Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotion was written by Liz’a Biswell.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:10 ESV).

I recently attended a women’s retreat where the speaker focused on keeping joy abundantly in our hearts. I was eager for wisdom, but my excitement faded when she explained that anger often stems from pride. I wasn’t prepared for that truth. I became defensive, justifying my anger and refusing to see myself as prideful. At the end of the session, she asked, “What is keeping joy from living in our hearts?” I quickly wrote anger. The Holy Spirit nudged me to add pride. I wrote it, but I didn’t see it as my issue.

Since then, the Holy Spirit has revealed many areas where pride and even haughtiness had taken root. It was not pleasant—honestly, it was devastating. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Yet God has been gentle, patient, and persistent. His correction is love, protecting me and guiding me to lay down pride and anger. When I fail, He begins again. When I surrender, He exalts me, just as James 4:10 promises.

God doesn’t remove anything without replacing it with something better. If I want abundant joy, I have to lay down anger and pride. As I’ve done this, I’ve experienced peace and growth in my ministry. Our Father knows what is good for us, and we can trust Him.

God exposes the worst in us not to shame us, but to reveal our need for Him. When we face the truth of our sin, we also encounter His grace. Through His mercy, we begin to grasp His deep love. That love strengthens our faith and draws us closer to Him. This is how He makes us new—shaping us into who He created us to be.

May we choose obedience even when it stretches us, trusting that every surrender makes more room for His joy and His blessings. His way may not always be easy, but it always leads to life.

Thank you for joining us today. To learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com.