God said what?!

So one day you find yourself happily doing your thing and God speaks. You think: “did I just hear correctly? You want me to do what?! You are giving me what?! Did He just say that?! Uhm.. well.. I didn’t ask for this, but it’s quite exciting..”

Maybe you are in that situation where God has told you a secret about yourself or about your future. You were super excited to hear His voice and excited because of what He said. Then you start sharing it with people and they start looking at you funny and questioning whether God could really tell you such a thing. Suddenly doubt creeps in and you become discouraged. “Can this really be? Was this really God or was it my imagination?”

I have spoken to a few people lately who seem to be facing this issue. God is a speaking God and He loves telling us things about ourselves and the amazing plans which He has for us. But more often than not, He only gives you one piece of the entire puzzle and you wonder: “how on earth is this going to fit into my life or how will this work out?” Just because He spoke to you today, doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen tomorrow. I have heard things spoken to me by God 5 years ago which still has not happened, but I know it’s in my future and I don’t have to doubt them.

So how do you deal with this word that you received from God? Maybe you are not even sure if it was God? My best advice would be to not share it with many people. Mention it to your closest friends and guard it in your heart. If God spoke this word then He will make it come to pass and He will walk this journey with you and lead you all the way. Ask Him to give you scripture to accompany His word.

“so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

God will always finish everything which He starts. You do not need to act on this word, unless He tells you to. Just relax and wait for His guidance. It might be months before He mentions anything again relating to the word. Put your focus on Jesus and follow Him. Don’t let the word distract you from what He has put in your hands at this moment. He will tell you the next step when the time is right.

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

Now you see only a part of the journey, but in the future you will see it fully. The worst thing that we can do is try to make something happen in our own strength before the time is right. This will only discourage us and be a struggle. Breaking the door down or slamming against it with your fists will not make the journey easier, rather wait until God opens the door for you and tells you to walk through it.

The journey that we are on is such an incredibly exciting one and Jesus is taking us from glory to glory in Him. Be ready to learn everything which He wants to teach you in the meantime to prepare you for the calling that He has for you. Faith is the evidence of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). He is putting you in this situation to teach you, therefore open your heart and trust Him completely. He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2) and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6) No one can walk this road for you, it's between you and God. He is for us and not against us. He delights in us and His plans are marvellous!

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt 6:33

Photo credit: Mandy Lynne

Live while waiting

We have all had to wait for something in some or other stage in our lives. Whether it is for a holiday, promotion, a partner to love, provision, healing or a promise from God, waiting can be difficult. It can be a rollercoaster journey of highs and lows, where some days are better than others. People around you celebrate victories and blessings while it feels as if your life is standing still.

The thing that you are waiting for doesn't even have to be something big or maybe you are waiting for something to end rather than to start. We easily start developing the mentality of 'when' that thing ends or happens 'then' I will do this and that. Jesus says “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” and that is what He has for us every day, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.

When we start putting life on hold because we are waiting, then we open a door for impatience, frustration and doubt to creep in and our days drag on. This happens when we take our eyes off life and God and we start focusing on the situation or the thing that we are waiting for. The trick is not to live waiting, but to live while waiting.

I'm reading Nick Vujicic's new book Unstoppable and he always says that if you haven't received your miracle (yet), be the miracle for others. His positive attitude has inspired millions of people, in spite of the fact that he was born without arms and legs. If you haven’t heard of him yet, I encourage you (and your children) to watch some of his videos on YouTube or read his books. He is truly an inspiration.

Decide today to make the best of each day, no matter what challenge you are going through. Waiting can be incredibly hard, but when we tap into the daily plan which God has for us we realise that there is joy to be found in every circumstance. It’s all about your attitude and the manner in which you approach your day. Do not allow your circumstances to isolate you from the life God has for you, rather reach out to God and others around you. If you are struggling, do not be discouraged, Paul says: “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in (your) weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:9-10

Do not let your days be dulled by waiting, but live as if you have received everything you need, because Jesus has already given us His strength, joy, peace and love so that we can live each day to the fullest.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Picture credit: chindiandreams

Live with vision not discouragment

I am so excited to write this blog today as I feel that the Holy Spirit has really opened my eyes to this truth again this week and I’m so excited to share it with you.

“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint (or the people are discouraged), but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18

Imagine the following: You are traveling through a land and you have special eyes with which you can see far ahead. You can see through mountains and identify where the danger lies and where the fruitful plantations grow. This special vision that you have makes your journey easier as you can see which routes to avoid (desert and danger) and you can see which blessings are on your path (streams and fruitfulness). Even if you choose to climb a mountain, no matter how hard it is, you can see that there are beautiful streams and fruitfulness on the other side.

The Holy Spirit gives us this vision in our daily lives. He enables us to see past the difficult situations (rocky paths and mountains) and reveals the blessings, fruitfulness and gifts which are in store for us. When we keep seeing His vision, we remain in a place of faith, peace, joy and encouragement instead of a space of discouragement.

So often in life worries, fears, lies and anxieties wrap themselves around our heads blurring our vision and we become short-sighted. We lose the bigger picture. We stare into the rocky ground, the mountains and deserts and we become discouraged as we focus on the problems. We become tired of our challenges, anxious, lost, lonely and fearful.

Do not lose your vision as you will become discouraged. You might ask: ”how do I then remove the cloud around my head and regain my vision?”. The verse above says: “blessed is he who keeps the law”. We don’t follow the law of the Old Testament anymore, but the law that is written on our hearts of which loving God and loving our neighbour are the most important elements. When we follow these, we will be blessed.

We remove the cloud by fixing our gaze on God, His love and who He is, instead of the situations we face and where we find ourselves on the road. We focus on the promise and not on the problem and this will enable us to see into the future and give us hope. When we know who He is, the mountain becomes a heap of stones and the journey becomes a joy, because nothing is impossible for God. We were made to be a people with great wisdom, vision and perspective in order to also encourage and lead others to a place of vision and freedom.

So today, stop starring at your feet, leave the pity party, be encouraged and lift your gaze to heaven. Find yourself in His unending love and faithfulness. Get His vision and perspective, see the future and start walking towards it.  

Photo credit: weheartit

Beyond your wildest dreams!

                                                    
A few years ago God gave me a picture of an axe. The axe was standing in the middle of a forest trying to open a can of Coke. Every time the axe tried to open the can, it just ended up damaging the can and coke would just splash everywhere. God said to me, I know what I made you for, stop trying to open a can of coke when I have given you an entire forest to cut down.

Quite a random picture, but the point is this, the axe was not made to open a can of Coke, it was made to chop down trees. God has called each one of us for a very specific purpose, He made us intentionally to fit with this purpose and if we do anything else it would just lead to frustration and a feeling of being unfulfilled. God has so much planned for us, more than we ever could imagine and we should never settle for less than everything that He has for us. You are so uniquely tailor-made for your destiny. You don't need to create one, just walk in the one that was created for YOU. At no other time will you find yourself in a place where you feel more effective, successful, joyful and content.

Also note that the axe was also actually doing something. When we have God in us and we do nothing with it, we will also end up in a place of frustration and boredom. We were made to give, to love and to serve and when we miss out on these wonderful opportunities it will also lead to frustration. Jesus says: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38 We have not received these living waters to keep to ourselves, but to share the love and kindness of Jesus with this world.

May you be encouraged today to sit with God and ask Him what His purpose and dreams for you are. Remember, when God looks at you He does not see what you can do, but what He can do through you and that is limitless.

“But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

 Picture credit: favim