Listen I don’t know about you, but the weight of waiting has been heavy on me lately. The wait of waiting on the unanswered prayers and deepest cries of my heart desires. I was talking to my mentor about how I was feeling and how the weight of waiting was turning into depression. I found myself paralyzed and lame in the thoughts of my wait. After telling me the feelings I felt were ok, my mentor hit me with a question that hurt me and arrested me at the same time. She said “Shawndrika, what if what you have been waiting on never manifest in the earth? Will you respond with the faith of the 3 Hebrew boys…Even if He doesn’t do it we still know He can?” (Daniel 3:17-18) I looked at her crazy as tears fell from my eyes to know this statement of faith could be my reality. Though I felt broken at the thought of this reality, the Holy Spirit arrested me at the same time. He reminded me that when the 3 Hebrew boys made that statement it wasn’t from a place of doubt or hopelessness but, from a place of true surrendering. They were saying to Daddy even if we don’t see you manifest the situation in our favor like we want you to, you will still come through and get the glory out of our lives. That’s the key…Daddy getting the glory!! What you are praying and waiting for may not manifest or come in the package you want, however, if you surrender it to Daddy…it will manifest His glory in your life and draw you closer to Him. I hope this word and revelation reminds you that the wait is worth it! Remember the weight is there for you to surrender not to hold.
Prayer: Daddy we thank you that even in our heaviest moments you wait for us to surrender that you may get the glory out of our lives. We yield to your will today as we wait for you to manifest your glory. We take heart that what we are waiting on may not come in the package we want or the time we think we want it, however, it will come on time and work in our favor. In Jesus Name. AMEN!
The Hebrew Boys Faith
01 Jul 2020 Leave a comment
in #FinishStrong, Courage, Daddy and I, Daddy Daughter Faith, Daughter Attitude, Demand, Faith is..., Faith Series, Fearless, His Glory, Soul Detox, Soul Devotion, Soul Series, Soul Sessions Tags: Faiithful, faith, Harsh Reality, In His Will
An Excused Yes!
06 Sep 2018 Leave a comment
in Courage, Daddy and I, Daddy's Daughter, Oh My Soul, Soul Detox, Soul Devotion, Soul Series, Speak to My Soul Tags: Trusting Daddy, yes
Today’s blog is about to challenge your YES!
10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. (NIV)
10 Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”11-12 God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”13 He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”14-17 God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment, he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you to step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.” (Message)
So in both versions of this scripture, we see five things that happen when it comes to Moses’ excused yes. 1. Moses questions Daddy. He even goes to the point where he begs Daddy not to give him the assignment. Now, Moses’ begging confused me. Because in Chapter 3 (Read it for yourself) he had an intimate encourage with Daddy that literally caused a shift in his life. But, now at this moment, he is questioning the assignment. Is that not how some of us are. We have an awesome encounter with Daddy. I mean it is a life-changing moment. Yet here we are moments later, questioning Daddy’s request of us saying yes to the assignment that He called us to. 2. Moses was quick to point out his unequipped ways. He reminded GOD that he was not able to complete the assignment, due to the fact that he did not have the equipment to do so. But, I love Daddy’s response… He told Moses that He would go with him. He reminded Moses how was the creator of all things and the same thing that made Moses unequipped He would equip. But, just like some of us Moses told Daddy that was good enough. Let me take a sidebar here and say this... There is nothing Daddy can’t offer that is not good enough. Daddy’s presence is more than enough!! If we become comfortable with Him, then, we can become comfortable with the things that He calls us to. Back to the points. 3. We see the grace of Daddy. Daddy got mad that Moses clearly told Him that His presence was not good enough for him to complete the assignment. Daddy is so great to us! Because even in his anger He graces us with His love and comfort. Which brings me to point 4. Daddy did not agree with Moses excuse, but he did understand that he needed comfort. Instead of giving him a way of escape He equipped Moses with another tool…his brother Aaron. Another sidebar: Daddy will make sure that you have no excuses to completing the assignment. You can tell him what you lack and He will create the equipment to meet the need. 5. I love how Daddy still told Moses, (summary) “Even though you have your brother to speak for you, he can’t speak unless you open your mouth.” Last sidebar: Even when Daddy provides you with the equipment to complete the assignment it will not work until you do your part.
So, what’s the moral of this blog? No matter how many excuses you give Daddy, He will always equip you to complete the assignment. But, He will make sure you work so you can see the potential that is in you. He will make sure that you conquer that which was once an excuse. Daddy will make your excuse your GOD testimony
Prayer: Daddy, thank you that no matter how unequipped we feel, you are waiting and able to provide us with the tools we need to complete the assignments. Daddy, help us to understand that what we see as an excuse is actually an opportunity for you to get the glory. Thank you that where we are weak your strength will make us strong. In JESUS name! Amen
I Am Over IT!
22 Aug 2018 Leave a comment
in Courage, Daddy and I, Daddy Daughter Faith, Daddy's Daughter, Daily Living, Mental Health, Purposed, Transition, Transparency, Transparent, Trusting Daddy Tags: faith, Freedom, Letting go, My it, Over it
Daddy, I am over it! The heartache, the frustration, the cycles, the relationships, the rollercoaster ride of emotions, the debt, the worry, the stress, the fear, the disappointment, the failures, setbacks, and setups. I AM OVER IT!!!
This is the conversation that I had a few days ago with Daddy as I sat in my living room crying and stressing over the bill collectors calling me, worrying about how I am going to pay, this and that. This is the mindset I had when I thought about the investment I poured into so many relationships and friendships. This is even the mindset I had when it came to church too. I was OVER IT!!!
Have you ever been there? To the point, you were over everything that affected your life in such a negative way? I mean to the point you even contemplated taking your life? Well, that was me. Yep, this is a transparent moment. One that I think plenty people have but are ashamed to admit. I mean who wants to be in the position of showing that they trust GOD and then turning around and saying life is not worth living anymore?
This is probably going to be a real transparent moment for me because I have not told anyone, but you, my readers this. I have been keeping these things bottled, masked, and hidden. I mean I am a licensed therapist and minister, how does it sound and look for me to be speaking or thinking suicidal thoughts? But, there I was only a week ago in my living room trying to Netflix and chill and these were my thoughts.
But, guess what? The same things that I just told Daddy that I was over, are the same things that He was trying to use to get me to my next. UGH!! Don’t you hate it when Daddy uses the things you hate to get you to your next? How He uses issues, situations, circumstances, and failure to show you how to grow. To birth out new assignments, ideas, and gifts? How He takes your constant complaining and creates a moment for you to experience His glory and presence?
I hate it, but it’s in those same moments that I realize how much GOD is I AM! I AM is over it, and I AM is in it. He takes over and uses His strength to create new beginnings for us to be in Him and over IT … The IT is us. We are the IT!!! I mean the IT is our…..will, word, and way. It is our ability and desires to want to operate in our strength, mindset, and emotions.
But how do we get over the IT? By allowing Daddy to be it. I was reminded of the game tag. How the object of the game when being IT, is to tag as many people as you can before they get to the base. That’s what Daddy wants to do. He wants to tag as many of your problems before they get to the base of your mind and you feel defeated instead of victorious. That’s why I John 5:4 says “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith”.
So today do me a favor join me in playing a game of tag. Let your problems run but allow Daddy to be IT!
Prayer: Daddy, thank you that you have already told us that you will handle all that concerns us. We thank you that even when it seems like our problems are weighing us down to the point we want to give up on life, we will tag you and allow you to be it. You are the source of our strength and everything that we need to get through every moment of our lives. We thank you for being IT. In JESUS name. Amen!
The Stretch
11 May 2018 Leave a comment
in Courage, Daddy and I, Daddy Daughter Faith, Daily Living, Equipped, Faith is..., Fearless, GOD Trust, My Position, New Beginnings, Oh My Soul, Open Heart, Relentless Faith, Soul Devotion, The Faith Process, The Reality, The Weight of Waiting, Trusting Daddy, Wise Words Tags: faith, Inspiration, Transparency
I know it’s been a while, but I have a good excuse… I’ve been stretching and the stretch has not been easy. So let me tell you what this looks like and why the stretch has been one for the record books. Last year I talked to Daddy about my next. I had a conversation about what to do now that I was finished with school and I was in a high leadership position. For a while, I didn’t hear anything. I keep praying and being silent, but nothing. One day an event at work happen and it causes me to really feel like it was time for me to go, I prayed and this time Daddy gave me an answer. He told me a date that I would need to turn in my resignation and where to go afterward. Now it was where he told me to go afterward that had me kind of shook. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. He said: “It’s time for you to trust me fully, and do what I have equipped you to do. It’s time that you go and do ministry at your church”. After hearing this I spoke with my pastors to see what we need to do, to get me set up for the transition. They were so excited and felt like this was the best time to do so. I, on the other hand, was feeling some kind of way, but I knew what GOD said so I was in an ” I trust GOD mindset”. So long story short I resigned from my job and working for my church full time as the senior pastor’s assistant and mental health consultant. I have taken a $1400 pay cut, but nothing in my house has lack… NOTHING!!!
I know you are wondering what is the stretch. The stretch is letting GOD be GOD. How can we name Him provider and not give me the opportunity to actually provide? How can we call Him healer and not allow Him to heal us? How can we say we have victory in Him, but never give Him the opportunity to win the wars and battles that life throws at us? This is the stretch… Letting Daddy be all he says he can, will, and has been. Allowing Him to be everything we need when we need it as we continue to be obedient to all his instructions.
Let me say this… THIS HAS NOT BEEN EASY!!! I have tried to get another job, sought out ways to earn extra income, make my own plans, but GOD has blocked and convicted me of it all. This stretch has really reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11 where Daddy says: “I know the plans I have for your life, plans to prosper you, not to harm you.” In this stretch, it doesn’t seem like the plan looks prosperous. It kind of feels like Daddy has brought me in the middle of the ocean and said now, swim. No direction, no guidance, only the action of doing what he said. Let me say this I thought that swimming in the ocean would be hard, but can I tell you I have been floating like a fish.
The stretch has taught 5 things… (If you don’t know I love the number 5, it’s the number of Grace):
1. Learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
2. The weight may seem unbearable, but the wait is worth the process.
3. Remind Daddy of his word and promises. Daddy sees your heart, but HE responses to his word. He said that his word will not return to him void, so speak what he already said and watch him work.
4. Stay focus. When you are being obedient you may feel like you need to explain yourself, but there’s not needed when you trust Daddy… Which brings me to number 5.
5. TRUST DADDY!!! When I tell you that Daddy has met needs before I even ask…He has. It can be as simple as lunch to money. I have never been a place where I’ve never seen His word manifest so quickly. But because I was obedient and I speak His word even in the midst of distractions, I have seen Him come through for me like never before.
Prayer: Father right now we thank you that you have already given us an example of the effects of what relentless faith looks like. We thank you that greatness is in us and though we may never see the whole promise we are grateful for the position to see pieces of the promise. We will pursue you like it is our last time, and seek your face over your hand. In the Name of JESUS… AMEN
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