So is it me or does anyone else really HATE waiting?? Like seriously! And if i can be honest for just a moment, whats even worse is when you are waiting on the Lord! Now dont get me wrong i love me some Jesus ,but when it comes to making something happen that your expecting ...sometimes his time table and ours are two completely different things! Oh! and please dont get me started on this thing called a "process." Thats another word i could happily go the rest of my life without ever hearing again! It seems like everywhere you go and everything thing you do involves some type of process,be it long or short. Even chewing a piece of gum is a process. 1)Open wrapper, 2)take out gum, 3)insert gum in mouth. Process, process PROCESS! Yet and still i think im finally coming to grips with the fact that things like "waiting", "process", and "patience" are all an non- negotiable parts of this Christian walk. But what do you do when the wait and the process in between seems to become unbearable? To add more fuel to the fire.. how do you handle it when God has given you a glimpse of what could be or what you have prayed for but yet is telling you to Wait? I pose these questions because like many others i find myself currently in that exact space. The space of "wait, just trust me!" Seems so simple when said or read in a book, but let me tell you my friends it is one of the hardest areas for me. Its like im so close to what God has promised that i can taste it but at the same time it feels like its many moons away. I have said things like "But God you know i have prayed and fasted for this!", "you know i have desired and searched for this!", "God you even allowed me to experience and get a glimpse of this so why are you asking for it back?" "Why are you telling me to wait and take my hands off of it when you know i trust you!" But the question for myself and for some of you is, do you really trust him? See trust is one of those caution-nerve -striking words. We dont like to talk about trust because trust requires us to give up control. Oh yes! I said it! See, trusting cannot just be something that is said but it must be displayed. When you really trust God you give him the reigns to operate when and HOW he wants to in your life. Trusting requires you to say to yourself "No! Even though i know how i can speed this process up im not going to do it!" Trusting says "No matter how long Lord im going to stand right here and wait!". To make it plan Proverbs 3:5 tells us clearly: "Trust in the Lord God with all your heart and lean not to your own understand in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path." Gods thoughts are different from our own faulty thinking. He sees the big picture with things as we only see a small window. Thats why he tells us not to lean to our own understanding. He knows all the potholes and curves that our natural eyes cant see and wants to guide us around all of that in order to make our journey as smooth as possible. Being that he is the creator Jeremiah 25:11 says it best: "For I KNOW the plans i have for you. Plans to prosper you and never to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Its only God who knows what steps we should take to make this the best life possible. Needless to say in order for those plans to happen, it often requires us to undergo a process of some sort. Now like i stated before im not a fan of the process. Matter a fact if there was anyway around it i would be the first one to op out of it! One thing that the Holy spirit countines to remind me of even now as im going through my own process of waiting is that: at the end it will all be worth it! What do i mean? I mean nothing God does is ever just because, there is always a rhyme and reason so it will be better for us when we get to our destination. If he has you going through any type of process understand its for your good. I believe more than anything God does not want us to focus on the process or current situation he wants us to focus on him.(Luke 12:31) When we take our eyes off of our current situation and put them on Jesus it allows us to form a deeper relationship with him, which inturns enables us to trust him, which then gives us an inner peace about what we are hoping for. It also allows him to speak to us and puts us in a better posture to recieve and hear from him. Often times when that happens God is able to use that time to develope and mature us more while we wait. Maybe God needs more time to purge you? Maybe he needs more time to organize something in the atmosphere in order to get something to you? Or maybe he simply wants you and him to deepen your relationship, he wants to give you a chance to know him better. I assure you that whatever the reason even though it sometimes feels like it, the process is not to punish you. Its often times to prepare you for what is to come! Like i said before and the Bible repeats countless times that Gods timing is perfect. Galatians 6:9 says it like this: "Be not weary in well doing for at the PROPER time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!" So i say to you hold strong to your time of waiting and your ordained process. The scripture proves that there WILL come a time that it will be over, its just up to you to stay focused and to not throw in the towel. So to answer the question i posed at the beginning..When the wait and process seems to get unbearable we must focus our attention and trust toward Jesus and off of the waiting. Let him do what he needs to do in order to bring about the great plans he has promised us. Yes, it stinks and Yes, it sometimes sucks but i have complete faith in God that we both will make it through this together. I have confidence that at the end of it, God is going to blow our minds! Stay blessed yall!
Learning to appreciate all parts of life from the smallest detail to the largest achievement. Not being held down by your status, situation or circumstances. Overcoming voices of negativity while gaining self identity and building self confidence. Leading a healthy stress and worry free life as you grow and progress in your spiritual walk with Christ. Breathing in every moment to get the maximum fulfillment and happiness out of this life that has been given to us. Living,Laughing,Learning,Loving
Friday, December 30, 2016
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Rebirth, Refocus, Recommitment
I originally started this blog in an attempt to really focus on enjoying all of lifes moments. To take everything we may go through and look at it in the lens of inspiration, learning lesson and chosing to stay free, choosing not to stress and be truly happy with inner peace and joy that only can come from Jesus, the one who is never suprised by what may come up in our daily lifes journey. Truth is somewhere down the line i had fallen off. Not from my love of Jesus Christ but in taking everything that He allows to happen and choosing to focus on the good in it instead of the bad. Through the hustle and bustle the stresses and stuggles of the year i had fallen off the horse of being mindful in it all of how blessed i really am. Lifes situations had boggled me down to where in some circumstances it was just extremely hard to see the positive. Not to mention just the natural changes of places, people and shift of seasons we may go through on this Christian journey. Blogging really was the very last thing on my mind. But!! Glory be God that he will show you yourself! This past week God has shown me some things and areas that i fell off on, things i was good at and enjoyed doing and other things that i have been procrasting on that need to be done. Needless to say one of those things was my blog! I do love to write, for me its like an outlet but also i believe that it is one of the ways God uses my gift to bless others. So along with some other things, God had to refocus me. And i have decided to readjust and recommit to the things he had shown me. Thankful to be able to pick up and start walking again! With that being said its go time!! The goal of this blog still remains the same. I want everyone to be inspired, to know that every day is truly a gift and even in less than appealing situations and circumstances you can still be happy with joy, while learning the lessons that will take you to your next level. So guys wherever you find yourself at right now know that it is never to late to start living your life to the fullest, its never to late to try again and its never to late to really ENJOY LIFE!!
Friday, April 29, 2016
The Potters Wheel
I have been gone from my blog for a while. Somehow it got neglected with the hustle and bustle of life. One of my goals this year was to get back to it. So what better time to start then now...
I just had a moment! I was laying in my bed sulking, feeling totally drained from the week. This week has been really hard and extremely mentally frustrating for me. Mostly because of my job and what im facing there. You know.. not feeling appriciated, overlooked, overwhelmed, confused, the thoughts of "what do you people want from me?!" and the regular frustration that comes from working with a "challenging" type of boss..if you know what i mean!. Not to mention the delimma im facing dealing with my car or lack there of now since two weeks ago i was rear ended and it totalled my car...Now im without! So with all that going on everyday satan has literally been waging war on my mind. I have felt overwhelmed, frustrated, anxiety tons of confusion and anger. To the point it was inteferring with my sleep at night. Today i just wanted to come home to my bed and do NOTHING! I was feeling totally discouraged and low. With everything going on i didnt even feel like praying or reading my word this week and when i did it was kinda whatever not whole heartedly. So guilt had began to seep in because i knew i should be doin better. I just havent be feeling it or being able to feel or hear God for that matter! I could feel depression was trying (and possible at that point winning) in an attempt to consume me. I went to do what we all do when we feel like we need a release or escape from whats going on ..VENT ON AND DROWN MYSELF IN SOCIAL MEDIA, but then i thought to myself (thanks to the Holy Spirit) "this is pointless" and "you need to come outta this!" So i stopped and deleated what i was about to post and began to pray. Right as i lay on my back in bed i began to speak to satan. I began to rebuke and cast down everything that i was and had been feeling. I started to bind up every mental and satanic stronghold of my mind and began to declare things over myself while pleading the blood over myself. As im praying i then starting talking to God. I start saying things like: "i know that everything im going through is for my good and for his glory. I know he is just streatching me and molding me. I know he is expanding me and developing me and if he brought me to it he could get me through it. That he has eqquiped me for what i am facing!" And in that moment the Holy Spirit brought back a song by Marvin Sapp (Hands on you) to my rememberance. In that song Marvin starts talking about being on the potters wheel and it not feeling good and just trusting God has you, which is what God was reminding me of. Cuz Lord knows it doesnt feel good sometimes..smh... I feel the tears start to roll as im thanking God and declaring his peace to over me and my mind that has been on 10,000 all week! Im then reminded of a scripture, Psalm 91 to be exact about resting in God. I open my bible and read it. It did my heart great joy and sealed what God has been saying to me all week. You see i havent been resting in God and in his power of fully submitting. With my know-it-all, my- way -or -the -highway, need to sit down and submit self I have been trying to do things in my own strength. Trying to figure out all the answers and I have been trying to fight battles and warfare the carnal way and not seeking God so i could fight the right way : by the Spirit! I had been allowing the enemy to get the best of me and play with my mind instead of using the authority given to me to shut him up. See satan has a way of magnifying everything going wrong in your life or every offense times 30! He wants to get your focus off God but when we do that then we start looking at circumstances, problems and people and we become ill prepared to handle the attacks and warfare coming against us. The result :we act from flesh(in our own way/thoughts ) and respond to our feelings not from the Spirit(Gods way/thinking) where we resond in faith. We have to change our perspective to that of Christ in every situation and cast down all the contrary thoughts that come up, if not satan will continue to rehearse those negative things over and over. He will beat down your brain till you feel drained, despondent, depressed and hopeless.Its like the domino effect: Situation+negative thought=negative feeling(frustration, tired, guilt, CONFUSION, anger)then next thing you know you have no energy ,your sitting in a dark room by yourself eating bon bons! One thing leads to another, which is where i was.. just in a dark place. BUT coming before my Father: reading that scripture, praying and using my authority to step on satans head i felt a release. Released from the negative thoughts, the lies and low feelings into a place of power and peace! Feeling like "Lord you got me!" What am i saying? Im saying to you.. trust in the Lord &bring all your burdens to him. Let him LEAD you in all areas (trust me im learning). I know it doesnt feel good and heck if your like me you just dont know what God is doing! You dont know all the answers but guess what??..God does! Gaurd your heart and mind, dont give satan the satisfaction of having you stuck in days of frustration and confusion to the point you feel like giving up. Shut his mouth from the beginning by casting down those negative thoughts down and replacing them with what God has said. It may not look like it and you may not feel it at that time but God is not a man that he should lie, if he said it.. its true! If your facing difficulties cling more to HIM dont let the enemy make you feel you have to run and hide, You are Gods child and he loves you! Lastly, remember being on the Potters wheel DOESNT FEEL GOOD but in the end it will benefit you and you will understand its necessity in due time. His way are simply not our ways ,we are just the clay not the artist...be blessed yall!