Dirty Glass

Lord, Give Me Access to the Hidden Places

“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7

Have you ever looked at a beautiful glass window or display and noticed that something was wrong?

Recently, I came across a new double-screen display. It was designed to function like a television, allowing us to see what was happening inside and keeping us connected to what was taking place around us.

But there was one problem.

The glass was dirty.

I came prepared with everything I needed to clean it. I walked toward the screen and began examining the stains covering the surface. I thought, This shouldn’t be too difficult. I just need to clean it.

But as I began wiping the glass, I noticed something strange.

The dirt wasn’t on the outside. It was on the inside.

I couldn’t reach it.

I couldn’t wipe it away.

I couldn’t clean what I couldn’t access.

I realized that I needed a key.

Whoever installed the glass had never taken the time to clean the inside before sealing it. And now it stood in front of all of us—doing exactly what it was designed to do.

It reflected what was happening inside.

From a distance, it looked fine.

Only a trained eye would notice the smears, fingerprints, and imperfections.

And my friend, isn’t that sometimes how we are?

We come before God with everything looking beautiful on the outside. We worship. We serve. We smile. We encourage others. We show up.

But there are places inside of us that we have locked away.

We have allowed God to install what we think we need, but then we rush to lock the door of our hearts.

We say, “Lord, You can have this part of me—but not that part.”

We give Him access to our public lives but keep the private places locked.

We allow Him to see what everyone else can see, while hiding what only He can see.

But God is not fooled by appearances.

“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

— 1 Samuel 16:7

The screen couldn’t clean itself because the problem was behind the glass.

And sometimes, neither can we.

There are wounds, disappointments, fears, unforgiveness, pride, insecurity, hidden struggles, and places of pain that require more than an outside cleaning.

They require access.

God doesn’t want to simply make us look clean.

He wants to make us whole.

Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that the heart can deceive us. We can convince ourselves that everything is fine when God knows there is something underneath the surface that still needs His touch.

That’s why we must pray the prayer of David:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart.”
— Psalm 139:23

Not, “Lord, look at what everyone else needs.”

Not, “Lord, fix them.”

But,

“Lord, search me.”

Give Him the key.

Open the door.

Let Him into the places you have kept hidden—even from yourself.

Because what God reveals, He can heal.

What God exposes, He can cleanse.

What God touches, He can restore.

Sister, Give Him Access

You don’t have to be afraid of what God will find.

He already knows.

He knows the tears you cried when nobody was watching.

He knows the disappointment you never talked about.

He knows the wound you covered with a smile.

He knows the rejection you tried to forget.

He knows the places where you are still struggling to forgive.

And He isn’t coming to condemn you.

He is coming to cleanse you.

The question is not whether God can see inside.

The question is:

Will you give Him access?

Don’t settle for looking good from the outside while carrying dirt on the inside.

Don’t let the fingerprints of yesterday remain on the glass of your heart.

Let the Holy Spirit enter the hidden places.

Let Him clean what you cannot reach.

Let Him heal what you cannot fix.

Let Him remove what you have learned to live with.

And when He asks for access, don’t give Him a partial key.

Give Him everything.

A Prayer of Surrender

Father,

I give You access.

Not just to the parts of me that are easy to show, but to the hidden places.

Search my heart.

Reveal anything in me that does not belong to You.

Cleanse my wounds.
Remove my bitterness.
Heal my disappointments.
Expose the things I have hidden.
Wash away the fingerprints of my past.

Lord, I don’t want to simply look clean on the outside.

I want to be clean within.

Give me a heart of surrender, a willingness to go through Your cleansing process, and the courage to allow You into every locked room of my heart.

Today I say,

“Yes, Lord. Here I am.
I give You access.
Clean me.
Change me.
Heal me.
Use me.”

And when You are finished, let my life reflect Your glory—not just on the outside, but from the inside out.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Reflection

What area of your heart have you kept locked from God?

Today, give Him the key.

He already sees what’s behind the glass.
Now let Him clean it.

With love,
Ivette Diaz-Yee
August 11,2026

Contending in Prayer

 Contending in Prayer

Don’t Give Up the Fight

“Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.” — Hebrews 12:1

Contending in prayer means engaging in an intense, persistent, and focused spiritual struggle. It is not passive. It is deliberate. It is disciplined. It is standing in faith when everything around you is telling you to stop.

The word contend carries the picture of wrestling, striving, and exerting great effort. The Greek word agōnízomai speaks of intense struggle—giving everything you have. It is where we get the idea of agonizing or fighting with great determination.

There are moments when prayer is not simply asking God for something and moving on. There are moments when we must contend.

We contend when we are standing on the promises of God.
We contend when we are praying for someone who cannot see their way out.
We contend when the answer seems delayed.
We contend when we recognize that what we are fighting for is bigger than ourselves.

This is spiritual warfare.

We wrestle against spiritual apathy, deception, discouragement, the desires of the flesh, and the distractions of this world. But our fight is not against people. Our assignment is to stand in our place, partner with the Holy Spirit, and remain faithful to what God has called us to do.

“Let them.”

Let them do what they are going to do. Let them say what they are going to say. Let them make their choices.

“Let them” concentrate in your sphere; the Lord will take care of the rest.

Don’t become distracted. Don’t get sidetracked by everything taking place around you. Don’t allow what you see to pull you away from what God has called you to do.

Nothing is hidden from the Lord.

Everything is laid bare before Him, and one day we will all give an account before God.

So keep your eyes wide open.

Look for the one who has been left behind.
Look for the one who doesn’t seem to fit in.
Look for the timid one.
Look for the shy one.
Look for the new person who doesn’t know anyone yet.
Look for the person who is hurting but doesn’t know how to say it.

Sometimes contending in prayer looks like standing in the gap for someone who doesn’t even know you are praying for them.

Be willing. Stay faithful. Keep praying.

This is a spiritual battle—not for recognition, not for position, not for control, but for the souls of our people.

Don’t give up because you don’t see immediate results.

Don’t stop praying because the situation looks worse.

Don’t allow the enemy to convince you that your prayers are ineffective.

Your assignment is to contend.
Your assignment is to stand.
Your assignment is to remain faithful.

Let the Lord take care of the rest.

There are battles you were never called to fight in your own strength. There are people you cannot change. There are situations you cannot control.

But you can pray.

And when you pray, pray with faith. Pray with persistence. Pray the Word. Pray with love. Pray until your heart agrees with God’s heart.

Contend for the one.
Contend for the lost.
Contend for the broken.
Contend for your family.
Contend for your community.
Contend for the souls God has placed within your sphere of influence.

Then trust God with what you cannot see.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to contend in prayer without becoming distracted by what is happening around me. Give me discernment to see the ones who are overlooked, the ones who are hurting, and the ones who need someone to stand in the gap for them. Help me remain faithful when I don’t see the breakthrough. Teach me to trust Your Word, follow Your Spirit, and leave the things I cannot control in Your hands. I will contend, I will stand, and I will not give up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

Who has God placed within your sphere today that may need you to contend for them in prayer?

Ivette Diaz-Yee 

June 2026

What Hurst The Lord, Should Hurt Us

 What Hurts the Lord Should Hurt Us

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12–17
Luke 24:13–35 | Mark 5:25–34

A Lighthouse in the Storm

A lighthouse stands tall in the midst of storms, waves, darkness, and uncertainty. It does not move with the waves; it remains firmly planted, shining its light so that those who are lost can find their way.

God has called and chosen us to be light-bearers—not only in the world, but in our own homes and in the places He has entrusted to us.

We can declare by faith:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

But this cannot simply be words we speak. It must become a declaration lived out through our lives.

Jesus said:

“My house shall be called a house of prayer.”

Yet what happens when we take what is holy and turn it into something else?

Lights. Music. Stages. Audiences. Performances. Numbers.

None of these things are wrong in themselves, but when they replace the presence of the Holy Spirit, something sacred has been lost.

When sensationalism replaces the Spirit, when performance replaces surrender, and when entertainment replaces reverence, we have to stop and ask ourselves:

Have we become so familiar with God that we no longer recognize His presence?

The Lord walks among us, yet sometimes we are so busy, distracted, and involved with ourselves that we fail to recognize Him.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced this very thing. Jesus Himself walked beside them, but they did not recognize Him until their eyes were opened.

How often does Jesus walk beside us, and we fail to notice?

People are coming from every walk of life. They are coming from near and far because they have heard what God is doing. They have seen testimonies. They have watched what others have shared. They are coming hungry, desperate, and searching for something only God can satisfy.

Like the woman with the issue of blood, their faith is reaching for Jesus.

And when they reach for Him, the Lord will meet them.

That should cause us to tremble—not with fear of people, but with reverence for the responsibility God has entrusted to us.

Not Just Words—A Heart Posture

Lord, make us good stewards of what You have placed in our hands.

Let it be more than words.

Let it be a heart posture.

More than emotion—give us an attitude of surrender.

More than numbers—help us see souls.

More than a platform—give us a place of service.

More than recognition—give us a desire for Your glory.

What if we stopped asking, “How many people came?” and began asking, “How many hearts encountered Jesus?”

What if we stopped measuring success by what people can see and began measuring it by what God is doing in the secret places of the heart?

We are not called to serve as hired hands waiting for a reward. We are sons and daughters who understand that our inheritance is not found in applause, recognition, or earthly rewards.

Our inheritance is in heaven.

When His Heart Becomes Our Heart

Lord, open our eyes.

Help us recognize Your presence.

Help us understand that what hurts You should hurt us too.

Give us a heart that grieves over what grieves You and rejoices over what brings You glory.

Teach us to approach You with willing hearts and faithful hands—not because we want to be seen, but because we love You.

Lead us toward holiness.

Change us from the inside out.

Remove anything in us that has become too comfortable with what should cause us to reverence You.

May our lives become lighthouses—standing firm when the storms come, shining brightly when darkness surrounds us, and pointing others toward Jesus.

And when people encounter us, may they not simply see lights, music, stages, or performances.

May they see Jesus.

And through everything we do, may the Father receive all the glory.

Father,

Open our eyes so we can recognize Your presence.

Forgive us for the times we have become too familiar with You and have lost our awe and reverence for what is holy.

Search our hearts and expose anything that has replaced surrender with performance, the Holy Spirit with sensationalism, and souls with numbers.

Teach us to be faithful stewards of everything You have entrusted to us.

Give us hearts that are willing to serve, hands that are faithful, and spirits that remain humble before You.

Let what hurts You hurt us.

Let what grieves Your heart grieve ours.

Lead us into holiness, Lord. Change us from the inside out, so that our lives will point others to Jesus.

May our homes, our churches, our ministries, and our lives truly become houses of prayer.

And when people come searching for You, may they encounter not a performance, but Your presence.

In Jesus’ name,

Ivette Diaz-Yee 

Spring 2026