Today’s Scripture Then the LORD became angry with Moses. Exodus 4:14, NLT
Do It Afraid. When the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt, God said to Moses, “Go and tell Pharaoh to let My people go.” Moses responded, “God, I can’t do that. I don’t speak well. I stutter.” Moses was saying, “God, You didn’t give me that gift. I’m afraid. Send someone with that skill.” He kept making excuse after excuse, and finally God became angry with him. He was not angry because Moses had flaws. He wasn’t angry because Moses stuttered. He was angry because Moses saw his gift as not enough. Moses was afraid, hiding it, thinking that he didn’t have what it takes when God said he did.
God is not displeased with us because we have weaknesses or shortcomings. He’s displeased when we’re not using the talents He’s given us, when we’re making excuses and discounting our gifts. God wouldn’t ask you to do something if He hadn’t already given you what you need. Quit discounting yourself. You have to get out of your comfort zone and do it afraid. If you play it safe all your life, you’ll never reach your full potential.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the gifts and the talents You put in me. Thank You that You made me and whatever You ask me to do You will make sure I have the ability to do it. I will be faithful to develop what You’ve given me and be bold to step out of my comfort zone and use it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
One of the biggest lies people believe about God is the lie that God is angry with them. The devil knows that if he can cause you to believe that God is mad at you, he can keep you trapped in fear, defeat, and bondage.
I want to expose this lie from the devil and show you from God’s Word that God is not mad at you. He is mad about you! God loves you passionately, and He wants you to be fully assured and confident of His love for you.
To begin living a victorious life, it’s important you believe with all your heart that God is for you and not against you (Rom. 8:31). When you use the weapons of right believing to prevail against the wiles of the devil, the Bible calls this being strong in the Lord. The armor of God in Ephesians 6:10–20 shows us that right believing in all that Jesus has done will always lead us to victory.
The apostle Paul begins with the belt of truth. When the devil comes against you with his lies about you, gird your waist with the belt of truth. The devil cannot deceive you if you are established in what God’s Word says about you. He can only make inroads into your mind when you don’t know or are unsure about what God’s Word says.
That’s why I encourage people to study God’s Word for themselves and to listen to messages that are full of God’s grace and truth. Fill your mind and heart with truth and you’ll surely defeat the enemy.
Secondly, we already know that the devil will try to attack you with all kinds of accusations and condemning thoughts to make you feel guilty and lousy about yourself. That’s why when you are established in the gift of righteousness, his attacks against you will not prevail. All of the devil’s fiery darts of accusations are ineffective against the breastplate of righteousness that guards your heart from all fear, guilt, and condemnation.
Now, the enemy will also come in to try to steal the joy you have because of the gospel of peace, which is depicted as shoes here. But when he comes, know and believe that the God of peace will surely crush Satan underneath your feet.
Beloved, it’s time to stand strong against the lies of the enemy! Rest assured that when you believe right, there is no area of your life in which the devil can prevail against you.
Today’s Scripture But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4–5, ESV
Rich in Mercy It’s easy to believe that God will bless us when we’re doing what’s right and making good choices. But the beauty of the mercy of God is that even when we make mistakes, when we’ve done the wrong thing, He doesn’t say, “Too bad. You had your chance, but you blew it. Now you’re on your own.” No, His mercy covers you. His mercy is bigger than any mistake. He is not holding that against you. God will not only help bring you out of the trouble, He’ll help clean up the mess and cause something good to come out of it.
If this is going to happen, you can’t sit around feeling guilty, condemned, and beating yourself up because of past mistakes. It takes a boldness to believe that God will bless you in spite of what you’ve done. The accuser will say, “You made the mess. You went the wrong way. God’s not going to listen to you. Who do you think you are?” Answer back, “I am a child of the Most High God. I am redeemed, forgiven, covered by mercy.”
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You are rich in mercy, and nothing is too hard for You to work out in my life. Thank You that You never give up on me when I’ve gone my own way and failed. Help me to hear Your word and simply believe that You will work wonders for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Faced with a troubling report of an impending war, King Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord and pray with hope before all the assembly of Judah. It was then that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who spoke the words of the Lord that we read in 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17. On hearing these words of hope, all Judah humbled themselves before the Lord, bowing before Him and worshiping Him.
Today the Lord is saying the same words to you in your situation. Hope in Him for He loves you! You don’t have to live in fear and discouragement when you know that the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s.
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The battle is His, and you will not need to fight in it.
What do you do when you don’t know what to do? The best thing you can do is to stand still. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord in your situation.
But Pastor Prince, if I stand still, nothing will happen!
My friend, standing still is not inactivity or doing nothing. It’s a posture of hope, and it involves keeping your hope anchored on the person of Jesus and having a sure and confident expectation of good.
When the marauding armies of Pharaoh were charging toward the children of Israel, hell-bent on annihilating them, Moses simply declared to the terrified Israelites, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exod. 14:13). The Hebrew word for salvation is yeshua, which is actually the name of Jesus. So salvation is the person of Jesus, and He is with you.
When you are caught in a hopeless situation, learn to position yourself—stand still and see the saving power of Jesus work on your behalf. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5).
And as you center yourself, your thoughts, your beliefs, and your hopes on Him, He will lead you concerning what to do, just as He led Jehoshaphat to a triumphant victory over his enemies.
Today’s Scripture Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:13, NLT
Why Hide? Adam and Eve were the first ones to try to hide and cover up their sin from God, but we’ve all done it since then. David tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba and pretended for over a year that he was doing just fine. It might be about a situation where we compromised, or guilt over an addiction, or pride, or anger. It might be about our shortcomings, failures, or insecurities. We have to try really hard to pretend, to look good and protect our image, as well as to try to ignore what we feel deep down.
Why try to hide? God already knows the areas you struggle in. He knows your weaknesses, your sins, your failures. He knows who you really are, not who you pretend to be. A much better way to live is to say, “God, I’m tired of pretending to be something I’m not. I want to be real. Here’s what I’ve covered, and I have no excuse for it. I’m asking You to change me, to make and mold me. I can’t do it on my own.”
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that I don’t have to hide my weaknesses or shortcomings. Search my heart and show me where my motives are wrong and where I’m pretending. I humbly admit that I don’t have it all together, and I’m glad You’re still working on me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
Have you ever wondered what Jesus was referring to when He shared on the new wine and old wineskins? He was referring to the mixture of the two covenants.
The new wine represents the new covenant of grace, while the old wineskin represents the old covenant of law. Have you ever seen old wineskins? They are brittle, hard, and inflexible. That’s the law. It is inflexible.
And when you pour the new wine of grace into the old wineskin of the law, you will lose both because the wineskin will be ruined and the wine will be spilled. The virtues of both the old and the new covenants will be cancelled out and lost.
I received a letter from Kirsten in Florida who experienced a mixture of law and grace. When she received her salvation at the age of seventeen, she experienced unconditional love for the first time in her life as God’s mercy and grace washed over her.
In the beginning, she said that church was a joy as they worshiped, shared, and prayed. But within a few years, she succumbed to a works mentality and began searching the Scriptures to discover what she needed to do. Having lost her joy and peace, she was tormented by thoughts of “not doing enough for God.”
Kirsten’s hope was reignited when she chanced upon one of my television broadcasts. She said, “That tiny spark of hope later burst into flames and set me free. Wow! God’s grace is real and it doesn’t depend on my ‘doing enough for Him.’ No more works that are motivated by guilt and shame that left me exhausted, overwhelmed, and drained. My peace and joy returned a hundredfold, and I was able to relax and enjoy my relationship with God, my family, and my church.”
That wasn’t all. Her revelation of God’s grace put a newfound peace and rest in her heart such that when the economic downturn in 2008 wrecked America financially and affected her family, she chose to rest and believe that God would provide for her family.
“I prayed one morning for God to give us something that day based solely on His grace and not our efforts,” she said. “Less than thirty minutes later, my husband’s former employer called him and asked if he wanted his old job back! My husband now earns as much as he did in his best year prior to the downturn. God’s grace is amazing!”
Beloved, don’t allow a mixture of law and grace to invade your heart and mind. God hates mixture because it robs you of the freedom, peace, and joy that come from resting in His Son’s finished work. It robs you of the power to reign in life through the abundance of His grace!
You cannot put new wine into old wineskins. You will lose both. But if you just focus and meditate on His grace and goodness toward you and your family, like Kirsten, you will see His grace abundantly provide for you.
Today’s Scripture Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37, NKJV
What Really Matters. All of us have areas that we struggle in. We make mistakes and do things we know are wrong. We determine to not give in to a temptation again, but we do. We lose our temper, don’t keep our word, let our guard down and compromise. It’s easy to go around feeling guilty, condemned, and beating ourselves up. Voices will whisper, “God’s never going to bless you. You don’t deserve it. You failed again. Just sit on the sidelines.” We think that we have to have a perfect performance for God to bless us. “Once I overcome all these weaknesses that I’m struggling with, then I’ll have God’s favor. Then I’ll feel good about myself.”
But God looks at your heart. He is not looking for people who have perfect behavior, who never make a mistake. He’s looking for people whose hearts are turned to loving Him. That means you may make mistakes, but deep down you have a desire to please and honor Him with your life. Your performance may not be perfect, but He sees your heart is right. It’s your heart that matters.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that I can come to You with an open and willing heart. Search me and know me. I struggle and make mistakes, and there is so much I need to improve on in my character, but my heart is committed to loving You. Show Yourself strong in my life today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO
Some time ago, we received a precious testimony from Kate, who shared that she had been supernaturally delivered from four years of alcohol addiction. You may be asking, “How can this be? How does four years of alcohol addiction just disappear like that? How could such a powerful craving just lose its hold in such a short time?”
The answer is simple but powerful.
In her testimony, Kate wrote how she allowed God’s love to invade her mind as she listened to grace-based messages on her iPod that were full of Jesus and His love. My friend, when you allow His love to saturate your mind, it doesn’t matter what wrong beliefs, fears, or addictions are keeping you bound. God’s grace will begin to break them down.
This is what happens when you have an encounter with your loving Savior. Everyone who encounters Jesus never leaves the same. He came to set the captives free.
Whatever your condition, however long it has kept you bound—two years, ten years, thirty years—I want you to know and believe that God can set you free in a supernatural instant.
Believe that the One who is both willing and able to set you free is the same One who created time, and He who created time isn’t time-bound. He who turned water into the finest aged wine in a matter of seconds can bypass natural processes and accelerate your deliverance from any bondage!
I know of many people who struggled with addictions for decades. But once they had a supernatural encounter with Jesus, they just woke up one morning and found themselves free, with none of that familiar urge or desire to engage in their negative behavior anymore. Frank, who lives in the state of Maryland, wrote to me and shared how he was set free from drug addiction. He had been told “once an addict, always an addict,” and he had believed it.
But when he came to know the truth about the life-transforming love and grace of Jesus through one of my teaching resources, it just destroyed the chains that bound him. He shared, “Man, I could have jumped through the roof when I discovered that all I had to do was accept the finished work of Jesus and His grace!
“After thirty years of drug addiction, I thought there was no hope for me. But praise Jesus, I am now drug-free, and I’m in a good grace-preaching church with my wife, who has also been set free of her drug addiction.”
My friend, that is the power of right believing!
Today, believe God loves you and that His grace is available for you. Whatever bad prognosis you may have heard about your situation, no matter how dark and dire your circumstances may be right now, believe and accept God’s grace. You don’t have to accept defeat for the rest of your life!
We all want to live victorious, overcoming lives. And to live right, we need to believe right.
But Pastor Prince, how do I begin to believe right?
Hearing plays a huge part in right believing. You cannot believe right unless you are hearing right.
Man, that was good! I don’t want you to miss that. You cannot believe right unless you are hearing right.
I believe the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:27–29 began to believe right when she began to hear right. God’s Word tells us that “faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” (Rom. 10:17 NLT).
What you hear is vital. If you are believing God for a breakthrough in your life, pay attention to what you are listening to.
Are you hearing messages that are full of the good news of Jesus? After you listen to these messages (or read these resources), are you filled with the heavy sense of what you need to do? Or are you filled with the empowering sense of who Jesus is in your life and everything He has done for you at the cross?
The Rature
According to the law, the woman with the issue of blood was unclean, unworthy, and disqualified. If she had heard that Jesus was no different from the religious Pharisees of her day, there was no way she would have had a positive expectation of good.
Under the law, when the unclean touches the clean, the clean becomes unclean. But under the grace of God, when the unclean touches the clean (Jesus), the unclean becomes clean!
This woman didn’t defile Jesus with her uncleanness when she reached out and touched His garments. On the contrary, she was infected with Jesus’ health and wholeness and made completely whole. Oh, the beauty and the depths of God’s amazing grace!
What have you been hearing about Jesus? Are you hearing about a hard, legalistic, and religious Jesus who is demanding, harsh, and unforgiving? Or are you hearing the true good news of His love, grace, and tender mercies toward you?
The true gospel of grace always imparts hope and faith to you to believe in Jesus and His goodness. No matter how long you have been struggling or how long it has been since you saw any results, I want to encourage you to fill your ears, eyes, and mind with the good news of Jesus.
Trust me, when you incline your ear to messages that are all about His grace, you will inevitably begin to have a positive, confident expectation of good. When your heart is filled with hope through hearing all the amazing stories about Jesus, like the woman, you’ll reach out in faith.
Beloved, reach out and receive your miracle and freedom from your loving Savior today!
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to many believers today, the enemy has launched malicious disinformation campaigns that have effectively enslaved them for years to low self-esteem, self-hatred, guilt, eating disorders, perversions, inordinate fears, and all kinds of crazy habits and addictions.
I want to expose the enemy’s lies and to help you see with pristine clarity the enemy’s deceptive and manipulative tactics. These lies will collapse like a house of cards the second you see your true identity in Christ.
Your weapons for this warfare are found in the truth of God’s Word, and they are mighty and have the power to overthrow and destroy every stronghold that has been built up through disinformation and wrong believing. And the way we can destroy these strongholds in our mind is by “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
When I was a young believer, I was taught that it was my responsibility to bring my every thought into obedience to Christ. I tried and struggled with that for years and ended up with more mental oppression, stress, and guilt than I had started with.
One day God opened my eyes and said to me, “Son, keep your focus and your thoughts always on the obedience of Christ, and that will be a powerful weapon to pull down the devil’s strongholds in your mind.” When He said that to me, it felt like the lights were suddenly switched on in my head.
So what does it mean to capture every thought to the obedience of Christ? Simply this: to focus on Jesus’ obedience to the Father at the cross, through which we were all made forever righteous the moment we believed in Him.
Can you see that our obedience today under the new covenant begins with choosing to believe that we are made righteous by Christ’s obedience at the cross? The apostle Paul describes our obedience as “obedience to the faith” (Rom. 16:26)—believing right about what Jesus has done to make us righteous. And when we believe right like this, we will find His grace motivating and empowering us to think and live right.
God’s Word tells us, “The just [righteous] shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17). You can say it like this: the righteous shall live by right believing. When you have right believing, you release the power of God to live right.
The next time you have negative thoughts, catch yourself and look toward the obedience of Christ. See the cross. See Jesus. See Him washing your mind with His precious blood.
When you believe the gospel, the true gospel that says you are righteous through Jesus’ obedience (Rom. 5:19), you will have right living. The right results will follow.
My friend, the more you believe right that you have been made righteous and blessed through Christ’s obedience, the more you will see the fruit of obedience in your life. Praise Jesus for His marvelous grace!
Today’s Scripture Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always). 1 Thessalonians 5:16, AMPC
Permission to Be Happy. The apostle Paul says we should be glad-hearted, always happy in the faith. He didn’t say anything about our circumstances. He says to be happy whether people treat you right or not, whether your plans work out or not, whether you have many disappointments or none. He was saying to get in a habit of thinking joyful thoughts. Don’t let the negative circumstances talk you out of living happy.
But you have to give yourself permission to be happy. Sometimes we’ve bought into the lie that we’re not supposed to be happy. We’ve been through too much and have made too many mistakes. If we’re happy, we think that other people may not understand. But God created you to enjoy your life, to laugh and smile. Happiness starts inside. Give God something to work with. If you want to live happier and healthier, every morning you need to say to yourself, “I’m blessed. I’m grateful. I will be happy.” You can’t receive happiness if you’re thinking sadness. Joy is coming every morning. You will live happier if you start thinking happier.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that I can be glad-hearted and rejoice in all circumstances today because You are always in control. Thank You that You created me to enjoy my life and to be blessed and happy. I am going to keep a song of praise in my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
Today, we are beneficiaries of God’s favor, because His wrath against our sins has already been completely satisfied at Calvary. In Hebrew, the word used for “favor” is ratsown, which means His pleasure, delight, goodwill, and acceptance.
Our place of protection was purchased with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, we have been made righteous, and all the blessings of the righteous, including protection, provision, and length of days, are our inheritance.
That’s the place we are in today. Isn’t that beautiful? No wonder the Scriptures tell us, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1).
It also tells us, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). A righteous man (or woman) is who you are in Christ, and when you pray the prayer of protection in Psalm 91, your prayers avail much, for God answers your prayers!
I received a testimony of God’s divine protection from Sally, who lives in South Africa. Be encouraged as you read how she prayed for protection knowing that she is righteous in Christ:
I was driving a rented car when I heard a loud bang. Within moments, the car was on fire. I immediately switched off the engine to get out. But to my horror, I could not remove the seat belt or open the door! I was stuck.
Finally, I managed to get the door opened. By then, the flames were threatening to come inside the car and I had to close the door again because I was trapped by the seat belt. I called out to Abba Father and just declared, “I am Your righteousness. You are the only One who can save me!”
As those words were echoing in my ears and heart, I heard a click as the seat belt was released. I dashed out of the car.
When the fire department arrived, they were able to stop the blaze. I praise the Lord for delivering me safely out of this dangerous situation! I realized that the devil has long been defeated and we don’t have to fear anything anymore.
Praise the Lord for His deliverance and protection. I rejoice that we are shielded from danger because of the righteousness we have in Christ!
Today’s Scripture I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10, AMPC
Hardened to Difficulties. If twenty years ago you faced some of the difficulties you face today, they would have defeated you. God knows what you can handle. As you keep passing these tests, He’s hardening you to difficulty. You’re getting stronger. Your faith is growing. Your endurance is increasing. Your spiritual muscles are being built up. The reason God is doing this is because there are awesome things in your future. God is taking you to a wide and spacious place. He’s going to enlarge your territories. But with greater influence comes greater giants. With greater blessings comes greater opposition. With greater favor comes greater persecution. If He didn’t harden you to difficulty, you couldn’t withstand what comes against you.
You may be going through some things today that aren’t fun. You may be uncomfortable, but you have to realize that God is not making you suffer. He’s working through the difficulty to deposit something inside you. He’s growing you up, getting you stronger, increasing your faith.Be encouraged that everything you are going through is necessary for where God is taking you.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that Your hand has been upon my life in so many ways, hardening me to difficulties, getting me stronger, growing me up. Thank You that You are making deposits in my life to help me withstand the enemy. I believe that You are preparing me for where You’re taking me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
Beloved, when we are willing to have the Lord Jesus protect us and our family, and we take time daily to let Him know we are putting our trust in Him, we receive His abundant mercies for needs that transcend our understanding.
I received a praise report from Victoria who lives in California that vividly illustrates how the Lord protects us when we simply come boldly to His throne of grace and humbly consent to be protected by Him. This is what Victoria shared with me:
Sometime ago, I was replaying your on-demand Web broadcast. At the end of the message, you said you would pray for our protection. I quickly put the message on pause and called my seventeen-year-old daughter to come and receive the prayer and blessing with me.
During the prayer, you prayed that we would not die in our sleep. Though we did not have that fear, we received the prayer gladly anyway.
The next morning, when I woke up, I felt really ill, to the point I didn’t think I could go to work. When I went to wake my daughter to go to school, she was also unwell, complaining of the same symptoms I was experiencing. Sensing something amiss, we both went to the ER and found out we had carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty heater!
We know and have heard reports of how people who were exposed to carbon monoxide while asleep usually died in their sleep. We believe we were saved because of the prayer you prayed over us and our receiving it. God heard and answered. He woke us up just in time so we could be saved. We give Jesus all the glory!
What a powerful testimony of a believer who takes every opportunity to come to the throne of grace and gladly consent to come under the Lord’s wings of protection! I pray you’ll be encouraged to do the same every day.
An estimated 20% to 50% of women of reproductive age currently have fibroids, and up to 77% of women will develop fibroids sometime during their childbearing years.
05/06/25
This Fibroid – why me? By Livy-Elcon Emereonye
Everything exists in polarity: up and down, light and darkness, short and tall, male and female…
Human beings exist as either male or female though there have been cases of hermaphrodites – and every sex has its peculiarities.
Life is in phases, and every phase has its uniqueness and challenges.
As we advance in age, our body systems change – and such changes can predispose one to one medical condition or the other.
The female sex has certain features that manifest from time to time, probably at three or four years intervals.
Fibroid is one of the things that only female sex can encounter and the experience is more pronounced with age.
“An estimated 20% to 50% of women of reproductive age currently have fibroids, and up to 77% of women will develop fibroids sometime during their childbearing years. Only about one-third of these fibroids are large enough to be detected by a health care provider during a physical exam, so they are often undiagnosed.
In more than 99% of fibroid cases, the tumors are not cancerous and do not increase the risk for uterine cancer.”
What is Fibroid?
In a simple term, fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on the uterus. Sometimes they become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy periods.
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are non-cancerous growths that develop in the uterus. They are composed of smooth muscle and fibrous tissue and can vary in size, shape, and location.
Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumours; composed of muscle and fibrous tissue; develop in the uterus; can vary in size, shape, and location; and are common in women of reproductive age.
It should be noted that fibroids can occur at any age, but they are most commonly diagnosed in women of reproductive age, typically between 30 and 50 years old.
Yes, fibroids can occur at any age, but most women start to notice symptoms between 30 to 50 years old. However, some women may experience symptoms as early as their 20s or even during adolescence.
Below is a breakdown of when fibroids can start to develop and when symptoms may become noticeable:
Adolescence (15-19 years): Fibroids can start to develop during adolescence, but symptoms are rare at this age.
Early adulthood (20-29 years): Some women may start to experience symptoms, such as heavy menstrual bleeding or pelvic pain, during their 20s.
30-39 years: This is a common age range for women to start noticing symptoms, such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, or pressure.
40-49 years: Symptoms may become more severe or frequent during this age range, especially as women approach menopause.
50 years and above: While fibroids are less common after menopause, some women may still experience symptoms.
The onset of fibroids and symptoms can vary significantly from woman to woman so the above information is a guide, and are general age ranges. Some women may experience symptoms earlier or later in life.
Certain factors that can influence fibroid age of onset include:
i. Genetics: Family history can play a role in the development of fibroids.
ii. Hormonal influences: Oestrogen and progesterone can stimulate fibroid growth.
iii. Reproductive factors: Women who start menstruating at a younger age or have a higher number of pregnancies may be more likely to develop fibroids.
iv. Lifestyle factors: Diet, stress, and environmental toxins may also contribute to the development of fibroids.
The age-specific prevalence rates of fibroids are as follows:
20-29 years: 10-15% of women in this age group may have fibroids.
30-39 years: 20-30% of women in this age group may have fibroids.
40-49 years: 30-40% of women in this age group may have fibroids.
50 years and above: While fibroids are less common after menopause, some women may still experience symptoms.
The global prevalence of fibroids is a significant health concern, affecting approximately 20-30% of females, particularly those aged 30-50.
Global Incidence Rates
The global age-standardized incidence rate of uterine fibroids has been increasing over the years, with a 6.87% rise from 225.67 to 241.18 per 100,000 population between 1990 and 2019.
Regional Variations
Regional incidence rates vary, with Eastern Europe having the highest age-standardized incidence rate of 582.03 per 100,000 population in 2019. Tropical Latin America experienced the greatest increase in age-standardized incidence rates from 1990 to 2019, with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of 1.44.
Socio-Demographic Index (SDI)
The incidence of uterine fibroids also varies by Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), with high and low-middle SDI regions experiencing significantly higher age-standardized incidence rates.
These statistics highlight the need for increased awareness and attention to the global burden of fibroids, particularly in regions with high incidence rates.
Uterine fibroids are growths that develop in or around the uterus. They can be classified based on their location, size, and number. Here are some common types:
Types of fibroids
Intramural
Submucosal
Subserosal
Pedunculated
Parasitic fibroids
Intramural fibroids: These grow within the muscular wall of the uterus. Intramural fibroids are non-cancerous growths within the walls of the uterus. These fibroids are often harmless but can cause symptoms including heavy periods or trouble conceiving.
Submucosal fibroids: These project into the uterine cavity, potentially causing heavy bleeding and fertility issues. Submucosal uterine fibroids are benign tumors (not cancer) that grow in the uterus, just under the surface of the lining, or endometrium. Though a less common type of fibroids, they lead to significant symptoms including abnormal uterine bleeding that leads to low red blood cell counts (anemia). They bulge into the uterine cavity and project to the outside of the uterus. they can cause serious and unpleasant symptoms such as excessive menstrual bleeding.
Subserosal fibroids: These grow on the outside of the uterus, sometimes pressing on surrounding organs. This type of fibroid grows under the lining of the outer surface of your uterus. They can become quite large and grow into your pelvis. A subserosal fibroid is a uterine fibroid that grows on the outside of the uterus and is almost always benign (not cancerous). While rarely dangerous, these growths can cause uncomfortable symptoms and interfere with nearby organ functions.
Pedunculated fibroids: These are attached to the uterus by a stalk-like structure. Pedunculated fibroids are benign (noncancerous) growths in the uterus. These fibroids are attached to the uterine wall by a stalk-like growth called a peduncle. The main difference between pedunculated fibroids and other fibroids is the peduncle. These fibroids can grow both inside and outside the uterus. Inside the uterus, this type of growth is called a pedunculated submucosal fibroid. Outside the uterus it’s called a pedunculated subserosal fibroid.
Parasitic fibroids: These attach to other organs or structures in the pelvis. They are defined as a pedunculated subserosal fibroid that undergoes torsion, detaches from the uterus, and sustains its growth through neovascularization from adjacent tissues.
Fibroids can also be classified based on their size, ranging from small (seedling) to large as follows:
Small fibroids (less than 2 cm): May not cause symptoms.
Medium fibroids (2-5 cm): Can cause moderate symptoms.
Large fibroids (5-10 cm): Can cause severe symptoms.
Giant fibroids (larger than 10 cm): Can cause significant symptoms and may require surgical removal.
Size can impact symptoms and treatment options.
Larger fibroids may cause more severe symptoms, such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, or discomfort.
Fibroids can also be classified based on their number as:
Solitary fibroids: A single fibroid growth
Multiple fibroids: More than one fibroid growth
Diffuse uterine leiomyomatosis: Numerous fibroids scattered throughout the uterus
The number of fibroids can impact symptoms, treatment options, and fertility. Having multiple fibroids may increase the complexity of treatment.
In general, symptoms and treatment options can vary depending on the type, size, number and location of the fibroids.
Signs and Symptoms
Fibroids can cause a range of symptoms, including:
Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding: Fibroids can cause heavy bleeding, clots, or prolonged periods.
Pelvic pain or pressure: Fibroids can cause pain or pressure in the pelvic area, lower back, abdomen or cramping.
Bloating and swelling: Fibroids can cause bloating, swelling, or discomfort in the abdominal area.
Frequent urination: Large fibroids can put pressure on the bladder, leading to frequent urination.
Constipation: Fibroids can also put pressure on the rectum, leading to constipation
Abdominal pain/cramping
Enlargement of the lower abdomen
Pain during sex
Infertility or miscarriage: Fibroids can affect fertility or increase the risk of miscarriage.
Possible complications of fibroids include:
Severe pain or very heavy bleeding (may require emergency surgery)
Twisting of the fibroid (may require surgery)
Anaemia (low red blood cell count)
Urinary tract infections
Infertility (in some cases)
Kidney damage (in rare cases)
There are chances that fibroids may cause complications in pregnancy, depending on factors such as the size of the fibroid or fibroid cluster. These complications may include:
Fibroids can be managed and treated through Orthodox medicine including surgery, Natural medicine and Integrative medicine. Depending on the position, size and number, they can be operated or caused to be shrinked.
Medical Treatments
Hormonal therapies: Birth control pills, progesterone, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists to regulate hormones and reduce symptoms.
Pain relief medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers to manage pain and cramping but not everyone can use these products.
Anti-inflammatory medications: Prescription medications like mefenamic acid to reduce inflammation and pain.
Minimally Invasive Treatments
Uterine artery embolization (UAE): A procedure that blocks blood flow to the fibroid, causing it to shrink.
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS): A non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound waves to heat and shrink the fibroid.
Endometrial ablation: A procedure that removes or destroys the lining of the uterus to reduce bleeding.
Surgical Treatments
Myomectomy: A surgical procedure that removes the fibroid while leaving the uterus intact.
Hysterectomy: A surgical procedure that removes the entire uterus, often recommended for large or multiple fibroids.
Laparoscopic or robotic surgery: Minimally invasive surgical procedures that use small incisions and a camera to remove the fibroid.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Acupuncture: A traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate healing.
Herbal medicine/supplements: Certain herbs like turmeric, ginger, and chasteberry may help alleviate symptoms. Some herbal products can shrink and reduce the size of fibroids.
Yoga and meditation: Stress-reducing techniques that can help manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Therapeutic fasting: This is an emerging area that needs professional guidance.
Watchful Waiting
Monitoring: Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider to monitor the size and symptoms of the fibroid.
Symptom management: Managing symptoms with medication or lifestyle changes, rather than treating the fibroid itself.
Whatever the case, it’s essential to consult with a qualified and licenced healthcare provider to determine the best treatment option for your specific case. They will consider factors like the size and location of the fibroid, age, and the overall health of the patient in proffering solutions.
In conclusion, fibroids can be managed and treated. Depending on the position, size and number, they can be operated or caused to be shrinked by competent healthcare professionals.
Today’s Scripture The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’” Judges 7:2, NIV
Do You Really Need It? At the start, Gideon had only 32,000 Israelite men to fight an army of 185,000 Midianites. But God told Gideon to reduce the number down to 10,000, and then down to just 300. It looked impossible. It didn’t make any sense. But Gideon had God’s repeated promise that He would be with him and he would defeat the Midianites as if he was fighting against one man. Against all odds, that is exactly what happened.
God was showing us that we don’t need everything we think we need. God loves to take those who are underestimated, those whom others discount, and cause them to shine brightly, to make them powerful. You don’t need all those people to be for you. You don’t need to come from a certain family. You don’t need all the training. God has given you all you need. He breathed His favor on your life. You are strong. You are anointed. You are favored. You can affect change. You can defeat giants. You can accomplish dreams. Go with the strength you have, and God will do the rest.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that when the obstacles in my way look bigger, stronger, and more powerful than I can handle, You turn what look like lacks into strengths. Thank You that You’re about to make things happen that I could never make happen. I believe You have given me everything I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Let’s take a look at the first mention of eth (“right timing”) in the Bible. This word first appears in the phrase “in the evening” in the passage above.
What do you see? The first mention of right timing has to do with the dove—that’s a picture of the Holy Spirit. It’s the Holy Spirit who can guide you to be at the right place at the right time.
But look at what the dove has in its mouth—an olive leaf. When the flood during Noah’s time ended, God sent a message through the dove bearing a leaf that there would be no more such worldwide flooding and destruction (Gen. 9:15).
It was a message of peace to men. It tells us that the message the Holy Spirit brings is one of peace.
My friend, the Holy Spirit leads us on the wavelength of peace. Sometimes, when you are about to do something, perhaps sign an agreement, plan a vacation, or take part in some activity, you might feel a lack of peace.
If that happens, please stop and take time to pray about what you are about to do because the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the peace (or lack of it) He puts in us. He doesn’t speak to us through nagging or accusations. He leads us through peace. When there is no peace in your heart, it’s time for you to reevaluate your decision and listen to His leading.
There’s another beautiful truth hidden in the first occurrence of the word eth. Eth appears in the phrase “in the evening” not only in Genesis 8:11, but in other parts of the Bible as well (Gen. 24:11, Josh. 10:27). When I studied it, I realized that evening time is the time of our Lord Jesus’ finished work at the cross.
The Old Testament priests had two daily sacrifices, one in the morning at 9 a.m. and the other in the evening at 3 p.m. Jesus was crucified at 9 a.m. and He died at 3 p.m., thus fulfilling the type of both the morning and evening sacrifices.
At the time of the evening sacrifice, all of God’s judgment had fallen on the body of Jesus. The floods of God’s judgment were ended by the sacrifice of Christ. The Holy Spirit comes to you speaking peace, telling you that there is now no enmity between you and God, because judgment has passed.
You are not perfect but you can have peace with God, and you can ask Him for success and be confident of His covering in all that you do because all your sins have been judged in the body of Christ!
Dara Network TV 