Written by Corinne Faneus, Ministry Coordinator at Iron Rose Sister Ministries

“Well, there is nothing left to do except pray.”
“Sorry, I can’t do anything else, but I’ll pray for you.”
“The least I can do is pray.”

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (Jas 5:15-16 NIV)

We read throughout the Scriptures multiple prayers that had incredible and powerful results—Hannah in 1 Samuel 2, Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19, and Elijah in 1 Kings 17 and 18. Prayer is shown countless times as the means by which we put our faith and trust in God as the means for God to fulfill His promises and plans in our lives. Yet, often unintentionally, with our own words, we take away the very power that prayer holds. Like the phrases above, we often minimize prayer as a last resort or as a small, almost insufficient service to those around us.

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we have been given. That God allows and plans for our prayers to be how He is moved to action is amazing, confusing, wonderful, mysterious, and awe-inspiring. God’s hand is moved by the prayers of His creation.

If we know all this to be true about prayer, how can we be women who offer powerful and effective prayers? How can our prayers bear fruit?

It may sound cliché, but for our prayers to be powerful and effective, we must have faith in God— faith that our prayers serve a purpose, and faith that God is working through our prayers. We can often wonder, “What difference will our prayers make? If God is sovereign and has everything all planned out, what difference does it make to pray for a dear friend to be healed from sickness? Does it really matter if I pray for my unbelieving relative, if God’s will is going to be accomplished regardless?”

“Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.’” (Mt 21:21)

Our prayers of faith make all the difference, not because we can change God’s plans, but because part of God’s plan is that we pray! We pray to bring about what God has planned. Do you trust and believe that your prayer is part of God’s sovereign plan? Do you believe that God has planned to act because of your prayer?

In James 5:17, we see James give an example of a righteous person’s powerful and effective prayer, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth” (ESV). Being a spiritual superstar like Elijah is not what makes our prayers effective and powerful. James points out to us that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; he was a normal human being who prayed. He was just a man who prayed fervently, and his prayers were answered. Normal average women like you and me have that same ability as Elijah because prayer is about God and not about us. Just like Elijah, we can be righteous by offering fervent, faith-filled prayers.

Ordinary women submitted to God can offer effective and powerful prayers because we pray to an extraordinary God.

Written by Caroline Prieto, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

Adolescence was one of the phases of my life when I felt most disciplined by my parents. At 13 years old, I decided to give my life to the Lord and was baptized. Years later, I remember that my school friends lived things I had never experienced. Many of my classmates went to parties regularly, and my parents never let me go. You can imagine that for a teenager's mind, it wasn't the best feeling to be excluded by not doing what everyone else did, even though I had chosen to be a Christian. Several times I begged my parents to let me go to parties with my school friends, but the answer was always: no!

I remember once confiding in one of these classmates. I mentioned that I was very frustrated because I felt my parents wouldn't let me do everything I wanted – like going out to parties like everyone else. My classmate's response is still vivid in my mind. She said, "I wish my parents wouldn't let me go to all the parties either. They always let me do whatever I want… sometimes I feel like my parents don't even care about me."

I was speechless. I could be sure that my parents loved me. Look, I don't think my classmate's parents didn't love her, but maybe they believed they were doing the best for her, according to the context in which they lived. They weren't Christians, so they probably believed that the best way to be good parents was to never forbid anything.

At that moment, it was as if everything made sense to me. Today, years after that conversation, I can look back and feel even more the immense love my parents had for me. The prohibitions, in fact, were pure discipline. It was an attempt to keep me from losing myself. Today, I understand that my parents were looking out for my best interests and were affirming their love for me.

Similarly, but even more profoundly, God also does this with us. Take a look at what is written in Hebrews 12:10-11 (NIV).

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

How can I accept being called a daughter of God and reject His discipline for me? Discipline is a gift to children!

Look at how great the love of our Father is: when God allows us to be disciplined, He is affirming that we are legitimate daughters, even when we are considered illegitimate by the world.

I want to invite you to reflect on some reasons to see God's discipline as something good for us, based on the verses in Hebrews chapter 12:

1. Discipline is a clear sign that we are children of God and that He loves us.

...because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?(Heb 12:6-7)

2. The purpose of discipline is our own well-being.
3. Through discipline, we can participate in God's holiness.

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(Heb 12:10)

Sharing in God's holiness is an inheritance, and only His children receive it!

It's as if God were telling us, “You are my beloved daughter. I want what's best for you, and I want you to share in holiness with me... that's why I'm disciplining you!”

But what does it actually mean to be disciplined by God?

It means we are required to go through corrections and processes that are permitted by Him, not as punishment for rejection, but as proof of love and care, with the goal of making us more like Christ.

In practice, this discipline can manifest in various ways, for example: through the Word of God, through our brothers and sisters in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, and even through the consequences of our wrong choices.

I would like to conclude this blog with a quote from Albert Barnes: "I have never known a Christian who was not benefited by afflictions."

However difficult it may be, everything we experience works together for the good of being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ. What a privilege!

I know that during my adolescence, it wasn't pleasant being disciplined by my parents, but today I can see the fruits I've reaped. Our God is also disciplining us today so that later we can produce fruit of righteousness and peace.

I encourage you to see God's daily care for you through discipline.

Have no doubt about the greatness of our Father's love.

How have you experienced the Lord's discipline in your life? Reflect on this!

Written by Gaby Medrano, Iron Rose Sister Ministries volunteer from Nicaragua in Colombia

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.(Eph 5:11 NIV)

Imagine a beautiful orange tree planted in land where the soil is filled with weeds, thorns, parasites, and invasive plants. The tree will be completely barren and fruitless. The weeds don't work to bear fruit; they only consume nutrients from the soil, choke out life, and destroy everything around them.

The apostle Paul calls sins "unfruitful works" because they are exactly like that weed that takes up space, absorbs your energy, but at the end of the day produces nothing of real value for your spiritual life, your family, or your inner peace. It is empty productivity—a barrenness disguised as life.

We live in a world of constant change, where we are expected to adapt to different scenarios, situations, fashions, places, or cultures. If you don't, you simply "don't fit in" or "don't adapt"; that's how you will be judged. However, God has called us to make a difference—to be light in the midst of darkness—and for that we have to make a difference by being the light, the salt. Many times, we will not fit in, or we will not allow ourselves to adapt, because the most important thing is not expectations or appearances, but the truth—the Word of God that never changes, that was, that is, and that will be.

The apostle Paul explains that through the power of the Spirit, believers should get rid of their old fleshly nature and live according to their new spiritual nature. This path of change leads to a holy way of life, for as Christians we are to be imitators of God. That is what the filling of the Spirit is all about. "Be holy, because I am holy"(1 Pet 1:16), and do not imitate the world, because if we do what the world does, we clothe ourselves like the world; we resemble the world.

Christians are not to be accomplices or companions in sinful practices. Unmasking these acts does not necessarily involve speaking evil or attacking those who do, but rather making God's truth shine through righteous, upright conduct, blameless testimony, and a lifestyle that contrasts with evil. You can rebuke an evil deed as long as you confront it with meekness, love, respect, seeking its restoration, not its humiliation, considering yourself, lest you too be tempted, as His word says.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(Gal 5:19-21)

The acts of the flesh are very evident and clear—they cannot be hidden. As mature Christians in the faith, we must flourish in the Spirit and let ourselves be guided by Him, knowing that by our own strength we cannot do much, but we have the responsibility to fight daily against sin and depend totally on God. We recognize that as humans, fallen from Eden, our nature is inclined towards evil, towards selfishness and pleasures of this world. But the apostle Paul reminds us in his letter that we have spiritual weapons with which we can fight: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes"(Eph 6:11).

We must search the Scriptures daily, just as we check our cell phones daily. Observe very carefully what we are feeding ourselves with: what we are watching, the music we are listening to, who we are spending time with, what we are reading, what testimony we are projecting. Are we being influenced, or are we influencing others? Are we differentiating ourselves from the world, or are we like chameleons camouflaging ourselves according to our environment? If so, we will not produce fruit.

Paul taught the Christians of Galatia how to enjoy freedom in Christ and not be enslaved by the effort to gain God's favor through religious observance or good works. True goodness does not come from personal effort, but from submitting to the Holy Spirit so that He can produce the fruit of righteousness in our daily lives.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Gal 2:20)

Let us long to be fertile ground and to be able to lead others to be fertile. Let us pray to God that we may sharpen iron with iron up close or at a distance.

Written by Jocelynn Goff, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

 I planted a garden again this year and I am anticipating the harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers. I’m especially looking forward to one of my favorites: a crisp cucumber and fresh tomato sandwich. A fresh tomato on a BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) sandwich may be your favorite, or a cucumber tomato salad, or canning fresh salsa. Whatever it is, if it comes fresh from the garden it’s always better than store-bought. But it’s often hard to know if this will be an abundant harvest with plenty to share or just a lot of hard work for a disappointing harvest.

However, we know that if God plants a garden or vineyard the harvest will be plentiful and it will not disappoint. As we read in Zecharaiah 8:12 (CSB) “For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew.  I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.” This is a promise from God to the remnant of Israel. God is telling them that He will supply an abundance for them.

As we read further in Zecharaiah 8 we see that there are conditions requiring obedience that are a part of this promise. Zecharaiah 8:16 says, “These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, make true and sound decisions within your city gates.  Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury for I hate all this – this is the LORD’s declaration.”And, get this, if they act in obedience to this, then the result as Zecharaiah 8:22-23 shares, “Many people and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord’s favor. The LORD of Armies says this: “In those days, ten men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

So, God gives the remnant a fruitful harvest to enjoy if they obey His commands, and the result is another type of fruit. This is the fruit of someone who wants to know about the LORD. 

This is a pretty amazing progression of fruit, obedience, and bearing fruit.

However, I know you may be thinking this is an Old Testament situation and doesn’t apply to today and to me. Let’s look at some other New Testament scriptures. John 13:34 Jesus says, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”Applying the principle of following our Lord’s commands, if we love one another—and love is one of the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22—then the result will be that everyone will know that we are His disciples.

This is that double fruit. Fruit within us and then fruit around us because they know we are His.

To carry this thought further we know that the fruit of love is not from our own effort. We need to die to ourselves much as a seed dies when it is planted in order to produce a harvest. As John 12:24 reminds us, “Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

In addition, in Romans 7:4b we also bear fruit through the body of Christas it says, “You belong to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.” If we belong to Him then we may bear fruit. This reminds me of the words of Jesus in John 15:5, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”

Since I believe all Iron Rose Sisters want to bear fruit, then we must ask ourselves these questions:

• Am I obedient by practicing the fruit of the Spirit of love so others will know I am His?
• Have I become a seed and died to myself?
• Do I belong to the One who was raised from the dead?
• Am I remaining in Him because I can do nothing without Him?

Blessings to all my Iron Rose Sisters as we journey forward in obedience and bearing fruit.

Written by Abigail Adriana Loayza Becerra,volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Cusco, Peru

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
 (John 15:8, NIV)

When we think about bearing fruit as disciples of Jesus, we often imagine doing more—serving more, participating more, knowing the Bible more, or doing more activities. But Galatians 5 leads us to a much deeper question: What is our life really producing?

Paul contrasts the acts of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. And there’s something interesting about the words he uses. He speaks of "acts" in the plural, but of "fruit" in the singular. Acts can be manufactured; fruit, on the other hand, grows.

The acts of the flesh represent what happens when we try to live from our own nature and our own desires. We can try to control our actions, appear spiritual, or strive to follow rules, but our external effort does not always transform our hearts. The history of Israel had already shown this reality; God had given His Law and clearly revealed what was good, but the problem was not in the Law, but in the human heart. That is why the prophets announced something much deeper.

God promised to change the hearts of His people. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek 36:26), and Jeremiah also spoke of a time when God would put His Law in the minds of His people and write it on their hearts. Here we can see a beautiful connection to Galatians 5. God doesn't just want to tell us how to live—He wants to transform the living person from within. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control) is not just a list that we must memorize to appear "spiritually mature." Instead, it is the result of a life that is being transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 5 uses another powerful image: God compares Israel to a vineyard that He Himself planted and cared for. He expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced sour grapes. This metaphor reminds us that we can have the right environment, know the truth, and even be close to the things of God, and still not be able to produce the fruit He expects. So it is in this image that Jesus appears, saying, "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5). The difference is in remaining united to Him: a branch does not produce fruit apart from the vine; we do not need to strive to "look" like a fruitful branch; we need to be the branch that remains connected to the source of life, which also changes our understanding of being true disciples.

Our fruit reveals our connection to Christ. John 15:8 says that when we bear much fruit, we show that we are disciples of Jesus and, above all, we glorify the Father; that is why true fruit becomes more evident when life becomes difficult. Patience is demonstrated when someone irritates us. Self-control appears when we have reasons to react impulsively. Humility is revealed when we might demand recognition. Love becomes real when we must love even those who are not easy for us to love.

Galatians 5:25 tells us, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." The Christian life is not only about knowing what God wants, but about walking in the same direction as the Spirit. Perhaps today the question should not be, "How much am I doing for God?" but rather, "What fruit is God producing in me?" Because in the end, being a disciple is not just about bearing the name of Christ; being a disciple goes beyond all of that. Being a disciple means allowing Christ to form me to the point that He, in the fullness of His character, is visible in how I love, speak, serve, forgive, and relate to others. A branch connected to the vine will bear fruit.

What fruit of the Spirit needs to grow the most in my life so those around me can see Christ in me?