Perfect King's Imperfect Princess

Last words with Dad

“Goodbye Daddy! You can go to be with Jesus now. I love you. See you in heaven.” I was shouting through my tears on the phone. April 30, 2021, was the last time I spoke to my dad on Earth. He had had a massive heart attack. I tried to see him at the hospital, but they wouldn’t let me because of COVID. A few hours later, he slipped into eternity. I found it hard to process my grief while having to go to work and act normal. I wasn’t young, but I felt the sting of losing my daddy. We hadn’t ever been very close emotionally, and I grieved the loss. Over the years since then, I have learned to know and experience God as my Daddy in heaven and to trust him more. We all go through painful periods in our lives. We have a choice; will we become bitter or better? With God’s help, we can become much better. He wants to make us more like Jesus. God is preparing us for important tasks in His kingdom. Let us praise Jesus with joy that he has counted us worthy to suffer. These trials are a brief blip in view of eternity. Everyone, not only Christians, experiences painful trials in this temporary life. But unlike our unbelieving friends, we have God’s Holy Spirit’s power to draw on. Bill Bright, the founder of Cru/Power to Change, writes, “If you are experiencing difficulties in your life-physical illness, loss of loved ones, financial adversity- remember … James 1:2-4 [today’s passage]... Be happy, knowing that God will work in your life to accomplish His holy purpose.” (Promises, Day 12, New Life Publications. 1993) My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.- James 1:2-4 (ERV) Dear Jesus, I don’t like my trials, but I know from your Word that you are using them in my life. Help me to rejoice in you despite how I feel today. Throughout this day: Check out this online devotion from Bill Bright. You can subscribe to receive it daily by email. https://www.cru.org/content/cru/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/devotionals/todays-promise/01/08.htmlOr consider buying the book: Promises: A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living by Bill Bright can be found on various sites online. Originally published March 23, 2026. https://thelife.com/devotionals/trials-bring-joy Don't forget to subscribe at sheyvahrex.substack.com [http://sheyvahrex.substack.com] to get all my writing and news. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Praising for Joy Ep 52

My devotion originally published on March 10th, 2026 / Sheyvah Rex [https://thelife.com/author/sheyvah-rex] “You’re not a good Christian because you committed that terrible sin yesterday,” the voice in my head was accusing. “You confessed it to Me. I have already forgiven you. Walk in my love.” I had a choice. Would I believe the voice of the enemy bringing me disgrace or the truth of God’s word bringing me forgiveness and joy? Would I hang my head in shame for my actions or rejoice that God forgave me because of Jesus’s blood spilled for my sin? Although the enemy was attacking my thoughts and emotions, I knew a sure way to combat him. I chose to praise the Lord with my voice. The devil never appreciates hearing about the wonders of God’s love, and so he fled. Like David in today’s Psalm, we can hold our heads high even in the presence of our enemies because God hides us. Over the years, I have struggled occasionally with feeling down or “blah”. I have learned that when I praise the Lord even when I don’t feel like it, the darkness leaves and my feelings become joyful. Jesus is always worthy of our praise. Worship and praise are powerful weapons against the enemy, bringing joy in hard trials. Dear Father, please help me to choose to praise you even when I don’t feel like it. Thank you, that you are more powerful than the enemy, and he will run away when I exalt you. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.- Psalm 27:5-6 (NLT) Throughout this day: replace negative thoughts and emotions with praise. Sing along to this song: Victory Chant (Hail Jesus, You’re my King) https://youtu.be/rHTJZYOuHIc?si=EFCagBkLo_ytYdCN [https://youtu.be/rHTJZYOuHIc?si=EFCagBkLo_ytYdCN] https://thelife.com/devotionals/praising-for-joy [https://thelife.com/devotionals/praising-for-joy] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

True Love Serves Ep.51

My lovely parents several months before Daddy died in 2021 “Ow!” Dad squealed. My mother attempted to clean up her husband in the small restroom. My father had had dementia for five years and lost control of his bodily functions in the last two years of his life. Stress comes in different forms. Caregiving is not for the faint of heart. Mom displayed her love for Dad not only in words but consistently cared for him even in the messy times. She showed humility and grace, which came from the Holy Spirit. When Jesus said to love each other as he had loved us, he hadn’t yet gone to the cross and laid down his life for us. He had just finished washing the disciples’ feet. This was a job usually done by slaves. None of the disciples had chosen to wash the others’ feet. They were too busy arguing over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022-24&version=NIV]). Jesus showed us all that he is the greatest servant leader. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.- John 13:34-35 (NLT) The word for love in today’s verse is agape in Greek. This word means unconditional love, not based on feelings. What about us? Do we say we love people? Of course. But then when there is an opportunity to serve that person, do we do it? Willingly? Or do we perform the service grudgingly? Jesus said that showing true love would prove to the unbelievers that we are really following him. Dear Lord, please help me to show true love practically to those around me. Throughout this day: consider your relationships. Are you loving family, friends or co-workers unconditionally or only when and how it suits you? Thanks for watching Perfect King's Imperfect Princess! I'm your host Sheyvah Rex. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and encourage me in my work. Thanks for listening to Perfect King's Imperfect Princess! Please feel free to share this episode. https://thelife.com/devotionals/true-love-serves Originally published February 23, 2026 Subscribe to all my writing and updates at sheyvahrex.com Email me at sheyvahrex@proton.me Please leave a comment or send me a message with prayer requests. God is powerful and He loves you very much whether you believe it or not. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Love In Action and Truth Ep.50!

“I haven’t seen you in years!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Actually, I came to see you last week,” I smiled. “Do you want to go for a car ride to the beach and get a mocha?” An hour later, on our way back, she asked if we could drive by the beach and get a mocha. “We just did!” I reassured her. Elizabeth had been part of our former church and had babysat our sons. Now she is in the dementia ward of a long-term care home and sees it as a prison. Her prayer request is always: “I pray that God gives me a human male companion so I can live with him and get out of this place. If not, then God please take me to your heavenly home.” I feel God has given me the assignment of loving and visiting her regularly, especially as she has no family who will visit. Our verse today tells us not to love only with words but with actions. It is easy to say we love someone. It takes God’s help to invest time and money into loving someone with our deeds. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.- 1 John 3:18 Pray with me: Lord God, please help me to love with my actions, not just my words. Throughout this day: look for ways to show practical love to those around you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you all that you need to fulfil his will. Thank you for reading/watching/listening. I pray that you are drawn closer to our Lord. Please reach out for prayer if you have something for which you’d like me to pray. It is my delight and privilege to pray with and for you. I’m your host Sheyvah Rex and this is episode 50 of Perfect King’s Imperfect Princess! Today I shared my devotion Love in Action and Truth which was originally published February 5, 2026 on the life.com. Link in shownotes. https://thelife.com/devotionals/helpless-against-falling Please subscribe on Substack at sheyvahrex.substack.com and share this with others. God bless you. https://thelife.com/devotionals/love-in-action-and-truth This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Harvest Life (Ep.49)

Just one more episode of this delicious show, I told myself one evening. Just one more chapter of this titillating book, I thought the next day. Little by little, I felt like I was slipping further away from God as my entertainment choices became more risqué. Have you too lived to satisfy your sinful nature? Our verse for today says that if we do, then we will reap decay and death. But if we live to please the Holy Spirit, we will harvest everlasting life. God knows our hearts. He knows what will truly satisfy our souls. It isn’t entertainment or people or things. Our hearts will be restless until they find their rest in our loving Father above. That is a paraphrase of “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you.” Augustine of Hippo, Confessions [https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1427207] Let us press on to know the Lord through his Word and his Spirit. Let us make the right choice to stand on his side and fight the good fight of faith. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.- Gal.6:7-8 NLT Dear Father, I’m sorry for all the time I have wasted on ungodly entertainment. I could have spent it getting to know you better. Please help me to spend time with you in the Bible each day. Teach me what I need to know. Thank you. Throughout this day: ask a friend to keep you accountable to read a chunk of the Bible every day. Share with each other what Jesus has been telling you through his Word. https://thelife.com/devotionals/harvest-life (Jan. 16, 2026) That’s it for today. You’ve been listening to Perfect King’s Imperfect Princess and I’m your host Sheyvah Rex. Harvest Life is episode 49 of devotions to make you think and help you become more like Jesus as you travel this life with Him. Please subscribe at sheyvahrex.Substack.com or at sheyvahrex.com and let me know what you think. What helps you to get closer to God after feeding your old sinful nature? God bless you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]