Can I be honest with yâall 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 Godâs plan for me has been a BEAUTIFUL, yet challenging process in many ways.
Itâs almost like rebuilding who I am⌠actually, it is that. Itâs a stripping away of everything that has attached itself to âwho I amâ that doesnât align with who God says I am (or that doesnât align with who God says I need to be going forward). Itâs a beautiful blessing to see the care Heâs been taking in molding me, pruning me, and taking me through the refiners fire, so that only the parts He envisioned remain. But WHEW!
Iâd be lying if I said that it wasnât somewhat challenging to hold back when I know there is so much more I could be doing. To say ânoâ to things I know I could very easily say âyesâ to. To âmissâ opportunities I know I could easily be taking.
However, this is where TRUST & FAITH have been my foundation to stand and wait on. Iâve done MANY things well, but in this season, I canât afford to just be out here doing things & checking boxes. Iâm simply not allowed, to be honest. God has shown me glimpses and whispered insight about where Heâs 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 Godâs 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 donât align with Godâs ideas.
In a world where every other advertisement is saying, âHEY! GO! DO!â my challenge in this season has been to remain faithful in the gap between âanointedâ & âappointed,â between âpromiseâ and âmanifestationâ (of His plans, not my own). Itâs 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 âcatch up.â It has also required me to block out the voices of those trying to rush this moment, thinking Iâm stuck or confused because theyâre used to me constantly producing. I know they mean well, but I also know they canât see what is going on behind the scenes, and it's my responsibility to steward this season well. Godâs timing is perfect and if Heâs saying to wait, or "stay right here and do this thing," I must trust that I wonât be âtoo lateâ for anything.
Btw, this is NOT me saying to wait for those God has told to âGO!â 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. Iâve always felt joy and accomplishment in achieving in general. Though I wouldnât 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 Iâve 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 donât move until He says so and that once He says âGo,â I donât allow anything to sway, taint, or modify what He has said to do, or how He has said to do it.
Yâall have heard me talking about submission and radical obedience, and doing things Godâs way.
Itâs a beautiful thing and thereâs no safer place to be than in Godâs will. But I thought Iâd 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 thatâs coming will blow my mind & Iâm 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 âin betweenâ season, like me, remain submitted and resist the urge to rush Godâs 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 âthe steps of a good [wo]man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in [her] way.â (Psalm 37:23)
Letâs continue to make Daddy proud!
Love yâall, bunches đ
P.S. I know I spoke a lot about the challenges, but the JOY is unmatched!
& the pressure I DONâT feel to have it all figured out, knowing that my Father does, is just *chefâs kiss*.
The PEACE I can feel knowing that Iâm 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 wouldnât trade it for the world! đ
If youâre 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!
Donât speak against the promises!
Wait PATIENTLY on the Lord!
Be faithful in what Heâs given you to do in this season, even if it seems small.
REST!
This means two things:
No matter what season youâre 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, itâs likely because itâll be GO time soon. Donât 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, âexpectation [does NOT] lead to disappointment!â
Happy Faith Friday đ
I pray itâs been a wonderful week!
Is radical obedience really that radical?
I know it seems so today, because in many ways, weâve been conditioned to kinda do our own thing and say a prayer on the side, asking God to bless it. However, radical obedience, doing what God says, when He says it, how He says to do it, really isnât all that radical when you submit yourself and your life to Him. It becomes your normal, a norm He intended for His people from the beginning. God is calling all of us to return to Him and doing things His way.
Today, we are reviewing 2 Kings 22 & 23, an example of Godâs people turning back to Him and His Ways, to see what we can take away for our own lives.
Check out the notes and follow-up steps below.
In the meantime, I have a few questions for you:
đ Are you committed to doing things Godâs way, despite how things may have been done for generations?
đ Are you committed to tearing down anything in your life that opposes God?
đ Are you willing to speak up and speak out about these things in order to reestablish Godâs will in your land?
I pray your answer is or will soon become yes!
As always, I am wishing you a healthy & wholesome weekend. Love you bunches! đ
P.S. If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior today, read the salvation prayer here and follow the steps to build your relationship with God. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or want prayer! đđž
Focus Scriptures
2 Kings 22-23
Video Notes
Follow-Up Steps
Get acquainted with Godâs Word. Iâm talking cover-to-cover!
As you dive in, make a commitment to do what it says and to respond swiftly to anything the Holy Spirit may lead you to do as a result.
Truly commit yourself to Godâs will over your own.
Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Luke 22:42
âFather, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.â
Know that it may require giving up things youâve come to love or at least have become comfortable with, but there is so much more promise that comes with being in Godâs will!
Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My nameâs sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
Decide to be ALL IN!
Revelation 3:16
So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Joshua 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.â
Bible Study: 2 Kings 22-23
2 Kings 22:1-2
King Josiah reigned after a long line of idolatrous kings
First in a while to be committed to doing things Godâs way
He later discovered the Book of the Covenant (it was brought to him)
2 Kings 22:10-11
He was distressed to find out all of the ways his ancestors and his land had violated Godâs instructions.
He sought a prophetess to hear from God concerning what to do next
King Josiah reestablished God as sovereign in the land.
2 Kings 23:1-3
King Josiah proceeded to vehemently go after and tear down all idolatry in the land & reestablish God as sovereign
He left no stone unturned.
Read about this process in the rest of 2 Kings 23
2 Kings 22:14-20
Because of his obedience and commitment to doing things Godâs way, he delayed Godâs wrath and judgment that was set for Judah due to years of idolatry
Happy Faith Friday, Familia đą
Children are gifts from God!
It is a blessing to be given the responsibility of cultivating their life on earth, their walk with God, and their growth in their God-given destinies. God wanted me to remind or inform parents of the gravity of rearing a child, and provide specific guidance on His expectations of parents, specifically reminding you to:
đ Protect their innocence
đ Raise them intentionally
đ Allow your parenting relationship with them to reflect Godâs fatherly relationship with His children
đ Remember they are children, but donât muzzle their gifts
This video is directed towards parents, but teachers and caregivers can also glean from and apply the wisdom shared in todayâs Faith Friday video. I will continue to pray for you and your children, and may God bless you in your journey to raise a little human in the way God would have you to!
Love you bunches đ
Have a healthy & wholesome week!
P.S. Check out our merch & listen to last week's message if you haven't already đ¸
Focus Verse:
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Video Notes
Follow-Up Instructions
Study
Study the scriptures shared here and do a deeper study on Godâs overall principles and guidance for raising children.
Meet with the Holy Spirit
Carve our regular time to meet with the Holy Spirit for guidance in raising your children and stewarding their gifts
Go to Him for every decision, from small moments of correction, to life altering decisions like their education
Scriptures to Study
Protect their Innocence
Matthew 18:1-6
Ensure your relationship with them reflects Godâs relationship with His children
God commends and blesses His children for their obedience
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Matthew 7:11
Psalm 37:23
God guides, instructs, and prepares
Psalm 32:8
Jeremiah 33:3
Titus 3:1
God corrects His children when we are wrong or off course
Hebrews 12:6
God establishes and maintains order, not chaos
1 Corinthians 14:33
Seek specific Instructions for Each Child
Sampsonâs Parents â Manoah & His Wife (Judges 13)
Samuelâs Parents â Elkanah & Hannah (1 Samuel 1)
Note: Hannah did not receive explicit instructions as was written in the text, but in seeing her wisdom and how she went about following through with her promise to dedicate Samuel back to the Lord, we can infer that her wisdom was from God.
John the Baptistâs Parents â Zecharias & Elizabeth (Luke 1)
Jesusâ Parents â Joseph & Mary (Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 2:13-23)
Remember they are children, but donât muzzle their gifts
Walk by the Spirit & Operate in the Fruits of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-26
Honor & Encourage them in their spiritual gifts and callings
1 Timothy 4:12
Jeremiah 1:7
Acts 2:17