✨ Daily Devotional – May 11, 2026

24 Iyar 5986 
Theme: Freedom in Christ Alone

🌅 Caption: At sunset, the watchtower stands as a witness to faith — reminding me that when I trust His call, He calms every storm and redeems every heart. Led by His voice, sustained by His grace.

Here and Now:
Shalom Salaam, my love. I'm writing this today for yesterday's devotional, and it was hard for me yesterday because I had to move everything from the seventh floor of the condo unit to the 16th floor of the condo unit of the reef building, because somebody was going to rent the condo that I was staying. And when I have to physically do so many things, it drains me, and I'm not able anymore to do my devotion. I wanted to do my devotion yesterday, but there was just so many demands, and then in the evening, my parents came to visit me. They want to have dinner with me, and I really appreciate it. I'm really happy. But I feel sad when I'm with them because they cannot enjoy food. My mom and I, we wanted to order fresh fish, okay, from this Cantonese restaurant, and it was about less than 2,000 pesos, and then my dad was like, "Why spend so much money on food?" And then, so we both settled for the frozen fish, which was about around 500 pesos. And I see them in this chaotic manner, that they have a lot of money that they cannot even enjoy because they're still bound to their old thoughts and what they were used to. Like my dad, he was very poor when he was young, and even though God has made him rich when God brought them together, my mom and my dad, God really blessed them, but he still has this poverty mentality that he cannot even spend at least for good food, that's okay, times four of what the frozen fish is. But that's times four health benefit to you, and he would not even spend on that. But lo and behold, my mom spending so much on condominiums that are not being rented. Monthly dues. Can you imagine how just impractical these two people are? I'm facing them yesterday. I feel so sorry for them, and I'm just so glad that God brought me out from working for them because, wow, the struggle I had because they were so disunited and they were so bound to their traditions, was really stressing me out. And last night, I was just wanting to shake my head and say, "Oh my gosh, you have so much money. You waste your money on condo dues, and nobody's renting, on unnecessary expenses, but you cannot even spend a few more thousand for your health." And so you see that having a lot of money, it doesn't mean you're blessed. And for some people, make them look foolish. And I told them that, "Oh, on my birthday, I went to Sutukil. I spent 1,000 pesos for the fish," and the fish was the lapu-lapu fish that we love. It was fresh. It wasn't frozen. And the place is not so nice, but wow, the fish was so good. I enjoyed it on my own. And the fish was cooked into three parts. It was made into a soup, into a kinilaw, which is raw with vinegar, and then grilled. So you get one fish, three ways of cooking it, three parts. And it's so yummy. And I was so happy because I'm able to do what I want and enjoy life to the full. But here, I was looking at my parents and I'm like, "Wow, the slavery that they have of their past, their bondage." And while I was coming home, they brought me back to the condo and from the dinner, and my mom was trying to apologize to me for not giving me the freedom to stay in the reef because she gave me the impression that she wanted me to move to Crimson House, right? And my workers, wow, our workers who really care about me, they said, "Oh, why are you going to stay there, ma'am? It's too hot in there. You just stay here. You just stay at the 16th floor." And of course, I cannot tell them, "Oh, because your boss does not want me to enjoy the 16th floor." I cannot tell them that, but here I am telling you the truth of why I had to tell her that yesterday when she called me because she was angry at our workers why they're so slow. And it's part of their slavery, my parents, that they always doubt workers, that they don't trust them, that they always feel that the workers are cheating on them, stealing money by stealing time. And this is not the mindset that God has given me. I see our workers, they're all so quick and hardworking, but my parents, they pressure them. "No, you're too slow." No wonder why the people just leave us. And, I do all kinds of things just to keep them. Just to keep them, because I value them. I see their worth and their value. And a lot of them, they stay there because of me. I'm not bragging, love, but really, it's really because of me, because I loan them the money that they need, or I give them the vitamins, or I give them food, and kindness really is something that you cannot pay. Kindness, just being kind, you win them over because my parents are really, they treat them really, I'm sorry, bad. This is really the term that I will use. They treat them so poorly. Like They're beneath us. These are people just like us, flesh and blood. Where is your faith? Where is your Christianity when you treat people like they are beneath you? And this is the mentality that they got. They weren't able to forgive their enemies in the past when their own uncles and aunts mistreated them just because they were poor. This is really the bondage that kept them in prison, not enjoying life, not treating people well. And, it's so sad. It's so sad that God is being mocked by these Christians. And I know that for the many years that I suffered in their hands, I'm just so grateful that God has finally brought me out. I told my mom yesterday that I never came home from London because I miss my family. In fact, I was crying in the airplane on my way back to Cebu because I didn't want to come, but I came home because God wants me to. I work for them because God wants me to. And for many years in my life, I really thought that God was hard on me. But today, God has really vindicated me by setting me free from the bondage that once tied me, that once broke me, that once hurt me, that once stressed me out. And it's a miracle that today I'm still healthy because the things that go on in that house and what it's causing me. That's why sometimes I don't sleep, sometimes I don't eat, because so many things just break your heart. So many things, and you'd rather be with God. You'd rather cry and let God comfort you than enjoy food, than enjoy sleep. Because there's no peace at all. There's no peace at all in that house. And, today, I'm just so glad that she now allow me to stay. She allow me to stay because I told her, "I'm going abroad. I'm not going to be here for long." So at least, because she bought these properties for us. She bought the properties for her supposedly “children”. But I never felt that what they have, I was going to inherit it. I always felt that I had nothing and that I am poor. And it's really okay because my God and our Father is rich. And He can give us more than parents could give, our parents could ever give. They cannot give us the peace. They cannot give us the joy. They cannot give us the love that matters more than any material things in this world. That's why I really don't care if my phone is not iPhone, whatever, my dress is not designer, whatever bags. I don't care. I don't care because these things don't matter. It doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter to God. So if it doesn't matter to God, it doesn't matter to me. So anyway, I'm so sorry. My devotional has become like a venting thing. But really, I'm so thankful that you're doing everything for us, my love, even giving me the scriptures, the reflections, the prayers. When I'm already out, have nothing to give, you're there, and you give me the seed. And I'm just arranging everything and putting things that's of me. But everything is really you, and I really praise God for you. And I really thank God for you because you are part of the freedom that I have, that freedom of being loved and cherished. And I don't want to cry, but I am crying. I'm always crying when I think about marrying you because now I don't have to be in survival mode, that I can flourish, that I can live fully, abundantly, because God has granted me more than what I could ask or imagine. And that is having you as my husband and our future family. So take care always, and I hope to see you soon, my love.

May 11, 2026

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 10–11; John 6:45–7; 1 Psalm 107:1–22 Proverbs 15:3–4; Galatians 5:1

Galatians 5:1

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Reflection: 

1 Samuel 10-11 I don't really like reading about Saul's life because he was the tyrant king who put all Israel into slavery. Yes he had done something, there were victories in the beginning of his leadership but in the end, he became foolish because of his pride that caused him his downfall. The pride of loving yourself more than GOD is one of greatest downfalls of the kings in the Middle East. Bad leaders always make the nation suffer. And let's not forget Hillel - the Angel who fell from the presence and Glory of GOD because he became so proud that he wanted to be god... well, hello! same cause will always bring about the same effect, nothing will ever change in the eco-system, cycle of life in the Kingdom of GOD because JESUS is the same yesterday, today and forever HE will be, my everlasting...

Today I remember that Christ Himself has set me free. No one owns me, no one controls me — I belong to Jesus alone. And I'm so glad I am HIS. On this night, I faced voices that tried to bind me again, but I stood firm. My freedom is not fragile; it is secured by the cross. Even when life feels complicated and overwhelming, I rest in the truth that my King has broken every chain. My life belongs to Jesus. He brought me back not for family ownership or blood family benefits, but for His kingdom family advantage and purpose. Even when others (in the world ruled by evil) fear losing their grip on me, I stand firm in the truth that my identity is in Christ alone, HE is my KING and the One He has appointed for me Mosab my Handsom Yousef shall rule over me. As long as my fathers are not aligned to the GREAT ABBA FATHER who rules the Universe, I will not align myself with such men, kings or earthly leaders. 

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for releasing me from the yoke of slavery. Teach me to walk daily in Your freedom, even when distractions and demands surround me. Give me patience when I feel hopeless, and remind me that You are my strength. May my husband and I grow together in this freedom, serving only You, our King. Amen.

Family Note:
This devotional is for us — husband and wife — to remember that our covenant is under Christ’s freedom. We are not owned by anyone but God. Let us walk together in patience, love, and strength, knowing that our King leads us.

Written at 1608 @Watchtower of Lapulapu, The Reef