Reiley D.

Today, Reiley speaks to us about truth, overcoming depression and an eating disorder, taking every thought captive, and the armor of God.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: I grew up in a small town in central Illinois. I didn’t grow up in the church. I started attending after my parents divorced at age 12 and was saved by age 13. I grew up believing in God, but I never really knew there was more to it than that. Through church and youth group, I learned that I could have a personal relationship with Him, and that I needed to give my life to Christ.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17) With everything going on in the world today, we have to remember whose we are and what that means. We have to fall back on the Word and use it as a weapon against the enemy. We have to remember what truth is and where it comes from. At the end of the day, God’s truth is all that matters and we need to rest knowing the problems of this world are never too big for our Father.

“We have to remember what truth is and where it comes from.”

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: I have been really called lately to read more about Jesus’s life and how He lived it. I think we can learn so much from His faith and how He conducted His day to day life. I am striving to be more like Him every day.

Profession: I am currently an Administrative Trainee/Pathways Intern at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I would say that I first really encountered God when I was at the lowest point in my life. I was riddled with self-hatred, depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. Still to this day, I can’t really explain it, but there was always this voice that kept me here on Earth. He kept telling me that He was there and that I couldn’t hurt myself. It was the hardest time of my life, but I held on to that voice. I firmly believe it was God in the back of my mind each time I went to a dark place. He is the only reason I am alive and breathing today. He saved me, helped me do a 180, and has been with me and helping me grow every day since. I don’t know how people who don’t have Jesus go through the hardships of life. They shouldn’t have to. That is why I am so passionate about sharing my faith with others. I want to let them know there is another way and there is hope.

“Still to this day, I can’t really explain it, but there was always this voice that kept me here on Earth. He kept telling me that He was there and that I couldn’t hurt myself.”

How would you describe Jesus? Prince of Peace. My Savior. Perfect.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Being more consistent with reading scripture, praying, and sharing my faith and what I learn from God.

How did God speak to you recently? I believe God recently woke me up to the corruption of our world and country today. Earlier this year, I started researching all things holistic health due to the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines. I really dug deep and discovered an evil agenda I believe has been in place for a very long time. I started an Instagram page so I could dive deeper and spread awareness. This agenda attacks Christianity and patriotism at its core, and I knew I wanted to be a voice speaking out against it. He gave me the courage to stand in front of NASA and protest the vaccine mandates for federal workers. He gave me the courage to share my story and help others who have been feeling alone in this fight. God has blessed me on this journey, and I know He will continue to give me the courage and confidence to keep standing firm and speaking up for what I believe in.

“God has blessed me on this journey, and I know He will continue to give me the courage and confidence to keep standing firm and speaking up for what I believe in.”

Hobby: I grew up playing volleyball and played in high school and college. Now, I play pickup leagues, sand leagues, and open gyms.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: Pray frequently; whenever you think of it. I am constantly praying about different things throughout the day. This doesn’t mean you have to drop what you’re doing and kneel. You can just pray and talk to God when you’re driving, doing tasks around the house, and literally whenever you think of it. He is always listening. This has really strengthened my relationship with Him because it is constantly on my mind.

Take every single thought captive to Christ. Filter everything through the lens of Christ. We control what thoughts we let into our minds and dwell on. If there is an evil or destructive thought, that is not from God, and we need to filter it through what we know is true in Christ, and get rid of it. This is something I practice every day, and it becomes a natural habit. It has benefitted my mental health more than anything else and keeps my life and thoughts centered on God’s truth.

Know that our salvation in Jesus and God’s promises are all that matters at the end of each day.

How do you engage with your community? I have recently been getting involved with local Freedom Rallies and meeting so many amazing people from the Houston area. I also am involved in church activities and co-lead a small group where I get to connect with other young adults.

Favorite holiday? The Fourth of July has always been one of my favorites since I am a patriot at heart. I love celebrating this great country. I am also a big fan of Halloween and Christmas.

A goal you have? To keep growing my Instagram account and becoming a bigger influential voice for patriots.

Thing you want to raise awareness about: I am really passionate about the pro-life movement. I want to continue bringing awareness to how abortions are actually perfomed and what happens to the baby being aborted, because so many people don’t actually know. I want to bring awareness to the genocide of the unborn that happens everyday in this country and help us get back to cherishing children and viewing them as a blessing instead of a burden.

I am also super passionate about the freedoms we have in this country and fighting to keep them. They are being stripped away one by one and if we don’t continue standing up and speaking out, America will start to look more and more like communist countries around the world. I want to be a bold conservative voice and continue to conserve the values our country was built upon.

What is on your nightstand? I keep my Bible, some books, and my handgun in my nightstand.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Being a follower of Christ is denying yourself, taking up your cross, and devoting your life to following Him on a daily basis.

For more Reiley:

@RealLifeRei

Until next time, keep witnessing!

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