Psalm 23: A Dialogue

This post is probably the most out-of-the-box piece you will ever read on this blog. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to write about this week, and this--poem? Prayer? Conversation? I'm not really sure what to call it--caught my eye as I was scrolling through the notes in my phone. In the past week and a half or so on social media, I've seen several people saying they don't know how to talk to God. Well, this is an example of one of the many ways I talk to Him. I wrote this a while ago, at a time when I felt like He was silent. When I don't know what to say to Him, I often use scripture as a starting point. That was the case here. As I spoke the following words aloud, I took time to actively listen, and wrote down what I heard in reply. The more I wrote, the more realized God hadn't been quiet at all...I just hadn't made time to hear Him.

Psalm 23 Cross / Christianbook.com

This is "Psalm 23: A Dialogue"

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Me: But Lord, this is not what I want! I asked You for what I wanted a long time ago and You still haven't given it to me. What have I done wrong?

God: You have asked Me for what you want. I will give you what you need...on My timing. Trust Me.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Me: But Lord, his pasture, her pasture, their pasture looks so much greener than mine. My flowers refuse to grow and my grass hasn't been watered in months! And I thought You said the waters were still. I'm drowning here!

God: Your life jacket ensures that you will everlast. Trust Me.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Me: Why is the right way always the hard way?

God: The right way is the road less traveled. Keep going. Trust Me.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Me: I will fear no evil. I will fear no evil. I will fear no evil...wait, wait for me! God, it's too dark! I can't see You! I can't see You! Don't leave me!

God keeps his eye on the sparrow, but remains silent.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Me: Where is my table? Do you know how painful it is to watch your enemies eat while you are hungry? I've been pressing, and pressing, and pressing, and still...no oil. My cup feels so empty.

God: I am not finished filling you up. Your time of harvest is coming sooner than you think. Trust Me.

Me: I trust You, but...

God: There is no lack in Me. Seek Me first and your pastures will always be green (greener than some and less green than others', but keep your eyes on Me, not them). Your path, although riddled with valleys (to strengthen faith and character) will be righteous, and no weapon formed against you will ever prosper. Trust Me.

Me: I trust You, but...

God: It may seem as though your enemies have the upper hand, but fear not. No ear has heard, and no eye has seen the heights to which I am taking you. As for your oil, your fruit is not ripe yet, but in due season, you will reap what you have sown. Trust Me.

Me: I trust You, but...

God: Then surrender. Rest in My grace. Goodness and mercy will follow you if you follow Me. Stand on what I promised you.

Me: I trust You. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Your house forever.

Amen.

I don't know who this post is for, and I apologize if it's all over the place, but whoever it's for, I hope it encourages you. If you feel like God can't hear you, don't give up. Keep talking to Him. He hears. Turn your ear toward Him and listen for His voice. Your prayers are not in vain. Trust me, I know. I've been there. ❤

#BeNotDeceived: God-sent vs. Counterfeit

"O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." -Walter Scott

Ladies, when you think you're ready to be found by the one, it can be hard to distinguish God-sent from counterfeit. If you find yourself caught up with a counterfeit, you could end up getting caught in his lies. Sometimes, the counterfeit can look like the God-sent. That list you made of everything you want in a mate? The enemy saw it too. He'll send you a man that's "packaged" just the way you like, and make you think he's everything you prayed for and more. When you least expect it, he'll flip the script, and your dream guy will turn into a nightmare. If you're not careful, you'll confuse the faux Boaz with the real thing, and lose yourself in the process. So, how can you tell the difference? 1 John 4:1 says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God..." Verse 5 reads, "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them." Simply put, you will be able to separate God-sent from counterfeit because the proof is in the fruit.

If they're whispering sweet nothings (commitments, dreams, goals with no follow-through) in your ear, you'd better run while you can. Those promises may sound good, but they're empty! Don't get so wrapped up in a man's words that you forget to pay attention to his actions. The counterfeit talks about making power moves. The God-sent puts his words into action. Actions will always speak louder than words, but it's up to you to listen.

The counterfeit will do just enough to make it seem like he's not a counterfeit because his purpose is to distract you from yours. He might go to church every Sunday. That does not make him a Godly man. Does he offer to lead you in prayer? Encourage you to go to bible study with him? Is he reflecting God's light outside of the four walls of the church? The counterfeit pulls you away from God. The God-sent draws you nearer to Him. How does he act with his friends? Does he curse like a sailor, or does he recognize that he is in the world, but not OF it? Does he honor your boundaries, the "dos and don'ts" of the relationship, or does he pressure you to compromise? Does he invest wisely, both monetarily and in terms of time and effort? Are his investments producing a positive return? Does he treat you like the queen you are, or is his tone just a little condescending? Does he speak life into you, or is he draining life out of you?

These are just a few questions you should ask yourself during your dating season to make sure you're dealing with the real deal. If you're not sure about your guy, pray about it and ask God to help you hear Him clearly. He wants what's best for you because every Godly marriage enriches His Kingdom. Trust Him and obey His voice.

"Deceived" webinar flyer / Married and Young

In addition to prayer, if you really want to weed out the counterfeits, you should sign up for Married and Young's FREE webinar. "DECEIVED: The Lies Women Believe in the Pursuit for Love" is basically a women's conference where powerhouse speakers Natasha Miller, Dr. Kamilah Stevenson, Real Talk Kim, and Phineka Friend will help you walk in discernment in your single season. The best part? It's 100% FREE.

Sign up here, and watch tomorrow, February 22nd, at 9 EST/8 CST.

#BENOTDECEIVED

How to Survive Singles Awareness Day (feat. MAJOR.'s "Why I Love You")

I'm almost 24 years old, and this is my 23rd Valentine's Day as a single woman. The last 22 Valentine's days didn't bother me much, but this one is different. Last year, right before my 23rd birthday, it was as if someone flipped a switch inside of me and triggered a desire for marriage. Ever since then, it's been weighing on my mind pretty heavily. I've heard other singles alternately refer to this holiday as Singles Awareness Day, and I didn't realize how SAD that was (pun intended) until I really became aware of my singleness. It's weird. One minute I didn't care, and the next minute, my singleness hit me like a ton of bricks.

As I continue my single season, I'm trying to figure out exactly what it is I need to be doing while I wait. I'm working on myself in a lot of ways, because I always say that I want to become the woman God wants me to be, but I often wonder, am I becoming the woman my future husband needs? That's something I hadn't considered until very recently. The next logical thought that followed was, how can I become the woman my future husband needs if I haven't met him yet? The answer is, of course, found in God. As I was meditating on this idea, He dropped a song in my spirit--a secular one at that: MAJOR.'s 2016 hit, "Why I Love You."

MAJOR. - "Why I Love You" - single (2016) / Amazon

(Before we continue, I know what you're thinking. Yes, I'm going to be cliché and reference this song on Valentine's Day. Yes, I am listening to it as I type this, and yes, I will be a cliché crybaby when this plays at my wedding. Moving on...😂)

Verse 1:

I found love in you

And I've learned to love me too

Never have I felt that I could be all that you

see

It's like our hearts have intertwined into the

perfect harmony

Love is, first and foremost, found in God. Who better to teach us how to love ourselves than the One who first loved us, the one who loved us before we were a twinkle in our mother's eye? When He tells us who we are, we hesitate to believe Him because the world tells us otherwise. Often, we feel like we can't measure up to who He calls us to be, but how can we be anything less than wonderful when we were made in the image of the One who cannot be measured? When we intertwine our hearts with His, He will give us our desires because our desires will match His will for our lives.

Verse 2:

I found love in you

And no other love will do

Every moment that you smile chases all of

the pain away

Forever and a while in my heart is where

you'll stay

One of the most profound quotes I've ever read is a line in Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower: "We accept the love we think we deserve." We are undeserving of a love as perfect as the kind God gives us, but that perfect love should raise the standard for the love we expect to receive on earth. I'm not saying we should expect our significant other to be perfect, but we should expect that person to be an earthly reflection of His love for us. When He smiles on us, our pain turns into praise, and our fears turn into faith. We should, in turn, seek to be with someone who makes us feel safe.

These are just a few things I pulled from the song. It simultaneously reminded me of the kind of love I am given and caused me to anticipate the love that I hope will find me...and then I got it: If this is the love I want, this is the love I have to give. I don't know how much single time I have left, but however long God will have me to wait, I'll do my best to be a reflection of Him. I'll reflect His light not only because He calls me to do so, but because that is the type of love my future husband deserves. I might not know who he is yet, but I may as well get a head start.


Dear future husband,

When the God in me speaks to the God in you, we'll realize that we are stronger as two. Until "I" becomes "we," I'm letting Him work on me. We'll be better together than we are apart, but for now, He's making space for you inside of my heart.

My heart is preparing itself to be found by you. I hope that when you find it, you'll stay forever and awhile.

With love,

Your future wife

Happy Valentine's Day ❤

A Taste of Your Own Medicine: For The Christian Creative

I've been feeling really self-reflective lately. As I was thinking about what to post this week, I started contemplating the weight of my gifts. I've previously opened up about trying to increase readership on this blog. I've always said that I want more people to read my writing because I believe God gave me this gift to share it with the world. I still don't have a large audience on this platform, but I still believe that it can get to where I want it to be...eventually. Recently though, my focus has shifted from external numbers to internal repair--more specifically, self-help.

Pill bottles / Safe Medicine Disposal

Every so often, I have these bursts of inspiration where everything I'm thinking/feeling spills out of my fingers onto my memo page in a stream of consciousness. The following questions are the result of my latest musings. I think they're questions that every Christian creative should ask themselves at least once in their lifetime:

Am I so busy trying to make a mark that I'm missing the mark? I often say that when I die, I want my gifts to be used up, but am I using enough of my gifts on myself? Am I applying what I write, what I speak to my own life? I'd hate to get to Heaven and hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You've drawn men to me, but you forgot to use what I gave you to treat your own stuff..." The bible says we're the light of the world. A city on a hill. Our light cannot be hidden...but do we become so consumed with not being hidden that we forget to self-apply the word that is hidden in our own hearts?

What if my ticket into heaven depends not on how many souls I brought to Christ, but on whether or not I used my talents to minister to myself? What if I'm pouring a little too much into them and not saving enough for myself? Is my stuff for me? Or is it selfish to hold onto what God gave me to share? Am I doing it backwards? Should I taste test it before feeding it to the masses? Is He still glorified by the parts of my gift I keep for myself? I know someone out there needs what I've got, but who needs it the most, me or them? Am I my own target audience? Who am I talking to?

I wrote out these thoughts exactly as they flowed, and I was able to glean one cohesive idea from all of them: As Christian creatives, God gives us our gifts so we can use them to help others heal. Should we use them to heal ourselves before we spread the message? I think the answer is yes. Christian artists, in whatever capacity you operate, whether you're a singer, songwriter, blogger, poet, motivational speaker, etc., look inside your gift and take what you need first. If God gave you something and told you to share it, chances are, you needed it the most in the first place. You are allowed to give yourself a taste of your own medicine.

#BREAKTHECYCLE (feat. Jonathan McReynolds' "Cycles")

On January 26th, Jonathan McReynolds released "Cycles," a track featuring DOE (formerly of the gospel family group "ForeverJONES), from his highly-anticipated live recording Make Room, available March 9th (pre-order here). After listening to this song, the only cycle I don't plan on breaking is, well, listening to this song. If you're at all familiar with Jonathan's music, you know he's a lyrical genius, and this song definitely lives up to that reputation. After a killer opening run, the song begins:

Didn't I conquer this last year?

Tell me what I missed, 'cause I fear

That it's comin' back up again

Must be something I ate

Some song, some show, some hate

Jonathan McReynolds - Make Room (2018) / Amazon

We all have cycles, things that we deal with over and over again. The world often causes a proverbial reflux in us. Just when we think we've got that situation/person/place/thing down, he/she/it comes back up with a vengeance, triggered by memories associated with things we encounter in our every day lives: songs we listen to, shows we watch, etc. Whether internal or external, the fight against the cycle sometimes feels like a never-ending battle.

The first verse continues, "The devil wants to extend the game, free throws / And when it ends, he wants to make the sequel." I'll let Jonathan explain that "free throw" metaphor himself. He broke it down in a clip on his Instagram:

A post shared by Jonathan McReynolds (@jonmcreynolds) on Jan 30, 2018 at 4:42pm PST

Basically, the point of the "free throw" distraction is to "throw" you off course. If Satan had it his way, the cycle would never end, and when it finally does, he tries his best to create a part two that seems ten times worse than part one. "Cycles"'s hook reveals the enemy's secrets, "See, the devil, he learns from your mistakes, even if you don't / That's how he keeps you in cycles..." Satan keeps a track record of our weaknesses. He pays close attention to what entangles us and sets traps that are almost guaranteed to catch us every time...unless we make a conscious decision to break the cycle.

Break The Cycle 4-Day Challenge flyer / Married and Young

If you feel like you're going in circles, stuck in a hamster ball of constant disappointment, doubt, insecurity, and anything else that is not in line with God's plan for your life, I'm here to tell you that you don't have to stay in that rut. You don't have to be continually ensnared in the enemy's traps. There is a way out! I'd like to personally invite you to join me for the FREE 4-day #BREAKTHECYCLE challenge hosted by Married and Young. Change starts with you, and it starts a chain reaction! To learn more about the challenge, click here.

Let's break some "Cycles" together!

Todd Galberth's "Decrease" Devotional Notes: Day 21

In an earlier post on Todd Galberth's "Decrease" devotional, I focused on how a horizontal relationship with people was an important reflection of a vertical relationship with God. Today's section however was all about going "Vertical," how to begin a relationship with God and how to keep it consistent.

Todd Galberth - "Decrease" devotional / Todd Galberth online store 

Todd explained in this section that the primary way to keep the spark alive in our relationship with "Our Father" (today's "Medicine Music" by Bethel) is to make time to pray. This devotional has been instrumental in teaching me how to do that more effectively. Using "Decrease" as a guide has made my prayer life more clear-cut. Over the course of the last 21 days, I've used each section, especially the "Pray This With Me" portion, as a springboard for my own personal prayer time.

Another thing Todd pointed out is that we have to use our prayer time to speak God's Word over ourselves. In the devotional, each day's lesson is, of course, grounded in scripture. It helps that each section opens with a specific passage that fits that particular message. I often find myself using the opening scripture as a point of reference when I go into reflection/prayer.

As you can tell from these posts, each day's reading gives me something new to think about while strategically building on the previous day's message. Each of Todd's points stacks up and then folds nicely into one cohesive overarching theme: Decrease. I said it before, and I'll say it again: "Decrease" is more than just a declaration, it's effort and dedication. If you really want to go "vertical," you have to lift Him higher--higher than your own will, higher than your own wants, higher than your doubts, confusion, insecurities, and every other force in your life that wants you to stay where you are.

I turned the last page of this devotional today, but the book doesn't close here. I plan to continue to apply the principles I learned in these 21 days to several areas of my life. I'll reread this devotional whenever I need a reminder that God is ALWAYS bigger, stronger, and more important than anything I'm doing or dealing with. I want to minimize my desires so that God can maximize His light in my life. I hope you'll do the same.

Let's close this out with a prayer:

Lord, do a clean sweep of my heart. Remove everything that tries to keep me from Your promises for my life. Teach me how to fully submit to You. From now on, I'm making You my top priority. No more excuses. I apologize for all the times I failed to put You first. I place my heart, my plans, my hopes and dreams in Your hand where they belong. Don't let my will get in the way. Purge my spirit of every thought and desire that is not in line with Your agenda. Maximize Yourself within me so that when people see me, they see You. Let my declaration of 'Decrease' be an action word that I put in motion every day of my life. Thank You for the work that You have done, are doing, and will do in and through me. In Jesus's name I pray, amen.

Check out yesterday's notes here. Also, I made a playlist of all of "Decrease"'s Medicine Music on YouTube. If you purchase the devotional (If you haven't, what are you waiting for?!), it makes it easier to have all the music in one place. Listen to the playlist here.

Todd Galberth's "Decrease" Devotional Notes: Day 20

Are you happy with who you are? More importantly, are you happy with who God called you to be? Do you know what your calling is? The answer to all those questions should be "yes," but if you answered no to any of them, don't beat yourself up. Instead, build your confidence up, confidence in yourself and confidence in your Father. Today's section of Todd Galberth's "Decrease" devotional, called "Happy With Me," encourages us to walk boldly in who we are in Christ.

Todd Galberth - "Decrease" devotional / Todd Galberth online store

We were made in God's image, so if He's wonderful, amazing, beautiful, strong, courageous, magnificent, and every other word that means "good," guess what? We're all those things, too. We might not feel like we are all the time, but even on your worst day, you're still good and you're still worth it simply because He said so. In my very first (official) post on this blog, I posed this question: If God is the ONLY one who likes what you do, will you still do it? If your answer is yes, you've found your calling.

You're incredible at what you do. If your first thought after reading that sentence was, No, I'm not, let me remind you who our God is. He's a "Good, Good Father" (shout out to Chris Tomlin for today's "Medicine Music"). He is perfect in all of His ways, and one of His 'ways' was creating you! He makes no mistakes. He knew exactly what He was doing when He endowed you with the gift of doing whatever it is you do best. No one on this earth has the ability to cancel your God-given assignment. They don't know your beginning or your ending, and they don't hold the keys to your destiny. They can overlook it, speak negatively about it, and even deny it...and at the end of the day, your gift and your promise will still be yours because He said so.

If you haven't yet discovered your purpose, but you feel drawn to one specific thing, that could be your calling. Pray about it and go forth. Start. Don't wait until they (whoever "they" are) cosign on your vision. They may not ever get on board, but if God is for you, who can be against you? No one! As long as He signed off on it, you've got the green light!

Day 20 takeaway: I hope this post has encouraged you to go after the dream that God has placed in your heart. One of my dreams was this blog, and I'm so grateful that I followed His lead and started it. I'm a living witness that God rewards those who recognize that He is the only validator we need. Less of me, more of He.

Check out yesterday's notes here.