As Godly women, our unique character and beauty speak volumes for itself.
Our actions, our words, our hearts, our physical representation- all of them reflect and portray who we truly are inside and how we truly love and respect the Lord.
As women, we represent His Glory, and He’s given us a beautiful and significant gift to display His Glory by our natural outer appearance. Particularly-our hair.
-Let’s talk ;)
Recently, I have been so deeply inspired and touched by the verse found in 1 Corinthians 11:15 which states, “But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her. For her hair is given to her for a covering.”
I found this so significant and important lately because it is something so rarely spoken about that I found a deep drawing towards the matter, and this is what I simply want to encourage every woman today: Your uncut hair is A Glory, it is your beauty and submission to God.
I watched a Youtube video once titled, ‘Your hair, Your glory,’ by a young woman named Charity Umar. In this video, she simply explains what scripture tells us about a woman’s hair as it is “a glory to her.” Charity covers in her video that the word ‘Glory’ derives from the word ‘Glow,’ which means to shine and stand out, etc. If we look at the Greek meaning of the word ‘Glory,’ it translates into the word ‘Doxa,’ which in English, translates to, “To appear” and “to seem.” All referring to the meaning of appearance. Our uncut hair is a glowing aspect that makes us stand out and reflect God’s beauty outwardly!
Lastly, uncut hair is our beauty and submission towards God.
Recently, I have talked about the topic of uncut hair with a couple of friends, and we tried to pin-point why this belief is never spoken of hardly, and I believe a part of it is because, many women feel targeted if their hair is not long enough, but the key point of it is not the length of our hair, but the fact if it’s ever been cut. And if it has, there is always a fresh start to re-commit to God as if it never happened. That’s the best part.
Our Glory, specifically given to us as women by God, is the most beautiful physical trait we can withhold. Our hair is our veil and our covering. It is a natural beauty and peculiar aspect of who we are separate from the appearance of this world, and that is so beautiful!
When we commit ourselves to keep our vow of uncut hair, there is submission involved, and that holds power. Our obedience pleases God, and we should not only commit without desire, but we should commit with His same desire. Keeping our hair as a Glory of Him.
Power, blessings, and beauty follow with our pure heart of submission. We are not submitting to man’s word, but God’s word and His authority!
For today’s blog, I hope to have inspired a desire to embrace the beauty and power of your uncut hair or to even simply decide to re-commit to Jesus. It does not matter the length of your hair but it matters whether a blade was ever put towards it in intentionality.
Whoever is reading this, I love you, I’m proud of your commitment, and I pray you are thankful for your hair, and that you embrace its natural beauty.
You’re powerful ;)
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-Time and time again, God does so much for us. Sometimes He blesses us in ways that are so meaningful to us that we can’t help but express it, but I’m here to encourage you today that you can express it :)
Growing up in the church, we are constantly warned about “pride” and how we are to live humbly. As I absolutely agree with this, I have noticed within my personal life and others, that it can greatly hinder us from speaking the blessings and victories that God bestows all because we do not want to seem like we are boasting. I had to break free from that, but it still is a challenge sometimes.
A verse that I love is found in 1 Chronicles 16:8 and it says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples!”
The Bible says a lot about sharing our testimony to this world. Just like the verse above, we are called to always thank God for every blessing in our lives whether it is small or not. We are to make known His “deeds.” God’s “deeds” are actions performed with intent. His blessings are intended and specific ‘doings’ for us! That’s how much He loves us as His children!
Our testimony is a life story of how God saved us or brought us out of darkness, but it also includes every blessing and answered prayer He does for us today. Our testimony is not limited to what He does for us, and it should not limit us from sharing and celebrating those testimonies!
It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me(Daniel 4:2).
The verse above displays the fulfillment of what Daniel felt as he shared all that God spoke and showed him to those. It is a good thing and an encouragement to those who look and see what God has done. It’s all for His glory!
I believe boasting has a certain posture, and it is to gain for one’s self, but when it is a celebration of a victory that God has worked or answered, it is always pointed back to Him in both directions, and I believe there is nothing wrong with sharing them to show His Glory. As long as we have the right heart about it :)
Today I hope to encourage the freedom of celebrating all the testimonies that God does in your life. When we share from a pure heart, and we are returning back the Glory that He deserves, your celebration is not in vain, and it is not something to be afraid of sharing.
Your testimonies are your victories!
Happy fall ;)
]]>A few weeks ago, I saw the most beautiful and beaming rainbow right outside my dorm window, and I stayed until it went away.
Realizing that it’s the same rainbow witnessed back in the days of Noah.
A symbol of faithfulness that has never changed.
After a gloomy rainy day, a beautiful rainbow appeared outside my window as I was in my room reading and journaling. I almost did not realize it until I noticed a beautiful sunset outside, then a beaming rainbow right above. I could not leave sight :)
The rainbow stayed up for about 40 mins, but I couldn’t help but watch and think about the promises of God. The same rainbow I was looking at was the same rainbow that was presented thousands of years ago to Noah as he and his family were in the ark. I found it so close to home.
As I looked at that rainbow, I was reminded of His promises to me, and as Noah might’ve felt, I felt comforted, like what a portion of trust truly feels like. Sometimes as we wait on the Lord for things, it can be so easy to wonder if they will ever really happen like He said because they just seem so big and impossible in a good way. I’m here to tell you all that, yes, He will really answer those things we think are impossible, but on His timing. And He will give you reminders of His commitment :)
I say all of this to encourage someone about His faithfulness Has never changed, and His symbol of it never has either.
As you go about your day today, be encouraged that God still remembers His covenant to you just like He first showed Noah with the same rainbow we see today. He is working behind the scenes for you towards that ‘impossible’ blessing. He loves you so so much, and when you live for Him purely as you serve and strive in obedience, He will be true to you as you see His Glory before your very eyes.
Your faithfulness to God shows your heart and commitment just as He’s working for you in what He’s promised you.
Beautiful miracles happen in beautiful ways.
Be encouraged today. He still remembers your desire. He still remembers His prophecy spoken. He will not fail you :)
]]>“Let your will be done, Lord.”
This sentence has been used many different times in our life. I myself have said this, but I still tried for things to be my way, and not His. This is how I finally understood and yielded to His will for my life, and that began with giving up control. Let’s talk ;)
As humans, we like to control things. We like to plan out our life and goals, along with what we want to buy or eat, and that’s natural because we are meant to prepare and plan our lives while we live on this earth, but to an extent. That’s where it can be challenging to let go of control.
If you’re anything like me, you like to plan in advance. The future is your mindset, depending on your type of personality, but I have learned in my life that when we try to make happen what God intends for us or not, we find ourselves disappointed and highly exhausted. Overwhelming ourselves with what we want to happen, without analyzing whether or not God wants it for us to begin with. My perfectionism can get in the way, but here’s what happened.
You will reach a point in time where you will feel so emotionally exhausted that you will give up trying to control things to happen that will not budge if it’s not God. The whole point that I was forgetting was, that if it’s not God’s will for it to happen in our life, then it will not at all, and no one can fight for it. The same goes for if something IS God’s will for our lives, no man can stop it.
The whole part of contributing to God’s will in our lives is by living in submission and truly yielding and desiring what God will decide for us rather than ourselves.
When I finally gave up control, I was at a place of wanting God to fully lead my life and not myself. That’s where I can say that now I truly see His goodness and His lead in my life so clearly and so powerfully. I’m glad I don’t live by my own lead anymore :)
Recently, I had been praying for a specific job. I’ve wanted this particular job for a while although I did not have experience at the time, when it was presented to me, I prayed about it asking God for HIS WILL and not my own. And the answer was one I didn’t have to fight for :)
When we pray, “Let your will be done, Lord.” He will hold you to your part, and you may feel overwhelmed and exhausted trying to fight against it, but when you pray that specific line, and really mean it, you have no rights anymore but God.
So let’s trust Him with every part of our life because He is wanting nothing but good even if we think our desires are ‘better.’
A key tip on how we can notice if we truly are yielded to God’s will is by analyzing what we are praying about, and if we truly feel okay and comforted if the answer is ‘no.’ We will have desires, and God truly wants to give us those desires, but He knows better than we, and if truly are at peace and comforted no matter if it happens or not, then we are in the right place, and God’s will for our lives will fulfill greatly because we are wanting what He wants for us.
Today I hope to encourage someone to let God truly lead their life. He wants the very best for you and for me, so why not try to give up an unrealistic control and allow God to order us somewhere more fulfilling than what we believe?
You can do it! I promise it’s worth it ;)
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As Godly women, it is so important for us to understand that we are valuable and unique as ourselves and more importantly, in the eyes of God.
~It is one thing to ‘know’ that, and it is another to ‘realize’ it. We must ‘realize’ it, or it can turn into something we do not want spiritually within ourselves… and we will cover that :)
One thing I commonly notice/intuitively study in young women is the fact that when they do not understand their own value, they portray as someone they are not or mock someone they privately admire and become so focused on those they look up to, resulting in hidden insecurity that is not so quietly hidden, but rather loud. Rooting from something never taken care of in the beginning-knowing your value in God.
Knowing our value in God means, knowing that you will never be exactly like someone else, and being okay with that. Knowing our value in God looks like knowing His word, and realizing that we are called, chosen, anointed, beautiful, and particular in His eyes. Our calling may be placed in a different area than someone else’s, and that is okay. Our anointing may display and resinate in unique ways vs. someone else’s, and that’s okay. Our beauty physically and character wise may vary from someone else's that they may hold, and that is okay.
When we stop and think about these things and truly accept that we are purposely different and honestly be okay with that, we are spiritually mature in that aspect, and our time and focus is not on them anymore, but on more important things- God, the kingdom, and our own refining.
I truly understand that it is easier said than done, because I believe there is no such thing as ‘small things’ when it takes time of healing and building to fully become whole again, and as I understand that completely( because we all come from different backgrounds, lifestyles, support groups, and current situations), one thing that I will emphasis is that, if one truly desires relationship, anointing, and growth in character and spirit in Jesus, they will put forth the effort of admitting their true feelings and seek the proper help and healing, which can all be found in Jesus-where our value lies.
I often receive messages and questions about personal growth, relationship with Jesus, and just girl talk in general-relating a lot in understanding ourselves as women, and this is why I believe it is vital to first understand who we are, before we are trapped in the enemy’s game. ~When we do not understand our value, we can become unsatisfied, envious, and negative in character (even if it’s portrayed as ‘positive’), and that leaves us ineffective in anointing, ministry, and even our own relationship with God, because when we are not content with who we are and how God purposely created us to be, we become obsessive and jealous with someone that we may hold inspiring or admiring. Resulting in deeper spiritual wounds, causing them to reflect outwardly in the natural- and it is easily seen through those in the Spirit.
Today I write this blog hoping to raise spiritual awareness and encourage those back to Jesus, where our hearts, spirit, confidence, and values are held. For us to cure anything we may be unsatisfied with truly only comes from an honest journey with God. Mending does not come within a day or a week- it takes time. That time may depend on how willing we may become to the process (will we push it away or allow the breaking and healing to happen?), and how much we really desire to be mended within ourselves so that we can fully be who we are, and not a copy of someone else.
As always, I encourage you to cut out anything that may be negative or un-benefiting to your spirit and mental health. If it is social media, un-uplifting posts, negative people etc., fast from it, cut it out and truly begin your journey of mending and figuring out who you are as a unique Godly woman.
You will realize that the way you are intentionally made, the field of calling you are chosen for, the spiritual gifts you hold, the unique beauty you display, and the anointing you carry that unveils differently but powerfully is how God purposely made it to be for YOU and ONLY you. You are a part of the body- you may be a different part :)
God loves us so much. He provides, He’s on time, He’s loving, He’s perfect, and through it all He still cares for our hearts and our self-esteem that He IS willing to mend us if we just ask and truly seek. If He cares about feeding the birds, how much more does He care about you?
You will find so much confidence, strength, and joy in your relationship with God and in who He has made you to be, and that follows with many good things :)
I hope you all are truly inspired, and I hope you all are having the best day!
]]>Tithing is a powerful act of worship unto God, and it still remains the same today.
Let’s talk about it!
Growing up in the church, we all have heard about the importance of giving our ‘tithes’ and ‘offerings’ unto the Lord, and many have wondered why it was so important and why it is still required of a believer to do so, and today I will be covering something I have specifically experienced with this matter and how our obedience/giving of tithes blesses us in the future! Not only is tithing a matter to “get,” but a matter to give honor where honor is due, and as a Christian, our honor is to be given unto God-who our honor belongs to.
Growing up in church, my understanding of tithing was not as nearly advanced as it is now, and throughout that time, I would give my tithes just to give it, but when we realize the importance of our giving rather than just “knowing” it, our perspective shifts, but more importantly, our heart towards God in our giving shifts- for the better!
First off, tithing is Biblical. In Lev. 27: 30 it states, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.”
This verse is clear to let us know that what we labor in our land(from our work), is significant to the Lord, and a part of that is honor unto God.
A few verses following that in Lev. 27: 34 it then states, “And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.” This verse again clarifies that what we labor in our work of any kind belongs to God, specifically 10%.
Why is tithing 10% specifically? I am not sure, but I plan to look into it! But, what I do know is that, out of the percentages of receiving for oneself, 10% is the lowest anyone could agree to receive within a covenant involving money, and tithing is a part of our covenant with God. This shows me that God does not rob us, but is requiring the least of our commitment, reassuring that He really is NOT a selfish God. But, sometimes we can be His robber when we do not give the 10% of what has always belonged to Him in the beginning, and that’s where we’ll go deeper.
Secondly, tithing is significant and powerful, and it takes the hands of the devourer off of our backs. From the versus provided, tithing has always been and will always remain Biblical, we now know that, but tithing has always held a powerful symbolic significance in the act of obedience and submission unto God, and with our obedience, the enemy cannot prosper in our lives.
When we tithe, the enemy has no hold over our finances or lives (although there will still be obstacles), but when we do not tithe, our lives usually become greatly attacked leaving us powerless.
Tithing doesn’t determine whether God is with us or will work for our good. He is and always will be with us no matter what, but tithing is a part of our relationship with God, and what I have noticed in my life is when I had not tithed in the past for a period, everything was under attack, and my thought now is ‘how could I have expected God to come through for me so much if I did not give of myself what was owed to Him in the beginning?’
Yes, it was by the Grace of God that He still worked on my behalf, but it was definitely always hard. Over the past years I have seen that my act of obedience to tithing has now opened so many unexpected doors and blessings to open up even when I am tempted every so often with the thought of “I can just pay it next week in a bulk” (if we are being real with ourselves). Never have I since, because I realize too much to abuse my commitment, but I am now sharing the importance of it because I truly understand the significance behind it all, and I choose to honor God with my life. Tithing does change our hearts towards giving what is due to God- for the better!
Now knowing and realizing what tithing is on a deeper level from the word, many do not remember that with our act of obedience to His word provided and our obedience towards our act of worship unto Him, blesses us for our truthful submission.
Tithing is Biblical, tithing is powerful, tithing takes the hands of the devourer off of our backs, and tithing allows God to bless us in many ways we will not expect!
As I thought about what to write for today’s blog, I have truly felt the need to address the importance of tithing because it is still required of our submission unto God, and I truly hope to inspire those who may not notice they are bypassing something that is still so powerful and important to God.
Today’s blog is not to condemn anyone, but rather to examine ourselves and realize what we are doing to further our relationship with God, and to just simply sacrifice what has already been due unto Him with the right heart. God loves us so much, and He is and will always be for us no matter what, but sometimes we cannot move forward in God’s plan as we think we are or desire too because we are being hindered by what we are not sacrificing in the flesh/spiritual. Today, I believe that will change, and many will commit again :)
Today I hope I have uplifted those who may not realize they were not giving in a certain area, and I hope to have encouraged the right heart of which we must have towards giving in that certain area. I believe that with God, He will show forth in every way, but sometimes we must understand a step we could be missing in order for those things to fully fulfill in our lives.
By our obedience :)
I hope you all are having a great day!
]]>It IS God’s will that our lives are healed!
Let’s talk about it :)
Recently I have found such an inspiration to speak about physical health as much as I love to speak about mental health and self-care, and with many mixed views and beliefs about health and medication, I believe that it is important to acknowledge these matters and understand them to an extent.
Recently, I have checked-in with my local Dr. to look into a few health concerns of mine, and with healthy results, it made me truly understand the importance of physical health and how I could have been in a placement of uncertainty and fear because of passed down conditions, as I was for a few days, but God has been so good and faithful, and always will be!
Throughout the New Testament, we see Jesus perform many miracles, signs, and wonders, especially when it came to healing the sick in body. In each gospel(Matt., Mark, Luke, & John), we regularly read about Jesus healing the sick and curing their infirmities, showing us today that Jesus cares about our health as He did those people recorded, and if it wasn’t something important for us to maintain, then Jesus would have never took the time to heal the sick in body or in spirit, but He did and He did it as many gathered to watch.
Jesus definitely cares about our health!
I write all of this to say that although we all have different opinions and beliefs about health and medication, I ultimately believe that God is our healer, but it is also important to obtain wisdom naturally and Biblically for our health in general, and there is nothing wrong with it.
-A small interesting fact, if you read in Colossians 4:14 it says, “Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.” In this verse, it is clarified that Luke was a doctor!
Of course, I do not fully believe in medication or the word of man, but I believe that there is nothing wrong with seeking professional help to avoid genetic or current illnesses that can damage our temple further. Of course, many solutions to sicknesses require medication, but when it comes to that point, I believe that is when we can pray about it and seek our pastoral guidance if synthetic or natural supplements are wise to take in our particular case. Health-care is there for our benefit and safety and God wants us to take care of our temple!
Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood, He healed the lepers, the possessed, the blind, the mute, the paralyzed, and much much more.
What makes you think He does not want the same for you? He most definitely does, and that is why He placed people in our world that have certain giftings and talents to help each other as the body. You are not a hypochondriac for caring about your body, and you are not a bad Chrsitian for seeking doctoral help. There is no condemnation in that : )
Today I hope to inspire anyone who is battling the decision of health concerns or even the decision to get checked for something you may be concerned about. Something that dropped in my spirit is this: If we cannot keep our health proper, then how can we be used for God’s kingdom or serve effectively knowing that we are abusing our health? We still can be used, but serving in God’s kingdom requires full effort, and if we abuse our temple, then what good is that?
Jesus loves us just as much as He showed His love for those He healed, and even more than that.
We must have wisdom and we must take care of our temple that is not our own.
I hope you all are having a great day : )
]]>Self-respect
Our self-esteem can reflect a lot, and usually it roots from our self-respect- the way we treat ourselves birthing the confidence we believe to have. Let’s have girl talk ; )
Many people get ‘self-esteem’ and ‘self-respect’ slightly confused majority of the time. Many assume it is the same concept, and it is to a certain extent, but it is actually very different and it can speak loudly when something is out of place.
Self-esteem is the belief of who you are, and when that belief it is in an unhealthy place or when it is hurting secretly, it can become the most loudest reflection directly and indirectly, and that is where we must understand ourselves naturally and spritiually.
What is the opinion of who you believe to be truthfully?
A part of what you think about yourself or how you believe yourself to be plays a portion of how you respect yourself first.
If you talk down about yourself, you’ll eventually believe the words you claim to be.
If you consistently live as a people pleaser, you’ll eventually live as a pushover.
If you neglect your health by a bad diet, you’ll have health problems.
If you allow yourself to be fed by negative people, you’ll feel and eventually become negative yourself.
The relation here is that what you “put in,” is what “you get.” What you allow is what you’ll be.
Self-resepct starts with what you allow permission into your body and Spirit, reflecting in who you are at the end.
Self-respect specifically is the action of taking care of yourself with love and respect. Usually the root to self-esteem.
When we take care of our self-esteem by knowing who we are in Jesus, the respect we have for ourself will be so much more caring and sacred that we will not allow what is not good for ourselves ‘into’ ourselves. That’s where it starts and that’s where it continues.
Self-respect starts with us. How can we begin to develop true self-respect?
By first understanding who we are by temperament(character) and how sacredly valuable we are in God(spiritual). Once we truly have it within ourselves that we are so significant and special, we will desire to treat ourselves that way and that is where boundaries come in to play-my favorite part! ; )
When the word “boundaries” is spoken, what pops into mind first? Rules? Restrictions?
That’s a part of it if we’re thinking quickly, yes, but boundaries are not sets of rules to give ourself to make ourselves feel restricted or unhappy, but they are limits of what we accept that is “okay” and what we accept that is “not okay” for ourselves.
Boundaries place a protection in our life. Boundaries are set limits of what we decide we will tolerate and what we know we will not tolerate. Examples of placed boundaries could be:
Fun fact, this list above is my boundary list.
For someone who lived unrealistically for quite some time, God has truly showed me and changed that part in me, but I had to be okay with exercising these boundaries understanding that I wasn’t “being mean” for doing so. It didn’t happen over-night, but it did take a big shift in practing them, and with God’s help, I’m so thankful for this protection in my life!
When we begin to live with boundaries, we begin to experience a stress-free and protected life naturally and spiritually! We must understand that we cannot continue to live an unrealistic and unhealthy life as humans.
It is so damaging and can be so unfilling at the end, but when God is involved in our change, fruitfulness is bestowed, because we are not worried about trying to please others on an unbeneficial measure, but on a kingdom minded matter-what really matters!
We can withhold healthy limits in our lifestyle!
Today I hope to encourage anyone who is wondering whether or not they are stretching themselves out in unrealistic directions.
Study your character and who you can be, and examine what areas in your life you can use walls to protect yourself and live bodly.
I am all about growth, and a part of growing does not happen over night, but a portion of it can, but will we be willing to grow even if setting boundaries and exercising limits feel uncomfortable?
It all starts with us. I choose to respect myself, how about you? ;)
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Once I thought of it, it was absolutely true.
5 years ago, one of the prayers I always prayed was the prayer of Bible College. Of course, 5 years ago, at the age of 17-18 when I first started praying for this matter, I was a bit discouraged when I had not seen it happen over time, but unexpectedly, God made a way, and now I attend Urshan College.
Urshan was never exactly the Bible College I had hoped to attend, but that’s what’s funny about it all because where I thought I wanted to be, God had other plans. It was still good, and it was something I needed- growth.
Soon entering my junior year of college at Urshan, I look back and I definitely remember how God orchestrated every decision and every step to lead where I am now. My desire for Bible College was viewed as impossible for a period of time. I did consistently pray about it, and after a while it suddenly happened, and I can honestly say that I am living at least one of the prayer I prayed for 5 years ago. It was all God!
My encouragement to anyone reading this blog today, is to continue praying for the desires of your heart while also desiring and accepting God’s will. For example, in my case, when I thought I would be at a certain Bible College, God placed me where I am now, because it is what I needed but the point is that He still fulfilled my desire and my prayer years ago.
Do not be discouraged about the prayers and desires you have in God right now. As I thought before, my desire of Bible College seemed so far away, but as I look back, God fulfilled a desire of mine, and I could have chose to keep praying and believing, or give up. But I chose otherwise.
God understands the desires of your heart, and if we know how to give good gifts as people in this world, how much more can God? He loves us and He wants us to lay our dreams in His hands, and He knows what’s best.
Stay encouraged and believe that He is working for you- whatever that may be.
Your prayers are being fulfilled in His time, and when they come to pass, never forget to thank God for His goodness. He loves you and He will give you the desires of your heart :)
Self-care has been overlooked in so many ways, even in the church, but the truth is, self-care is so vital as human beings.
Growing up, self-care was not considered important. It was never acknowledged, and if it was, it was acknowledged as a negative matter leaving many to believe that they were ‘lazy’ or ‘dead-beat.’
With this viewpoint instilled in many people, even to this day, our world(and churches) have been slowly but informatively awaring individuals that self-care is not a negative thing- it is a vital aspect to one’s life.
God made us in His image, and as humans, we are humans-not robots. Realistically, many have worn themselves out to the extent of having major health problems or even unexpected health problems that display in their health because of the unrealistic overload accommodated each day. Since the perception of self-care has been overlooked as a negative aspect over time, it is hard for many individuals to accept rest for themselves, believing they are useless or ‘sloppy,’ when really, it is realistic.
Rest is not a bad thing. God rested after creating the world, Jesus took a nap on the boat during a storm. If our God recorded in His word instances of rest, then it was to display that rest is needed in one’s life and it is not a negative concept.
Rest and even any sort of self-care should definitely be balanced. Of course I am not advocating selfishness or laziness, but I am speaking of rest in an appropriate and balanced modification. Self-care does not exclude life, but it should always be practiced in appropriate settings.
Self-care could look like physically resting your body, or just taking alone time to regain energy or motivation. Either way, resting was never intended to be a negative matter but a beneficial aspect of rejuvenation.
God created us to worship Him, make disciples of all nations, and to preach the gospel… but we cannot do a portion of that if we do not take care of ourselves. We cannot give if we have nothing left to give. Resting is vital and it is Biblical :)
Understand that your body is a temple, and it is for His Glory. He made you to need rest :)
]]>This world places a great emphasis on ‘confidence.’ Not a confidence rooted in Christ, but a ‘confidence’ rooted in one’s self including their looks, accomplishments, statuses, or their level of degree.
The difference between the world’s definition of ‘confidence’ and our definition of ‘confidence’ as the body revolves around something that matters most, and that’s not what we look like, what we can do, or what we’ve accomplished, but it is rooted in Jesus Christ-the one who first loved us and created us for His Glory and not our own. That’s the difference :)
We see it everywhere, especially one's independence displayed in the media, but the truth is, confidence does not only root in oneself alone but should root in the one that is never failing. Jesus :)
If we are being honest with ourselves, I’m positive we can remember a time where we tried to do things our way, believing that we can do it ourselves, but then quickly saw where it led-not so far.
Believe me! I am so for planning and advancing in life, but the reason I am being transparent is to say that I remember what it was like to take upon everything in life and believe that with only my judgment, it would be perfectly fine. And that’s not how it usually ends up, and I quickly realized that.
When we have God at the center of our life and we are intentionally seeking His will for our lives while trying to stay Christ-minded, our path becomes guided and directed in ways we would have not imagined, because our desires begin to line up with God’s desires, and that’s when our path becomes straight rather than derailed.
Confidence in God is not a physical appearance but rather a belief that even if things are not panning out as planned, He still loves and He is still working things out for the good of those who love Him. He is a God of His word, and that’s our confidence.
No matter what society says, remember that the God who made you will never leave you or forsake you. Confidence is linked to faith- it’s believing and standing firm in God knowing that He will come through always. And He always does :)
Confidence is our strong belief, so let it be on Jesus because He is never failing and He got’s you :)
]]>Waiting can be a challenging thing, especially when all of your friends are engaged or married.
Girls, to be completely honest, I understand truly! But, just because that is not us right now, does not mean that we “lost our chance” or “missed it.” We are in the preparation for it :)
I’m 22- I’ll be 23 in the beginning of July. With that being said, I understand the church culture pressure of being married before a certain age, and it has definitely gotten to me at times and still does.
As I have gotten older, my view of marriage has developed into a more realistic matter, knowing that whoever I choose will be the person I cord with forever, and will be the father of my future children. Ask me a year or two ago, and I would have thought of marriage in a naive setting.
Girls, waiting is a definite preparation…even in our own mentality/maturity. But, something I will add, maturity can develop in a sudden time. It doesn’t always have to take “years.”
It may not feel or look like it, but a waiting season is a preparation season in every aspect. Everyday we are growing, and everyday we become wiser than we once were, and that’s what growing is all about- constantly being teachable.
Lately, preparation has looked like consecration and honestly, “isolation.” I wouldn’t exactly say “isolation” for sure, but I would say something quite similar. When God prepares you for something great, sometimes it feels like you're going through a weird/lonely time, and yes it is a season, but it’s a preparation season and God needs you to remove yourself from constant voices swaying you in different ways. He’s teaching us to recognize His voice so that we will rely on Him solely…and that’s what I can testify for myself.
What God is doing in you for preparation is greater than you may think or feel. It may not look/feel like you're being prepared for something grand, but in due time He will show you, and everything you thought was “little” or “unimportant” to God in this refining season will display just how important it really was…for a time that you will need to remember what you have been trained in :)
To all my girls still waiting, keep waiting… and trust in the Lord. It’s not silly, and it’s not unrealistic to hold a standard of what you desire in a husband and how you will prepare and wait for him. There’s still “God-stories” when it comes to marriage, but the real question is, will you wait even when culture says “your times up?” Because it’s NOT… but will you still hold on in discouraging moments?
God loves us more than we can imagine, and marriage is a GOOD THING. It has always been a powerful and beautiful covenant…which is why waiting for it is so honorable in God’s eyes.
Keep preparing. Continue praying for your spouse, and continue working on yourself so that when both paths are crossed, you will be all that he needs and he will be all that you need. There is such a beauty in preparing for something beautiful, and I know that God will fulfill every desire for His glory, but it takes our participation.
You did not miss it, and you did not lose your chance. Continue consecrating, seeking, serving, loving, and refining.
He’s going to bless you :)
]]>What’s my skincare?
-
My skincare routine never consisted of many fancy or expensive products, but the products I do use have always worked for me for over 5 years now, and I continue to stick with them because they have always maintained my skin. So, I want to share them with you all :)
Background:
It’s so important for us to pay attention to our skin. Throughout my teen years, I did not care as much or pay attention to even the simplest things for my cause of acne, and once I did figure out the majority of my acne breakouts, I understood how I could quickly heal it and now it’s not as difficult anymore. My skin is extremely dry but also sensitive to oils, alcohols, and fragrances, but so far, I have mastered my routine by knowing what I can handle and what I can’t handle, and we will get into that soon! For us to realize what’s best needed for our skin, we must become attentive to how our skin reacts to products, how it displays during the day(texture/color), what we eat/drink(put into our bodies), and what we come in contact with to irritate it(everyday usages), etc. Let’s get started!
Things I didn’t know about my skin:
Since my skin is extremely dry and sensitive at times, I didn’t know that simple everyday things would affect it the way it did, like phone cases, etc. Even from the way that I ate, considering I found out that I am both gluten and lactose intolerant-living the best life haha!
Since I have food allergies, I did not know that the food I would eat with traces or high amounts of the allergens began to not only upset my stomach but reflect out in my face as well, as one would know as breaking out. After knowing these matters, I have tried a routine that has worked for a few years now, and I have kept it ever since, and if you have dry sensitive skin, and also food allergies, this could possibly help you as well. I will list it all below. I hope this helps someone!
Routine:
What I do to maintain my skin:
This is what I have learned :)
]]>This crossed my mind as I read in John chapter 2 (the wedding at Cana).
As I read this passage, I was refreshed on my knowledge of what happened during this event, and as many of you already know, this segment was over the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. An amazing thing to witness.
As I carefully studied the passage more in depth, what revealed to me was a matter so relatable in modern Chrsitian society just as literal as it had happened in that time period.
In John 2, Mary says to Jesus, “they have no wine.” Analyzing the passage, the tone seemed a bit panicked following Jesus saying, “My hour has not yet come.”
As many of us can truthfully witness, sometimes we come before God knowing that He can fulfill ‘it,’ whatever we are desiring/needing, but then ask/pray it to be done when we want it too-like in panic of timing(our age specifically).
I found this to be so accurate today. In the church, sometimes we believe that our time is “running out” or we’re “too old” to do that which was prophesied over our lives in panic of timing, like if we are “missing it.” When that is not true at all.
As Jesus held the authority as usual, when ‘it’ was time to take place, it took place-but when He said it. No matter how much we try to force something to happen, usually it does not, unless God is in it. Many times as humans, we try to strive for that which was spoken to us, leaving us disappointed when it hasn’t happened yet, when in all honesty, God is desiring us to trust Him and just wait. And we usually don’t like that, because culture and our desires say “now.”
If God promised you something specific over your life (prophetically spoken over you), do not underestimate what He can & will do-when His hour has come. Keep holding on to what has been promised to you. Continue walking fully in Him and love Him with all your heart, and you will not be disappointed. You just haven’t seen it yet.
No more forcing, no more panicking over our age like if we “missed it.”
If He said it, He will hold His end on it, but when He knows it’s time..and your age has nothing to do with that.
Love you guys :)
]]>We all have gone through seasons in our life, whether they were times of grief, loss, uncertainty, or silence, we have experienced a ‘wilderness’ or ‘valley’ at one point in time- or are currently.
A ‘valley,’ or a ‘wilderness’ can display an exterior image to the opposite Christian party as ‘chastening’ or ‘God-less’ over an individual’s life from what they judge to perceive, but the truth is, it is in fact not a bad or negative place to be in at all. A season is not a punishing placement, but it can be if you choose to perceive it that way because what you think you see, you will eventually believe.
The thing about a season is that, throughout it all, God still remains. He’s never left no matter how it feels.
The thing about a season is that, when it feels empty, lonely, and ‘unfruitful,’ it is the raw beginning of the flourishing fruits bearing on your tree that will sustain you for the mission ahead.
It is the growing pains within the process that is allowing you to come out of the valley or wilderness stronger with spiritual sensitivity, and with fruit that will sustain you for the assignment. And I don’t know about you, but I’m okay with that!
There is a season and a purpose under heaven for everything, and in order for us to reach higher in our callings and deeper in God, we must accept the season we are in and cooperate with it fully no matter the people we may lose in the process or the uncomfortable placement we may transition in. More importantly, we must remember and hold close to our hearts that God has never left our side in the position of where we stand in our season.
It can be so easy to believe such a lie from the enemy, but throughout the ‘silent’ seasons in our life, comes the greatest sensitivity, the greatest growth, and the greatest accomplishments in God. A season is so significant and it is a good thing, during and ending.
If you seem to find yourself in a valley or wilderness, know that in order for you to get where you need to be in your character, relationship, or mission, understand that you must go through the refining process, and it is necessary for the great accomplishments you will do for Him. Think of it as your training.
God has never left you. You will do AMAZING things in Him if you submit to the process.
Take your season as an honor!
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We are constantly refining.
Whether an example of that is learning to love God and others on a deeper level, or learning how to be a better witness, there’s always a positioning for growth, because every day He is guiding us, and every day we are growing as a seed constantly being watered by our surroundings.
If I am being honest, I believe that true growth and favor roots from the confidence of being vulnerable with God and with others (to an extent).
This may not have crossed only my mind, but sometimes I am led to believe that believers in the church are hindered by their ‘statues’ or their ‘image in regards to sincerely showing a vulnerability at the altar, possessively displaying a posture carried as if I have it all together or You can’t show your weakness. Pray for someone who looks like they’re struggling.
Not only have these honest remarks been shared with me by brave people, but it is something easily spotted at times, and if I can be real, I see it the majority of the time.
Referring back to what I said earlier, I know for a fact that God honors every part that we give of ourselves to Him, but if it’s not ‘our all,’ then it is not truthful. Leaving many wondering why others can get their breakthroughs and blessings in fullness as we expect for ourselves, but we do not give it fully, to begin with.
As I continue to observe these matters, I want to encourage you all that there is nothing wrong with pouring yourself out at the altar or wherever you are in a congregation worshipping God. You are not weak, and you are not perceived as ‘always battling,’ but you are truly confident and every ounce of vulnerability you give without a care of who sees you or not, is highly favored by God, and yes, He does act upon that authenticity.
Where there is vulnerability, there is authenticity, and where there is authenticity, there is power. Faith becomes stronger and easier, and love flourishes with sincerity.
No matter the ‘what ifs,’ do it anyway, because at the end of the day it is your soul, your race, your relationship, and your mission on this earth. So let it all be for His Glory, and watch His love for you show in many ways.
I love you all so much.
Know that He is for you, and that is all that matters :)
God will not make you suffer to see you in pain. He is maturing you, preparing you, for the promise He has for you.
Read this as many times as you'd like. God's timing is perfect and isn't a thing to be rushed (preaching to myself too 😅).
I feel that especially in these current times, it seems everyone is getting in a relationship, getting married, and etc. You see the occasional funny post poking fun at the topic on your Instagram feed wondering when your blessing is coming.
It's so incredibly easy to get wrapped up in someone else's life that you forget about the unique plan God made for you.
We all are on different time lines so we have to ask ourselves, do we really believe that God knows us enough to know when exactly we need things to happen?
Whatever answer you were able to come up with. I just want to remind you that God knows the number of every single hair on your head, he knew you before you were even formed in your mother's belly..
He is more than capable of creating a love story for you that you thought only existed in fairytales.
This season of waiting is something that can't be hopped over. Throughout the waiting season, God is preparing you for your promise. He draws things out you no longer need and puts in new, holy attributes.
The waiting season is such an important time for growth directly under God's hand.
Thank God today for our waiting seasons that will make us better equipped!
I pray that this word encourages you to wait on God's special, hand-crafted plan for you because He loves you too much to give you something too early or something too late.
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him."
James 1:2-5 HCSB
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
Matthew 7:11
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly."
Psalm 84:11
- God bless ladies :)
Abigail went to Urshan Bible College for 1 year and is pursuing school to become an Apostolic Psychiatrist. She enjoys writing about God in her free time and has a page dedicated to what she loves: @Iammadewell. She wants nothing more for young ladies in Christ to be encouraged and knowledgeable. She would love to get to know each of you.
]]>If I’m being honest, there was a point in my life where I wasn’t the best dresser growing up. From the age of 15-18, I struggled with wearing things appropriately. It use to make me feel “Amish” and I just never liked it.
If I’m also being honest, my relationship with God at that time was not where I would have liked it to be, but all of that changed once I stopped playing games and I chose to live right for God and wanted what He wanted for me.
Dressing modestly starts from the heart and then reflects openly. I use to think that dressing modestly was ugly and Amish but when I began to grow deeper in my relationship with God, I started to love it.
As women, we want to be attractive to people, specifically men, and the cause of that sometimes tricks us to believe that we have to compromise our values for a man to “consider us” when that is not true at all. Our dress for modesty doesn’t root from a guy but God-the only man that we should consider.
In a post I shared once, I spoke about the importance of modesty and what it represents, but today I want to encourage anyone reading that no matter the mistakes you made before, all of it is covered under the blood and you can restart :)
Dressing modestly is not a “cover-up” but it is a relationship with our God and He is pleased by it. We are to present our bodies, Holy, before Him and as a living sacrifice(see Romans 12:1).
We don’t dress to please man on this earth but we dress to please God because our lifestyle should be a reflection of who He is.
Dress for God and remember that every time you choose to dress modestly, God sees that, and as simple as that is to us, it doesn’t just go unseen. He sees it and He honors that, and that’s all that matters!
Dressing modestly doesn’t mean it is boring or ugly, and it sure doesn’t mean we do it because of man on earth, but for Him. After all, you can still dress modestly and still have style!
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As women, we all compare ourselves to a point. Whether it be through success, talents, or even in beauty, we all think we are not enough, but we are. How do I know? Because God says we are.
Cliche, right?
A while back I wrote a blog titled comparison kills. In that post, I covered how comparing ourselves as women damages and steals our identity in Christ, and it still applies the same today. Today I simply want to encourage any young women out there to understand that you are all called and chosen by God.
We are all the body of Christ, which means we are different bits of help to the church just like there are different parts of a body-all different but work together in unity for one purpose. We are different but still powerful. Comparing ourselves or loathing someone else for what they are doing because that is something we want to do, doesn’t please God but shows where our hearts are, to begin with.
There is nothing wrong with looking up to certain women or things that inspire us to become better, but obsessing over it and more alarmingly, becoming envious over that person or their success is what becomes wrong and does not show motives of a Godly woman but of the flesh. We all are guilty of feeling or thinking this way at some point in our lives but recognizing immediately when that comes to mind or heart is what we need to pray against.
God has called each of us differently, that can look like worship ministry, preaching, teaching, etc. We are all called differently but still strive for the same purpose and that is to reach the lost. Our unique callings, the way we present ourselves, the ministry we are a part of, the actions we are taking to fulfill what it is that God is calling us to, all of these things listed are powerful and it takes each of us to have a willing and submissive heart to allow God to work through us in these areas, but it can’t be fulfilled by only one person. It takes a team and a part of that team is YOU. You are a part of this great plan!
I’m here to encourage every young woman who reads this that you hold power within yourself. You hold power in your words. You hold power in your actions. Instead of wanting to be someone else, be yourself in God. Again, there is nothing wrong with admiring someone, but when it comes to the point where you began to become jealous and competitive against that person or of what they are doing, that’s where it becomes sin, and believe it or not, God won’t take you forward having that mindset, attitude, and heart towards it all.
Understand who you are in God because no matter how much validation you get from the world, that will never fill the void you are looking for. Our confidence comes from Him because He is a God who will NEVER fail.
Read who God says you are in His word and meditate on it. Go forth in what He’s called you to do and don’t hinder yourself back with wrong motives of the heart, don’t allow it!!
You all are unique and have different testimonies( I am sure ;) ) so go out there and accomplish what God is asking of you!
-Love, someone rooting for you all <3
]]>Honesty is the Only Way
Some people don’t like to show their vulnerability openly. While many may find it easier to allow themselves to express their hearts towards people or situations, there are some of those who find it a challenge to allow themselves to open up-but something so precious in the eyes of God is our vulnerability to Him. Our honesty and here’s why.
Discovering this truth in an 8 am class of mine, I found this fact to be so true considering how much it lines up with the character of God. Something discussed in my general Psychology class was the topic of emotions and how many of us tend to neglect what we are feeling and the result of that sometimes leads to individuals putting up walls even against God, and that is something that can hinder our relationship with Him-because He desires our honesty. When we are honest with ourselves, we are being truthful.
God knows our hearts. He knows our motives, how we feel, and how we think, but even though He knows us, He desires us to know Him, and that is by allowing Him to meet us where we are.
Life can be hard. We deal with many different challenges whether that’d be financially, spiritually, or through relationships-they all can disappoint us. But God won’t, He’s just calling us to talk with Him.
Although there is much I would like to say in every post I write, I want to encourage someone that it’s okay to let Him know you. If I can pass down any specific spiritual advice to anyone, one of them would include being honest with God. Not only in our words, but in our actions towards Him. Letting Him truly understand you, your heart, your thoughts, your hurts-everything, that’s when our relationship with Him is not only vulnerable, but it is pure and deep. Your relationship becomes intimate.
God’s not requiring perfection, He’s requiring honesty. Let Him in.
]]>“All are called but few are chosen”(Matthew 24:13/ KJV).
Many times it can become frustrating trying to figure out what your purpose is in the body. You may actually know what it is that God is calling you to or you may have an idea but aren’t so sure if it’s exactly you or God calling you in that direction, and I can tell you that I’ve been there and I’ve done that. I understand!
Sometimes we question God. We question what it is that we are really called to do for Him and sometimes we believe the lies spoken to us by the enemy of thinking that we aren’t called to do great things for God when clearly that is a lie. The enemy loves to attack us with whatever it is that we allow Him to attack us with and honestly, we choose to believe it, sadly.
God has purposely called us specifically to certain ministries as the body and has entrusted us with certain gifts that are not exactly the same as our neighbor’s but have the same part in the body as the church and that’s what makes us uniquely made and powerful in God.
We all have a ministry, whether God has revealed it to you specifically or you are still seeking that specific answer, God has called every person on this planet to be His willing vessel but it takes us to submit to being that willing vessel to allow God to use us the way He wants to use us. Often times we can get so caught up with the “what I want to do for God” mindset that we forget that He determines what and how to use us. There’s nothing wrong with desiring to be used by God in different ways and areas, but sometimes we can deceive ourselves into pushing our motives into a box that maybe God is not even calling us in truly.
That is not to say that you aren’t called into the areas you may feel led in, but if we are not careful we can end up calling our own selves into fields that may not even be the will of God for our lives because we’re so focused on ourselves and what ‘we’ want to do. Never let it get to that point.
There is so much more I can speak about this topic but I’m going to keep it short and I want to encourage those who may feel like they ‘don’t have a calling’ or they don’t know what their calling is specifically, or is feeling led in areas of ministry that they are not sure about. My advice to you is, do not stop praying. Do not give up seeking for that answer. Sometimes certain things only come by prayer and fasting but if you are dedicated and are willing to be that vessel for God however He wants to use you, He will speak, and He will use you. But, you have to mean those words and be prepared when it’s time.
God is willing to use anyone who truly wants to be used and if He is leading you in an area with a deep burden and passion, continue to pray about it and trust that God will speak, and most of the time it’s those strong urges that never go away for certain fields that God leads His people to labour and harvest. It’s all about reaching the lost and ministering to people. Ministry is not for our glory and it is not for our image, but for the Glory and image of God almighty.
Matthew 9:37, “Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Do not doubt what He is calling you to do for Him. He is calling you and He is speaking to you, and His timing is perfect. Whether you are still seeking an answer, or whether you are building the ministry you have been given, we are all minister’s, and by this waiting and prepping time, we can be serving and ministering now as the ministry we are all given and called to do.
To reach the lost!
“I trust you, even when I don’t understand. My life is in your hands. I know that you’re in control” -Jonathan Traylor
Trusting can be hard. Especially if you’ve ever been wronged by someone’s actions or words that we put full confidence in before. One thing that I can promise someone who felt they could never trust anyone is, you can fully trust God with your everything, and I can promise you that.
Many times in our life we go ups and downs and we usually want the security of some sort, like a word from someone that you can hold on to and fully have confidence in hopes that it will never fail you, but I can say that we all have experienced ‘let down’ by someone’s words in our lives but I’m here to tell you, God’s words never fail, and that’s an absolute fact.
God will NEVER fail us. Many times people have a hard time believing in God, not because they are rebellious or trying to seek ‘pity,’ but are truly having a hard time believing or holding onto a word because of the letdown they’ve experienced in their past. It all comes back to experience, but the Bible says in Pslams 118:8-9, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”
The Bible clearly states that it is better to put our trust in God than to put it in man because man WILL fail us. We are not perfect, and we never will be, but a security that we can solidly have is knowing that God is our perfect hope and His word for our lives personally and Biblically will NEVER fail no matter who thinks or says what. One thing we have to understand about God is that He IS perfect. He is perfect. Perfect and without sin, He will not go back on His word and He will never fail us. That is where our confidence lies!
God wants us to trust Him in everything, even when we don’t understand. He wants us to rely upon Him fully, He wants us to turn to Him in everything, but do we do it? Do we trust Him like we say we do? I’m also speaking to myself. What hurts to just fully believe what was spoken to us? Whose report are we going to believe, man or God’s? These are some root questions I often think to myself.
God is for you, He is not against you. Trust in His word, trust that He’s in control and that He has you in His hands. As His son and daughter He will never let you down.
I’d rather believe and trust in my God who is my savior than to trust in man who is imperfect and limited.
]]>Worship is not only a physical activity done for God, but it is a lifestyle we choose to live for God.
Many times we have the wrong mindset when it comes to worship. We think that we must have to actively jump around or do movement of some sort for something to be considered worship when really, worship is loving God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds (see Matt. 22:37 NKJV).
Loving God with all of our hearts is loving God in what some might say, “our emotions.” The heart is where our feelings and emotions flow through and because God gave them to us for a reason, we are called to use them in return to loving Him, not just in use for our natural behavior.
The heart is where we feel things, it is where our sensitivity is present, and our sensitivity to the presence of God is important and should never be taken advantage of.
Loving God with all of our soul is loving God in our Spirits. The Bible says in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” As Holy Ghost filled Apostolics, we are to love God with the Spirit that resinates inside of us with a true worship, and that is what is being spoken in the verse above. The spiritual realm calls for a sensitivity and when worship takes place, our spirits are vulnerable to the sensitivity of the spirit realm, and that is what is required of us. We are to worship in spirit and in truth-our vulnerability.
Loving God with all of our minds is loving Him in a mindset of knowing who He is. Our minds are a lot different from our hearts and in the Bible it does say that our hearts are deceivers at times, but because our minds are equipped to work differently than our heart, we are to use it in an accord of knowing who God is and acting upon that through our hearts. Our minds is a powerful place, and to love God with it is to yield our knowledge of who He is while experiencing the aftermath of that, which is worship in all ways. When one part of the body activates, the others participate.
Worshiping God is vital, it is a part of our lifestyle as a Chrsitian. In everything that we do for God and in everything we do in our lives should revolve around pleasing Him. We explained what worshipping God is in heart, soul and mind and with that, we can better understand what is required of our worship. Worshipping God is simply pushing away our pride and sacrificing our best to the King because He is worthy.
In everything we do for God, our worship is required above all, and He is pleased by it.
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We all want to grow better as human beings.
But do we receive the growth to submit and work with it? Sometimes not.
Growing pains can hurt but the whole point of them is to stretch us beyond what is in our comfort level and beyond what is thought of us in our boxed mentality.
Growing is not always an exciting matter. It is easy to want to be better as a person or in our talents/abilities, but do we put forth the effort to make our flesh participate in what we are experiencing?
Growth can feel very uncomfortable. It can feel like something is “wrong” or “off” when you are going through the stages of it, but it is just the way we are reacting to it because growing is not easy and it is not something we are not used to.
Growing can be produced from our pain. Or should I say, it usually does? Often we like the thought of advising ourselves spiritually or naturally, but do we know that growth comes with pain and sacrifice? Anyone can try to advance themselves in anything they want, but even trying to advance ourselves in the slightest things can still cause pain or sacrifice of some sort.
Many of us like to seek transformation, but transformation doesn’t just happen overnight and it doesn’t happen without giving up something or working through something.
Changing is transformation and transformation is sacrifice, but the sacrifice is pain... It can be confusing and can be hurtful, but through it all, we are becoming better than what we already are.
The process of growing is not always the fastest or the best at moments, but when we continue moving forward in our best and “worst,” after a bit of time, we see how far we’ve come.
The Bible says in Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control(NIV).
Our growth from our neighbor’s growth will always be different and that is okay but it is vital that we do not worry about the time it takes for the transformation to take place but the fruit that it is bearing us. Growing is a process and for true growth in God, spiritually into the natural, we are required to stand strong and put up the fight that will come along with change.
God has a mysterious way of working things out for our good, and although we may not know or understand “what is going on” in a growing process, our trust can lie safely in His hands because the God who created everything, including us, stands by us, is for us, and will never leave us. So why do we fear is what is happening?
Growth feels uncomfortable, but I’d much rather feel uncomfortable while being in the will of God knowing that He is working on me and through me than to feel comfortable and be stagnant.
Especially when you don’t know where exactly He’s taking you. It’s easy to trust when everything seems to be going great in our lives, but when the bumpy roads begin to take place, we can easily become weary and in panic of how to control what is not in our power to control. That is where we tend to forget who’s got us-that’s Jesus.
If we are honest with ourselves, we can come to the acknowledgment that sometimes we do not always look to God in our time of crisis. We can easily become so consumed with what the enemy is attacking and warping our minds with that it can derail us and cause us to stumble more by worrying rather than remembering and turning to the one who has always had it in His hands. The classic attack of the enemy.
Trusting in God simply means- stop trying to control things yourself. As men and women, it can be hard to abide by that line, but it is the truth and if you think about it, that’s the whole point of putting our trust in God. Trying to control things that aren't meant for us to control contradicts the whole point of trusting in Him. Believe me, I am speaking to myself.
If we are called to allow God to fight our battles and leave what is worrying us in the palm of His hands, then why don’t we do it?
There are many reasons to that, from the slightest thing to the biggest thing. Any bit of uncertainty can make our flesh panic and in need of a helpful power, but that’s because we were designed for a need of a security as humans, and that’s Jesus Christ.
It is the New Year, and with this New Year I want to encourage you all to remember who holds your world. Remember what God has done for you in your lifetime because just like He has came through for you before, He will always come through for you again, because He’s never changed. Our lack of trust can lead us in the opposite direction sometimes, but in Proverbs 3:5-6 it states, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths”(KJV).
When we let go of trying to control what is not ours to control, we allow God to step in and lead our worry into miracles, signs, and wonders, but it takes us(our flesh) to submit and allow His specific work to be done. It is hard, and it can be even harder when we don’t “see” what is being done for us on our part, but behind that all is God working behind the process and sometimes we just don’t see that yet. But we will!
Prayer is everything and if we are praying and most importantly, believing that God is working a way out, by the faith we place in Him pleases Him and begans to manifest His hand upon our lives, because that’s just who He is. He is a miracle worker, a promise keeper, and with knowing that, that is where our security lies. In Him!
2020 was a challenge but 2021 will be a result of what that challenge was, and I believe that!
Let’s re-direct our focus and trust God with the realization that He’s got you, and He always has.
He is never failing.
]]>What’s amazing about God is that, He keeps His promises.
No matter what the enemy tries to convince us of, he has NO power over the plan of God. None whatsoever. We are all called by God, and with that comes the importance of believing the plan and promises that He has bestowed upon our lives.
Maybe we have a desire that we are patiently waiting God to fulfil, or maybe we have a personal promise from God that we were given and are anxious for it to happen.
In 2 Corinthians 1:20 it says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God”(NIV).
As transparent as that verse is, God’s promises are yes and amen.
The enemy enjoys discouraging us, and by that he tries to convince us that what God has said will not happen when if we know His word, we will know that He is NOT a liar. God cannot lie, does not lie, and will not lie. But, because the enemy is crafty, he can quickly plant seeds of doubt and unbelief in our minds in ways that make it seem like it’s harmless when really, it is so harmful.
When we allow the enemy to speak his lies to us, we allow the permission of accepting his plan of destruction against God’s plan of prosperation. It is easy to believe that something is not possible rather than believing that something is possible through God because it takes our part as a christian to put our trust and faith in a process that we cannot see just exactly yet. As humans, we don’t want to be crushed at something we wholeheartedly desired and hoped for, and that is why we tend to pull back in believing in something fully because of our pre-preparation for in case it “doesn’t happen.” But God is calling us to fully believe in Him for everything, especially those promises He’s given you personally.
Sometimes we misunderstand the character of God. We can view Him as God almighty, but when it comes to that time of believing in what He has said, it can quickly become a doubt game when He is God, and He can do anything. Without faith it’s impossible to please God, but with our faith, we cause God to be impressed and He begins to act upon our belief in who He is, not just for what He can do for us.
Those promises you were given by God were not given to you so that you can be destroyed by them. That’s the enemy’s character, not God’s. When we realize that God is not the author of confusion, when we realize that He is not a liar and that He is not a God of destruction but of completion, we began to realize that He is perfect, He loves us, and His perfect plan for our lives will fulfil no matter what is spoken. And that is where our security fully lies-in Him.
With that, it is safe to believe exactly what has been spoken to you by God whether it was spoken to you in your personal prayer life, through a spiritual leader, or through His word, God’s words are not lies and everything that He has promised you will come to pass but it takes patience and consecration because it is in His perfect timing that His word will began to fulfill.
Trusting and believing Him is truly what it is about, but it takes our patience and belief in what He has spoken to us directly. He will never fail!
]]>Let’s be honest, choosing a lifestyle of modesty can be a bit of a challenge, especially for us women if we are being real with ourselves. The reason I say this is because, us being women, we battle with the fact of being “beautiful” to a man. That’s just how we were naturally designed. We naturally battle with affirmation, we naturally battle with feeling wanted, we naturally battle with a yearn for attention in some way, and if you sit and think of it, the attention we seek is the attention of the opposite sex. The core to that all connects to the first fall of man found in Genesis. As women, were created for a man, and our natural instinct and design is to feel wanted and to be “beautiful” to him, right? Well, that is where I’m going back to ‘the lifestyle of choosing modesty can be a challenge’ point. Why? Because our flesh wants to reveal what we have in affirmation as to “how beautiful” we are, but a sincere choice and practice of modesty is what is highly respected and honored greatly to a man. To your future spouse(or current), but even more importantly, it is highly respected in the eyes of God. And that is what matters mostly-us pleasing Him. Here’s a quick uplifting read today!
I’ve spoken to many young women who sincerely feel bad about their choice of modesty because of the fear of it being “less attractive” to a man. In reality, I have battled this same thought and feeling. It hurt me to hear the words from my friends’ lips honestly questioning whether their modesty was beautiful to a man’s eyes or not because of what a guy chases in our church culture today. That stuck with me. Girls, a man who chases a woman who represents herself incorrectly is not a man you want to entertain, to begin with.
Something that I have learned and noticed in my life was the fact that it DOES matter how you represent yourself as a woman. Not only because of a ‘man,’ but because of OUR ministries and testimonies. We are to protect our testimonies, not allow the enemy to have them. Now, as a woman in today’s day and age, modesty is not a trendy first choice, but let me tell you, people watch, especially the world, and they can easily point the finger as to how a Godly woman should act or dress just by how you represent yourself in those moments. Everything in this world is judged and although we are not to judge, we are still to submit to the word and analyze ourselves of how we are representing Christ as His daughters.
Modesty is not to stress you out or make you feel like you can’t look nice for anything, but if I’m completely honest, it will feel like a sacrifice at times. Many times actually, but through that all, God sees, and believe me when I say that He honors that. Choosing to wear modest apparel is not pleasing anybody on earth but God. It protects us, it’s honored, it’s respect, it’s Biblical, and it’s just absolutely beautiful.
Now, modesty does not only include “covering up,” but it includes the fittedness of our apparel and it is the representation of who we are as women by what we reflect on the outside, which reflects our hearts on the inside. The Bible says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Cor. 6:19/ NKJV). We represent our bodies in a way of glorification to God. It is important to understand that we have the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost resonates inside of us, and with that, we are to honor it along with our temples that are not our own, but His.
That comes with accountability. Representing ourselves the way that Christ has meant for us to example is what builds our security in Him because it does not matter who thinks modesty is ‘in’ or not, whether it’s a man or woman, God sees it as precious, honorable, and adorned. He sees us as beautiful and priceless. In Proverbs, it says that we are more precious than rubies(see Proverbs 3:15). We are precious, we are beautiful and we are to adorn ourselves in modest apparel because we are His daughters. And His love for us is greater than what we can ever imagine.
Girls, never feel less because of your choice of modesty. Your modesty is what is honorable. Your modesty is what reflects you as a Godly woman, and the spouse that God will send you will see that and honor that about you. A Godly man will not only find you attractive, but he will respect and praise you because of your willing submission to God. He will find that more attractive than what you think, believe me!
Girls, we are confident and anointed women, so let’s choose modesty!
After all, modesty doesn’t mean you can’t have style! ;)
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