Author: Rooted & Raised

I’m a follower of Christ, learning daily to walk the narrow path laid out in His Word. Through Rooted & Raised: Anchoring Women & Children in Christ, I simply seek to point others back to Scripture, tested by the Holy Spirit, lived out in faith, and anchored in truth. ● This space isn’t about lofty theology or grand platforms. It’s about humble obedience, Kingdom living, and helping others, especially women and families, rediscover the kind of faith that bears fruit, costs something, and reflects the love of Christ. My heart is to encourage others as I learn, grow, and surrender alongside them. ● This space isn’t built on lofty theology or big platforms, it’s grounded in humble obedience, Kingdom living, and encouraging women and families to rediscover a faith that bears fruit, costs something, and reflects the love of Christ. ● I don’t have a budget for an editor, publisher, or team behind the scenes. Everything you see here is created prayerfully and paid for out of pocket, using the tools I can afford to help present a clear, polished message of truth and hope. ● If you're blessed by what you read and would like to contribute toward this work, you’re welcome to support via: 📲 Cash App: $RootedRaised
Devotions, Family Devotionals

🏡 Family Devotional — Day 99

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Fills Our Family With Joy”

📖 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
 —Nehemiah 8:10b (NKJV)

Joy is one of the greatest gifts God gives a family. Not the kind of joy that depends on everything going smoothly—but the kind that comes from knowing God is with you.

Families experience joyful moments and difficult ones. There are seasons of laughter and seasons of strain. Times of celebration and times of sorrow.The Holy Spirit helps families experience joy that remains steady through all of it.

He helps your family remember God’s goodness together, give thanks even during challenges find peace during stressful seasons, laugh without guilt, trust God when answers are delayed, encourage one another when spirits are low, keep hope alive during uncertainty, and draw strength from God rather than circumstances,

Joy in a family does not mean ignoring problems. It means choosing hope while facing them together. 

When the Holy Spirit fills a home with joy, strength replaces discouragement, peace settles anxious hearts, and unity grows even in difficult seasons.

A joyful family is not a perfect family—it is a family that trusts God together.

Talk About It Together:

  • What has God done for our family that brings us joy?
  • How can we help each other choose joy during hard days?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, fill our family with joy. Help us remember God’s goodness, trust Him through challenges, and encourage one another with hope. Let Your joy be our strength and Your presence fill our home.
Amen.

Devotions, Teen Devotions

👧👦 Teen Devotional — Day 99

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Gives Me Lasting Joy”

📖 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
 —Nehemiah 8:10b (NKJV)

Joy is often confused with happiness—but they are not the same. Happiness depends on circumstances. Joy is rooted in God. There will be days when life feels light and exciting. And there will be days when disappointment, pressure, grief, or uncertainty weigh heavily.

The Holy Spirit gives a kind of joy that does not disappear when circumstances change. He gives joy by reminding you who you belong to, anchoring your heart in God’s promises, strengthening you when life feels heavy, giving peace when answers are unclear, helping you trust God even when things hurt, shifting your focus from what is missing to what is eternal, guarding your heart from despair, and renewing hope when discouragement creeps in.

Joy does not mean ignoring pain. It means knowing pain does not have the final word. Jesus Himself experienced sorrow, rejection, and suffering—yet He walked in joy because He trusted the Father completely.

The Holy Spirit helps you experience that same joy—a quiet confidence that God is at work,  a steady hope that does not collapse, a strength that carries you through hard seasons.

Joy is not pretending everything is okay. It is trusting God when things are not. And as you walk with the Holy Spirit, joy becomes a source of strength, resilience, and faith—not because life is easy, but because God is faithful.

Talk About It:

  • What situations make it hardest for you to feel joyful?
  • How can the Holy Spirit help you hold onto joy even during difficult seasons?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank You for giving me lasting joy.  When life feels heavy, strengthen my heart.
Help me trust God’s promises and find joy that does not depend on circumstances. Fill me with hope, peace, and confidence in You.
Amen.

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Women’s Devotional — Day 99

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Anchors My Joy in God”

📖 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
 —Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

Joy is often misunderstood—especially for women who carry much. You may faithfully serve, endure quietly, and press forward while carrying grief, weariness, disappointment, or unanswered prayers. And in those seasons, joy can feel distant—almost inappropriate. But biblical joy is not denial. It is not emotional brightness. It is not pretending everything is okay. Joy is anchored hope.And the Holy Spirit is the One who anchors it.

The Holy Spirit does not deny your pain—He meets you within it. He grows joy in you by reminding you that God is near, grounding your heart in God’s promises, strengthening you when joy feels thin, filling you with peace that steadies emotion, helping you believe when circumstances resist belief, lifting your eyes from what is temporary to what is eternal, sustaining hope when answers are delayed, and assuring you that sorrow is not the end of the story.

Joy rooted in the Spirit is often quiet. It does not shout—it steadies. It does not erase tears—it carries you through them. This joy allows you to grieve honestly and hope confidently at the same time. It allows you to feel deeply without being undone. It allows you to walk forward even when strength feels limited.

The Holy Spirit anchors your joy not in what you see, but in who God is. And as you believe— even imperfectly, even wearily—He fills you with joy and peace that overflow into hope.

Reflect:

  • Where has joy felt hardest to hold onto in this season?
  • How is the Holy Spirit anchoring your joy beyond circumstances?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, anchor my joy in God. When sorrow presses in, steady my heart. When hope feels fragile, strengthen my faith. Fill me with joy and peace as I trust You—not because life is easy, but because God is faithful.
Amen.

Devotions, Family Devotionals

🏡 Family Devotional — Day 98

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Teaches Our Family to Love Like Jesus”

📖 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
 —John 13:35 (NKJV)

Love is the foundation of a healthy home. Not perfect love—but Christlike love. Love that is patient. Love that forgives. Love that speaks truth gently. Love that chooses grace over resentment. This kind of love does not come naturally in a family, especially during stress, conflict, or exhaustion. That is why God gives families the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit helps your family love like Jesus by  reminding each person how deeply they are loved by God, guiding forgiveness when hurt occurs, teaching kindness during disagreement, strengthening unity when emotions run high, helping parents lead with grace and truth, helping children learn love through example, guarding hearts while keeping them tender, and forming love that reflects Christ, not convenience.

Christlike love in a family does not ignore problems. It faces them with truth and grace.

When the Holy Spirit shapes love in your home, your family becomes a place of safety, growth, and testimony. Others will recognize Christ—not by perfection—but by love.

Talk About It Together:

  • How can our family show Christlike love to one another this week?
  • What does loving like Jesus look like during disagreements?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, teach our family to love like Jesus. Fill our home with grace, patience, and truth. Help us forgive quickly, speak gently, and reflect Christ in how we treat one another. Let our love point others to You.
Amen.

Devotions, Teen Devotions

👧👦 Teen Devotional — Day 98

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Teaches Me to Love Like Jesus”

📖 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
 —John 13:35 (NKJV)

Love is the most visible evidence of a life changed by Christ. Not the kind of love that depends on mood or convenience—but the kind that reflects Jesus. That kind of love does not come naturally.

It is easy to love people who treat you well. It is harder to love when you feel misunderstood, hurt, ignored, or wronged. It is even harder to love when loving costs you something. This is where the Holy Spirit works most clearly.

The Holy Spirit teaches you to love like Jesus by reminding you how deeply you have been loved and forgiven, helping you forgive instead of holding grudges, shaping compassion where bitterness wants to grow, guiding you to speak truth with gentleness, helping you love without compromising what is right, strengthening you to love even when it’s not returned, guarding your heart while teaching you to care, and directing love with wisdom, not naïveté.

Biblical love is not passive. It is intentional. It does not ignore sin, but it does not weaponize truth. It does not excuse harm, but it refuses hatred. It does not mean staying in unhealthy situations, but it does mean responding without resentment.

Jesus loved with both grace and truth. He did not love by pleasing people—He loved by reflecting the Father.

As the Holy Spirit forms Christlike love in you, your relationships begin to change. Your reactions soften. Your forgiveness deepens. Your patience grows. Your witness becomes clearer. 

Love is how the world recognizes Jesus in you. And the Holy Spirit is faithful to teach you how to live it out.

Talk About It:

  • In what situations do you find it hardest to love others right now?
  • How can the Holy Spirit help you love with both truth and grace?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, teach me to love like Jesus. Help me forgive when it’s hard, care when it costs me something, and love with wisdom, truth, and grace. Shape my heart so others can see Christ in me.
Amen.

Children's Devotionals, Devotions

🧒 Children’s Devotional — Day 98

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Helps Me Love Others”

📖 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
 —John 13:35 (NKJV)

Loving others is not always easy. Sometimes people are kind. Sometimes people are not. Sometimes friends hurt your feelings. Sometimes family members make mistakes. But Jesus asks His followers to love—even when it’s hard. That’s why God gives you the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit helps you love others by reminding you how much God loves you, helping you forgive instead of staying mad, teaching you to be gentle and patient, helping you care about how others feel, giving you kind words to say, and helping you love like Jesus loves.

Loving others doesn’t mean letting people hurt you. It means choosing kindness, forgiveness, and goodness in your heart. Every time you choose love, the Holy Spirit is helping you grow more like Jesus.

Talk About It:

  • Who is someone you can show love to today?
  • How can the Holy Spirit help you love someone when it feels hard?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, help me love others. Help me forgive, be kind, and care like Jesus does. Thank You for loving me and helping me share that love with others.
Amen.

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Women’s Devotional — Day 98

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Teaches Me to Love Like Christ”

📖 “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
 —Romans 5:5 (NKJV)

Loving like Christ is not something you can sustain on your own strength. You can try to be patient. You can try to be gracious. You can try to forgive. But eventually, human love runs out. That is why God pours His love into your heart through the Holy Spirit. Christlike love is not rooted in emotion—it is rooted in truth. It is not driven by comfort—it is guided by obedience. It is not fragile—it is anchored in God’s character.

The Holy Spirit teaches you to love like Christ by reminding you of how deeply you are loved by God, helping you forgive without minimizing truth, softening your heart without removing discernment, strengthening you to love when it costs you something, helping you respond with grace instead of resentment, guarding your heart while keeping it tender, teaching you to love without enabling sin, and forming compassion that reflects Christ, not people-pleasing.

Jesus loved perfectly—not because love was easy, but because His love flowed from the Father.

Sometimes Christlike love looks gentle. Sometimes it looks firm. Sometimes it looks like patience. Sometimes it looks like boundaries. Sometimes it looks like forgiveness. Sometimes it looks like walking away without bitterness.

The Holy Spirit teaches you what love looks like in each situation.

You are not called to love out of emptiness. You are called to love from a heart filled by God. And as the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into you, your love becomes steady, discerning, and strong—a reflection of Christ Himself.

Reflect:

  • Where does loving others feel most difficult right now?
  • How is the Holy Spirit inviting you to love with both truth and grace in this season?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, teach me to love like Christ. Fill my heart with God’s love so that I may love others from truth, not exhaustion. Help me forgive without compromising righteousness, care without losing discernment, and love in ways that honor You. Let my love reflect Jesus in every situation.
Amen.

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Women’s Devotional — Day 97

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Forms Godly Self-Control in Me”

📖 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”
 —Titus 2:11–12 (NKJV)

Self-control is often misunderstood as emotional restraint alone. But biblical self-control reaches deeper—it governs desires, words, reactions, thoughts, and choices. As a woman, you may carry intense emotions, heavy responsibilities, and unseen pressures. Stress, exhaustion, disappointment, or fear can easily push you toward reaction rather than reflection. This is where the Holy Spirit works with gentleness and power.

Self-control is not something you force. It is something the Spirit forms as you yield. The Holy Spirit grows self-control in you by steadying your spirit when emotions rise, teaching you to pause instead of react, helping you submit desires to truth, strengthening restraint when temptation whispers, calming anxiety so wisdom can surface, guarding your tongue when silence is wiser, aligning your actions with God’s character, and producing discipline without harshness.

Self-control is not suppression. It is submission—to God’s will, God’s Word, and God’s timing. 

Jesus lived with perfect self-control—not because He felt nothing, but because He entrusted everything to the Father.

When the Holy Spirit forms self-control in you, your responses become intentional, your decisions become anchored, and your peace becomes less fragile.

Self-control creates space for wisdom. It protects relationships. It strengthens integrity. It frees you from regret. And it grows quietly, faithfully, as you walk with God.

Reflect:

  • Where do emotions most often challenge your self-control?
  • How is the Holy Spirit inviting you to pause and surrender rather than react?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, form godly self-control in me. When emotions rise, steady my heart. When temptation calls, strengthen my resolve. Help me pause, pray, and choose what honors God.
Teach me to live soberly, righteously, and faithfully in this season.
Amen.

Children's Devotionals, Devotions

🧒 Children’s Devotional — Day 97

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Helps Me Have Self-Control”

📖 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
 —2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Sometimes your feelings feel really big. You might feel angry. You might feel excited. You might want to say something right away. You might want to do something without thinking.That’s when the Holy Spirit helps you have self-control. Self-control means stopping to think before you act.  It means choosing what is right, even when feelings are strong.

The Holy Spirit helps you pause before speaking, calm down when emotions are big, choose gentle words, obey even when it’s hard, stop yourself from doing something wrong, and make wise choices.

Self-control doesn’t mean pretending feelings don’t exist. It means letting the Holy Spirit help you choose how to respond. Every time you stop, pray, and choose what is right, the Holy Spirit is helping you grow more like Jesus.

Talk About It:

  • What feeling is hardest for you to control?
  • How can the Holy Spirit help you pause before reacting?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, help me have self-control. Help me stop and think, choose what is right, and respond with love. Thank You for helping me every day.
Amen.

Devotions, Teen Devotions

👧👦 Teen Devotional — Day 97

Rooted & Raised

“The Holy Spirit Teaches Me Self-Control”

📖 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
 —2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Self-control is not about suppressing emotions. It’s about surrendering them. Strong emotions are not a sin—but letting them rule your decisions can be. Anger can flare quickly. Fear can cloud judgment. Desire can override wisdom. Pressure can push you to react instead of think. This is where the Holy Spirit works.

Self-control is not something you produce by willpower alone. It is a fruit the Spirit grows as you yield to Him. The Holy Spirit helps you practice self-control by slowing your reactions when emotions surge, helping you pause before speaking or acting, giving clarity when your thoughts feel chaotic, strengthening you to resist temptation, helping you say no when sin looks appealing, restoring calm when anxiety rises, aligning your choices with truth instead of impulse, and teaching you to respond with wisdom rather than regret.

Self-control is not weakness, it is strength under direction. Jesus demonstrated perfect self-control—not because He lacked emotion, but because He was fully submitted to the Father. As the Holy Spirit forms self-control in you, you begin to act intentionally rather than impulsively, wisely rather than emotionally, and faithfully rather than reactively. You will still feel deeply. But you will no longer be ruled by those feelings. And over time, self-control becomes freedom—freedom to choose what honors God and leads to life.

Talk About It:

  • In what situations do emotions most easily take over your actions?
  • How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you pause and choose wisely in those moments?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, teach me self-control. Help me pause before reacting, think clearly when emotions are strong, and choose what honors God. Give me a sound mind, a steady heart, and strength to walk in wisdom each day.
Amen.