I write this blog because I am passionate about women. I believe that there are certain things I am supposed to do with and for women in my life, but oftentimes I feel as though what I am currently doing doesn’t reflect that. It’s easy to become concerned, to question if the thing that God promised is still going to happen. Or to become discouraged, and lack discipline in what you are doing now and decide to go your own way. As I was thinking these very things to myself, the Holy Spirit reminded me of some very important principles that I want to share with you!  

1.       God is faithful in the silence. When we feel like we don’t see any fruit in our life and we don’t hear the positive feedback we would like, we often question whether or not we heard God. Then, if we know we heard him we question the promise.  My advice to you is don’t.  God is a promise keeper. You may not like your current job and the dream that God gave you may seem big but if that’s what God said He will do it. Just because you don’t hear him now, don’t question what you heard before. Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

2.       In the shadows is where you prepare. No one is or was an overnight success. Success comes from being yielded to God and to the work he has called you to do at the moment. Use your gifts wherever you are. Sow your talent in the place that God has you. You may not have an audience or a platform that you can see now, but you have the one you can’t, which is God. Matthew 6:4 says “Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

3.       God will give you opportunities to stand out. You never have to go your own way. As long as you remain faithful and obedient to what God is doing you will get where you need to go. People will seek you out for your gift. You don’t have to chase people and resources. When those opportunities come you will recall Gods faithfulness, remember your preparation, and when you work unto God you will be rewarded!

Your gift will make room for you!                                                                   

I have 3 nieces whom I love dearly. Two of them have passed through the toddler stage and the last one is at the end of it. They are a joy to be around, but I can clearly remember a time (ok a few times) when they had meltdowns. Perhaps it was because they couldn’t get their way, somebody said something that hurt their feelings or maybe it was just a bad day. Either way, I can’t remember a single time when their attitude made the situation they were frustrated with better.  

Unfortunately, as an adult we can be the same way. Sometimes I can get into moods and I get so lost in how I’m feeling that I can’t get out. I know from my own personal experiences that my mood only worsens the situation despite the fact that I am not a toddler. So what do you do when you are in a place mentally that you can’t get out of? First you pray. Ask god to help you think on positive things, if it’s your relationship and you’re mad with your boyfriend, reflect on the good. If it’s your job, be thankful that you have one. Second, put it in perspective. Is what you’re mad about really that big of a deal? Is it worth the argument or whatever consequences flow from it?  Third, give them some grace. Has the object/subject of your mood attempted to make amends or been rectified? If so, and you are still in a mood your emotions may not be what you need to overcome, it maybe the unforgiveness that lies within your heart.

Hebrews 12:14 states that we should “make every effort to live in peace with all men.” If you are hurt, frustrated or angry with someone or about something- then you don’t even have peace within yourself. You are carrying around and holding on to those feelings. Verse 15 of that same passage goes on to tell us “not to miss the grace of God and to be sure that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble …”

Whatever has caused you to be in that mood, if you don’t stop and pray immediately and turn that thing over to God, rest assured it will do just what the scripture says. You will think about that thing and get mad all over again and eventually that thing that put you there in the first place has grown from something small to something big. It will take root in your heart and you will become bitter. That grace that scripture is talking about is two- fold. It is for you and the other person. You may be offended, and perhaps the emotion stems from there but God’s grace will help you overcome that offense. Ask him for it and trust him to give it to you. It is as simple as saying “God you know how this made me feel. Help me not to be led by my emotions and to be at peace with all men. Give me the grace to do it.”  When God gives you grace to deal with the offense he also gives the offender grace through you. Other people don’t always deserve kindness, (neither do we) but that is grace exemplified when you give it to them anyway. Lean into God, not into your emotions, the outcome is always better.

How many times have we looked for our come up, our increase and our harvest and never planted a seed? How many times have we expected growth with no sacrifice? We don’t want to give up anything extra to get to the place we want to get to, but somehow or another we are expecting God to get us there.

Reward without work happens sometimes but oftentimes it’s that work that teaches us how to handle the success.  That sacrifice that we made to get to the other side is important because we remember how hard we worked to achieve that thing. It is precious to us and we have a more grateful heart because of it.

Think about the thing that you really wanted when you were little. Maybe it was a pair of shoes, or a piece of jewelry. Perhaps you got a little older and you wanted your first car.  Your parents probably told you that you needed to save some money on your own and if you got to a certain amount they would help you. Your parents wanted to see how badly you wanted the thing that you had been asking for.  I believe it is the same for God.  When we are asking God to bless what he has called us to and what we want to do (hopefully they are the same) we need to show God that we are invested and that we are willing to sacrifice for we really want.   Your commitment to that thing that God called you to is your faith on display. You’re saying to God “I believe that If I’m faithful to what you called me to do, you will honor that.” Your commitment to that thing is your sacrifice and you can’t give God a sacrifice that cost you nothing. Everything that you did to earn that extra money (folding clothes, cleaning up, washing the car), that was your sacrifice. The money that you gave your parents to contribute to the thing you wanted was your investment. When you received the thing you asked for, sacrificed for and invested in… That was your return. There are no bad investments in the kingdom of God. You can never give time, energy and money and lose. In fact the sacrifice that you made to be able to invest will only bring growth. Whatever it is that you are supposed to be doing, do it. Don’t shy away from the hard work. Don’t cut corners. Be willing to sacrifice! Give all you have to what God has called you to and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.  Proverbs 16:3 says, commit your actions to the lord and you will succeed. Not only will you see the results from the sacrifice but you will see the growth in the process.