Can I be honest with yโall for a minute?!
As someone who was once accustomed to setting goals, relentlessly going after them, accomplishing them, and then repeating the cycle, transitioning to this new season of submission to Godโs plan for me has been a BEAUTIFUL, yet challenging process in many ways.
Itโs almost like rebuilding who I amโฆ actually, it is that. Itโs a stripping away of everything that has attached itself to โwho I amโ that doesnโt align with who God says I am (or that doesnโt align with who God says I need to be going forward). Itโs a beautiful blessing to see the care Heโs been taking in molding me, pruning me, and taking me through the refiners fire, so that only the parts He envisioned remain. But WHEW!
Iโd be lying if I said that it wasnโt somewhat challenging to hold back when I know there is so much more I could be doing. To say โnoโ to things I know I could very easily say โyesโ to. To โmissโ opportunities I know I could easily be taking.
However, this is where TRUST & FAITH have been my foundation to stand and wait on. Iโve done MANY things well, but in this season, I canโt afford to just be out here doing things & checking boxes. Iโm simply not allowed, to be honest. God has shown me glimpses and whispered insight about where Heโs taking me, but the thing is, the promise, the dream, the vision always comes before the manifestation of what God has spoken or shown you.
Abraham & Sarah waited DECADES for the son God promised him.
Joseph had dreams YEARS before he saw them come to pass.
Even David was anointed to be king LONG before he actually took the throne.
There are many more stories like this in the Bible.
In this season, it brings me joy to embrace Godโs plans for me as my own, and also, it has required an intentional focus, and an intentional letting go. Focusing on what He has said, and letting go of anything that is not that, even the good ideas that donโt align with Godโs ideas.
In a world where every other advertisement is saying, โHEY! GO! DO!โ my challenge in this season has been to remain faithful in the gap between โanointedโ & โappointed,โ between โpromiseโ and โmanifestationโ (of His plans, not my own). Itโs required me to watch & happily congratulate my peers as they go forth and walk into the fullness of their gifts and assignments, while intentionally not allowing myself to feel the need to rush or โcatch up.โ It has also required me to block out the voices of those trying to rush this moment, thinking Iโm stuck or confused because theyโre used to me constantly producing. I know they mean well, but I also know they canโt see what is going on behind the scenes, and it's my responsibility to steward this season well. Godโs timing is perfect and if Heโs saying to wait, or "stay right here and do this thing," I must trust that I wonโt be โtoo lateโ for anything.
Btw, this is NOT me saying to wait for those God has told to โGO!โ If this is your 'Go!' season and you haven't gone, what are you waiting for?!
Anyway, the biggest thing God has required in this season is a shifting of how I see success and where I place my value and worth. Iโve always felt joy and accomplishment in achieving in general. Though I wouldnโt say my worth was found in my achievements per se, this time of shifting has really required me to be intentional about completely separating how I view myself, my value, and what is within me, from my job title, how much money I make, what goals Iโve accomplished, and even how others respond to these things (good or bad). It has required me to build my confidence in who God says I am and be at peace when others are not able to see it (or choose not to, lol). Where God is taking me will require that I am not attached to worldly achievements (no matter how great) and especially, not attached the approval or applause of man (no matter who they are). It requires that I donโt move until He says so and that once He says โGo,โ I donโt allow anything to sway, taint, or modify what He has said to do, or how He has said to do it.
Yโall have heard me talking about submission and radical obedience, and doing things Godโs way.
Itโs a beautiful thing and thereโs no safer place to be than in Godโs will. But I thought Iโd let you in on what it can sometimes look and feel like in the midst of it. I'm also documenting this for myself, because BABY, the season thatโs coming will blow my mind & Iโm already knowing, so I want to have this here as a marker and reminder of how far God has brought me and the way He did exactly what He said He would!
For those in your appointed/promised season, keep going! Continue allowing God to lead and guide you.
For those in the โin betweenโ season, like me, remain submitted and resist the urge to rush Godโs Hand.
Know that His timing and His ways are perfect, and He has a perfect plan from beginning to end. TRUST HIM!
For all of us, may God continue to order our footsteps, for โthe steps of a good [wo]man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in [her] way.โ (Psalm 37:23)
Letโs continue to make Daddy proud!
Love yโall, bunches ๐
P.S. I know I spoke a lot about the challenges, but the JOY is unmatched!
& the pressure I DONโT feel to have it all figured out, knowing that my Father does, is just *chefโs kiss*.
The PEACE I can feel knowing that Iโm in His will anchors me and keeps me from being swayed by every word, piece of advice, or problem that arises.
To be able to REST in Him, even while working is a beautiful thing. Literally wouldnโt trade it for the world! ๐
If youโre in this season...
Build your FAITH in God daily.
Spend intimate time with the Holy Spirit in prayer, in praise, and in the Word. Trust what He has spoken & eliminate doubt.
SPEAK what He said!
... or keep your mouth shut!
Donโt speak against the promises!
Wait PATIENTLY on the Lord!
Be faithful in what Heโs given you to do in this season, even if it seems small.
REST!
This means two things:
No matter what season youโre in, REST in God, knowing that if you do your part, the part He has given you to do, that He will do His!
Resist to be busy in your season of rest. If God has you resting in this season, itโs likely because itโll be GO time soon. Donโt neglect this moment to stop & recharge. This includes mental & physical rest!
EXPECT!
Expect what God said to come to pass in His divine timing. He is not a man that He would lie, so when it comes to Him, โexpectation [does NOT] lead to disappointment!โ
Hey Garden Fam! I was led to share this after a conversation I had with a friend. I am sharing a few of the ways I was able to build a closer relationship with Jesus and how He brought me out of a season of being lukewarm (one foot in Christ and the other in the world). I pray that this helps you build and/or strengthen your walk with Christ. Please keep in mind that these are general recommendations & not a prescriptive blueprint. Also, keep in mind that, like any relationship, it takes time, but the more time you spend together, the better acquainted you will be! Be open to the Lord leading you in whatever order and through whatever steps He sees fit. He may ask you to do more, less, or different than whatโs below. Move with Him! ๐๐พ
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I love you all! ๐
Overview
Decide that you are ready to submit to Jesus
Trade in your plans and your ways for God's will & His ways
Learn His Will for yourself
Read the Bible
Pray Daily
Spend time in praise & worship (singing, dancing, thanksgiving, etc.)
Clean up your home & your life
Seek deliverance
Live a Life Led by & Submitted to the Holy Spirit
Stay in the Word
Stay in Prayer
Allow the Holy Spirit to Guide your Actions & Decisions
Seek Christ-led Community
Details
Decide that you are ready to submit to His will & His ways
Repent for living outside of Godโs will and His ways (genuinely apologize & commit to turning away from sin, to Jesus)
Make a choice that you want to do things His way going forward (Joshua 24:15)
Pray the prayer of salvation
Salvation Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I have sinned against you! I repent of everything Iโve ever done that was against your will (you can also confess specific sins here). God, I believe and I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die for my sins. Jesus, I welcome you into my life and into my heart. Please cleanse me of all unrighteousness and lead me into all truth, Your truth. Please begin to work in me so that I may look more like You from the inside out. I lay down the life I have. and choose to pick up the life you have for me. Thank you, God for receiving me!
In Jesusโ name,
Amen ๐๐พ
Learn His Will for yourself
Get into the Word โ Read (or listen to) the Bible everyday
Sermons & devotionals are great supplements, but they can be secondhand accounts โ go to the source!
Listen to Holy Spirit-led teaching, but also spend time in God's Word for yourself as well.
Reading Recommendations - These are just suggestions. As I said before, allow the Lord to lead you in whatever order and through whichever books of the Bible He sees fit.
The Gospels are a good place to start (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
These books outline the life and ministry of Jesus.
After that, I encourage you to continue through to Romans which really outlines salvation and what it looks like to live a new life in Christ.
Lastly, I recommend going back to read the book of Acts, which introduces the Holy Spirit and models how we ought to live and operate as "the Church"
Note: You may feel like you don't understand at first, but keep going and pray for God to grant you wisdom & understanding!
Pray daily โ vulnerable, transparent prayers
Prayers of thanksgiving & praise
Maybe start with writing or saying 3 things you're thankful to God for
Prayers admitting where you are & that you need God's help
Sit at Jesus' feet (ie. be ready to hear from Him)
Donโt know what to say? The Lordโs Prayer is always a good starting place (Matthew 6:9-13)
Clean up your home & your life
Pray for God to prepare your heart to let go of things that are not like Him or don't align with His will for your live & to replace them with things that are
Decide that you want God more than the world
Close open doors to the enemy โ through sin, new age practices or materials, occult organizations, etc.
God will reveal things you need to let go of or renounce; be willing and ready to do so!
Ask God to reveal habits, sins, etc. that need to go and be committed to following through on what He says
Also, clean up your media
Unfollow pages on social media and YouTube that arenโt in line with your walk with God, or that will present additional challenges for you living righteously
Distance yourself from tv shows, movies, news, and other media that normalizes sin, witchcraft, living a God-less life, toxic and ungodly mindsets, and anything else the Holy Spirit shows you directly!
Seek deliverance
It is very possible/likely that you need to be set free from something or multiple things after living a life apart from God (or in lukewarmness)
Some things may be from sin, some may be from childhood or other traumas, some may even be generational
Sometimes deliverance is complete in one session, sometimes it requires a process. Either way, be committed to getting free!
The Bible says "the just shall be delivered through knowledge," (Proverbs 9:11)
This is why reading the Bible for yourself is so important. You must "study to show yourself approved" (2 Timothy 2:15), so that you are not one who is destroyed or in captivity because you lack knowledge (Hosea 4:6 / Isaiah 5:13)
Note: Do NOT go back to sin once youโve been set free! - Be led by the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:16
Proverbs 26:11
Matthew 12:43-45
Live a Life Led by & Submitted to the Holy Spirit
Pray for guidance & commit to following His promptings
Note: Some things He asks you to do will NOT make sense in a worldly context โ trust Him & do it anyway
Isaiah 55:8-9
Spend time with God daily โ not as a religious chore but to nurture your relationship with God, learn His voice, and be led by Him.
Seek Christ-led Community
Ask God to lead you to the right community(s) for you to continue to grow in faith and fire
This may be a church, small group, online community, mentorship, a mix, or something different altogether
Cultivate Space to Hear from God
Check out this follow-up video for more guidance and insight on setting up a life that is conducive to God's presence and hearing His voice
November 19, 2022
Yoooo, sharing your testimony (what God has done for you) for the first time can feel super awkward, but I hear it gets easier the more you do it! Lol.
Anyway, I was definitely nervous making this video, but at the same time, I am super excited to share in hopes that it may help someone else. Either way, hereโs a part of my story! Thanking God for full healing ๐๐พ
Todayโs Focus Verse: Revelation 12:11
โAnd they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.โ
If He did it for me, know that He can do it for you, too!
Below are a few scriptures about health & healing. There are definitely more where those came from, but Iโll let you discover those in your quiet time!
๐ธ Exodus 15:26 โ God is our healer
๐ธ James 5:14-15 โ a prayer of faith to save the sick
๐ธ Proverbs 4:20-22 โ life & health through wisdom
๐ธ Proverbs 16:24 โ pleasant words = health to the bones
๐ธ Exodus 23:25 โ God promises to take sickness away from the Israelites
๐ธ Proverbs 3:7-8 โ turning away from evil = health to flesh & strength to bones
๐ธ Jeremiah 30:17 โ God promises to restore health to Israel & heal their wounds
I love you all! Until next time, have a healthy & wholesome week ๐