. Whatever we have been connected to that is not of God, God will separate us from that. God's word overcomes everything. Put the word of God, the life of God, into your life. Activate his power and love in all situations. Know who you are and who you have at your disposal to fight for your well-being, to protect your God-given identity and life. There need be no confusion as to who you are and why you were made, or which direction you should go when you partner with the Lord God Almighty. Psalm 18, verse 19 says, He brought me out into a spacious place. He rescued me because he delighted in me. 2 Samuel echoes that same thought. God's personal care and delight for us is unending. He loves us no matter what we've done, no matter where we find ourselves, or how we are. Psalm 31, verse 8, you have not given me over into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place. See, God has a way out. We need not be tossed to and fro by the enemy. We can stand upon his truth, his love, and his power. We can rest assured that God loves us, believes in us, seeks to help us and guide us. God has equipped us and empowered us, and He is there to catch us even when we fall. He gives us clarity of thought and direction in all things if we allow him to do so. But we must invite him in. He is always right there waiting. We can know how to be effective through him. We must be effective. We must use what he has given to us and allow him to lead and guide us and help us even before we are conflicted or afflicted. He is our ever-present help in the time of trouble, and He is there before it even starts. He is our hiding place and our strong tower. Now I could go on and on and on about His unending love as he has demonstrated that in my life many, many times over, daily, every day, and through trying times. He is real. Access him and the power he has bestowed upon us. We only have to believe. He knocks on the door of our hearts daily. He seeks to dine with us and to partake in our life with us. He is the best friend we could ever have - a partner that is there forever. It behooves all of us to let Him in if we so desire a quality of life beyond measure and an eternal life of peace and joy. In closing, be made whole, be a man or a woman of peace by being in him, being locked in with him, be saved, and make Jesus Christ your Savior and thus be at rest. Truth drips.