During the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some clear directives or commands that God gave me concerning my life, my walk with God, my home, and my ministry. As a church leader, I recognized that I could no longer depend on weekly services for my weekly “fix”. I had to know how to command the presence of God in a very individual way.
I was also awakened to the personal mandate we all have as parents to “train our children in the way they should go” so when they get older, they know what to do. They have cultivated a relationship with God, so much so that they are rooted and grounded in the Word of God, they are anchored in the Word of God so that when a storm comes, they are able to stand.
I realized how much I depended on the rhythm of church to perpetuate and build my relationship with God. I had to step back and develop a personal devotion to combat the strongholds God revealed to me – not just for myself, but for my family and my community.
As I sought direction by meditating on God’s Word, by reading the Bible cover to cover, by making an intentional decision to commit to living by the principles written in God’s Word, I saw a renewal take place.
My heart began to change, and my life began to change.
God has given me a new perspective and hope on the same issues and challenges that I once faced, that seemed insurmountable. God has given me supernatural strategy – through seeking first the Kingdom of God – through trusting and believing in His promises and His undying commitment to my victory.
The Bible shares this strategy in Romans 12:1, 2:
Romans 12:1-2 MSG | So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:1-2 TPT | 1 Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. 2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.
So, how do you activate this Word in your life? How do you see it come alive in your daily activities?
Scriptural Meditation
Recently, my entire family was sick, from my husband right down to the baby. As soon as my mother knew, she sent me a list of about 5-6 scriptures on healing. I read the scriptures once and began to let it marinate in my spirit. Then the following evening, I printed the scriptures out and read them over and over and over again. I began to meditate on them, pray on them, read them aloud over my children. The next morning when I rose, EVERYONE was healed. There were NO symptoms whatsoever.
You need some people in your life who will instantly activate the Word of God on your behalf.
There is POWER in the Word of God. When we confess God’s Word OUT LOUD, think about the scriptures. Oxford Dictionary says that to meditate is to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes, or as a method of relaxation.
While the world uses meditation to empty your mind, we use meditation to FILL our mind with the Word of God. We saturate our minds with God’s Word in order to transform our minds – again, Romans 12 says, Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. This is done through the Word of God.
So what happens when you are doing everything right, when you are in the Word daily, but you still feel drained, overwhelmed, apathetic, indifferent, checked out – and you’re trying to relight the flames of your worship and your passion for God?
For those of who you who are looking to be refreshed and rejuvenated, we can find a framework for spiritual renewal and revival In 1 Kings 19. The prophet Elijah experienced a death threat from one of the most powerful women in his nation. God had shown up by fire, demonstrating His Power to all the false prophets. Yet, there was Elijah fearing for his life.
As Elijah initiated a long journey, the Lord watched over him , protected him and gave him provision, yet Elijah felt so alone. He says in 1 King 19:10:
“…I have been very zealous (impassioned) for the Lord God of hosts (armies) [proclaiming what is rightfully and uniquely His]; for the sons of Israel have abandoned (broken) Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek to take away my life.”
God showed Elijah in his lowest moment that He was right there. Elijah saw a strong wind, an earthquake and a fire – yet in all these majestic, powerful events of nature – God then chose to reveal Himself in a whisper, in a still, small voice.
Many times, God will allow us to experience isolation and solitude to get rid of the noise of the victories and losses of life. Sometimes, He just wants it to be YOU and HIM.
This is the birthplace of RENEWAL.
In this silent moment, God revealed two things to Elijah:
- Purpose
- Community
There is renewal in purpose.
Many times we find ourselves drifting, without strength, joy and peace of mind, as mothers, entrepreneurs, career professionals, and even in ministry, because we are not aware of our purpose.
Purpose clarifies how you should be spending your time. It sharpens your focus and eliminates distractions. Purpose drives you and sets your pace for living. It determines the rhythms and habits that make up your life. Purpose creates the stepping stones for your legacy.
Ephesians 1:11 | Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart.
I encourage you today to use your shower time, your daily commute, your awakening hours to PAUSE and spend time with your Creator.
After the hustle and bustle of your busy day, take a few moments to release all of your cares to God and allow Him to whisper the precious treasures of purpose within your heart.
Be renewed by sisterhood.
The second thing God asked Elijah to do was to seek out companionship.
Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Even as married women, there is something refreshing about a conversation with another sister. And even with God on His side, God said to Adam, “It is not good for man to be alone”.
There is something about another person’s touch, word of encouragement and presence that keeps us going. Studies have shown that a lack of human connection has led to mental illness, physical deformity and poor development.
We need the renewal of sisterhood and companionship. A sister-friend can make you laugh when you feel like crying. A sister-friend can cause you to open up and dig deep like you never have before. She is the mirror that causes you to see yourself clearly. She is the strength that encourages you to keep going when you want to quit.
We all need a mirror –
A person who we see in our lives that fully reflects the grace of God within us.
A reflection of not only the scars, not only the struggle but the beauty and the blessings that live beneath the surface.
A person who has struggled with the same challenges and sometimes still struggles yet persist in the journey to victory
We all need someone in our lives who will give us hope, encouragement and strength knowing that they have been through the same issues yet they are a little ahead of us and have chosen to surrender. To give God our complete yes.
Are you looking for sisterhood, accountability, and an accelerator in your purpose? Join me for the LIfestyle Design for Kingdom Women, an 8-month mastermind accountability program.
In this mastermind accountability group, we will set goals for our businesses and careers, our relationships, our spiritual walk and move towards them together through the principles of God’s Word. We will cover:
- Eliminating clutter, relationships, and strongholds that no longer belong in your life
- Managing your resources, time, and priorities in alignment under the leading of the Holy Spirit
- Launching and leading a business that’s aligned with your God-ordained assignment. (Proverbs 31:10-31)
- Cultivating the incorruptible beauty of a gentle spirit in your home (1 Peter 3:4)
- Creating an atmosphere in your home for God to move (Galatians 5:22)