Good evening my loves! I know that my posts are pretty sporadic, but I try to share when God places something on my heart so that it's beneficial and not just some foolishness. Anyway....This past week has been absolutely wonderful. Not just because I got to see my first nephew during Thanksgiving or spend time with my brother that was out of state, but more importantly because I had the opportunity to spend some much needed time with my heavenly Father.
As many of you know, I am expecting my first child very soon so I recently stopped working so that I could prepare for her debut. Prior to my decision to take off from work, I had been very busy. Busy working. Busy preparing for my daughter's arrival. Busy being busy. So busy that my time with my Father had been neglected. It was eating me up inside that I was not giving Him my all. I was not able to connect with Him the way I needed to in order to stay focused and continue on the path that He has laid out. I felt like I was not being effective in ministry because I was not hearing from God the way that I had previously. So I knew it was time for a break from everything. And when I say everything I mean everything.
I decided to completely unplug. I was not on FB or Twitter. I stayed in the house as much as I could. I was getting up during the 4th watch (4-6am) to pray and spend time with my Father. Time that I desperately needed and was missing. There were a few other things that I did, but the purpose of the extremes was to completely focus on the One that had given me so much. I shared that with you because many times we are under the impression that we all don't have similar struggles. We think that those that are in ministry have an easier time disciplining themselves in their reading, studying and prayer time with the Father, but that's not the case. We have to be reminded just like the next person that God needs to remain #1 in our lives. We can't even allow the ministry that He has given us to take the place that only He can hold in our lives.
In my time with Him I was able to pour out my heart. I was able to apologize for neglecting Him. I was able to seek forgiveness for not connecting with Him daily like I was encouraging others to do. I was also able to just sit at His feet and listen. Listening is often more important than rambling off a million things to Him. I missed hearing that voice call me daughter. I missed that voice that told me I was loved. My Father had much to share with me. He often has to chastise us for wrong behavior, but once that was over He poured into my heart. He filled me like no one else could. Each day I left His presence strengthened, encouraged, and simply on fire for Him.
My life has taken some unexpected turns. I honestly never expected to do anything in ministry outside of my involvement in church. I never expected to have a blog that reaches people all over the world. One that has opened doors to many friendships and opportunities. I never thought that I would be doing anything truly substantial because of the roadblocks that I had placed in my way, but God reminded me that everything I needed was inside of me. He reminded me of the visions that He had shown me. He reminded me that every promise that He made was dependent upon my belief and acceptance of it. He reminded me that it was time to go ALL IN!!!
Many of you have probably heard the term "all in" before, but in reference to a poker game (y'all not that saved that you don't know lolol). When you say all in, it means I am going for broke. It means that I completely trust that what's in my hand is better than what's in yours. It means that I am willing to lose it all for what I believe. Now if we turn that into a spiritual perspective then it means that you are putting all of your trust in God. It means that you know that what's in His hand is better than what's in your own or anyone else's for that matter. It means that you won't stop until what has been promised to you is seen.
God is asking us to go all in on our jobs, in our spiritual life, in our relationship with Him, in the ministry that He has given us, in our marriages, etc. It's time to stop living halfway and do exactly what He has told you to do. It's time out for the excuses. It's time to walk out your faith. It's time to be every bit of the man/woman of God that He has created you to be. It's time to live on purpose with purpose. I encourage each and everyone of you to accept the call God has given you. I encourage you to live boldly and courageously for Him even if you have to stand alone. In the moments of uncertainty, because there will be plenty, press toward Him even more. If He can pull me out of my mess and use my life as a way to encourage others then He can clean you up too. You're not in this alone so let's go ALL IN TOGETHER!!!!
Until next time...
Peace and Blessings,
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