STOP TRIPPING, ITS COMING
He’s got the whole world in His hands
Welcome back to Chasing after Zion! I pray that this post will encourage and uplift you in whatever way you need it to in your life!
At the beginning of the year its normal for people to write out their goals, make vision boards, and so forth, however I decided to write out a list of things that I was believing in God for. Everything I wrote down was dated so I could go back and see when I prayed for it, and when those things I was believing in God for manifested. I wanted to also be able to date that so I could look back on it. In December of 2017 a lot of things happened very fast, one in particular me losing my job. I was very devastated about how things happened and I was frustrated with how things were going. I was without a job for about a month which felt like five months. I applied to multiple places every day and prayed that something would come along.
Now let’s fast forward a little bit. On December 31st, I wrote down that I was believing in God for a new job with great benefits. On January 7, 2018 two different jobs called me in for an interview and on January 17, 2018 I accepted one of the jobs offers and two days after I began training, and that’s just the beginning. Along with a new job I also wrote down a new apartment, and I got approved for my own apartment on February 27, 2018.
I’m simply saying all of this to say that God is always going before us and opening doors and aligning things up in the way that they should go (not our timing, but His). Though things began to change and turn around, before that it was rough. I was saying that I was believing in God for these things but deep down I still had some reservations about those things coming to pass and wasn’t one hundred percent trusting and believing that God would come through. But I’m so blessed to have a God that is still faithful to us when we are not to Him!!!!
One morning I stumbled across a sermon by Pastor Tim Ross which spoke to me on a whole different level, and that’s when something on the inside of me clicked. The sermon was literally for me and it came right on time, and the message was simple but very powerful. Everything that happens in your life is purposeful, God wastes nothing, and when you are going through situations you have to learn how to go to a higher place. When you go up to a higher place it becomes easier for you to hear God’s voice, you learn how to block out the negativity, you begin to speak life into any and every situation, your mindset changes, and your faith becomes active and increases. So, I’m telling you that God is still faithful even when you don’t see how things will work out, but you have to truly trust and believe with everything in you. After watching that sermon, I prayed hard and I told God I trusted Him, and this time I meant it with everything in my body. And when I did that, God started turning things around for me, just like He will do for you. Be Blessed Everyone! #MileSix
Habakkuk 2:1-4 (KJV)
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
*To check out this sermon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu_q0sHmhSY
“Patience is not passive, on the contrary it is concentrated strength”
CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK
You are responsible for your own happiness
It wouldn’t be right to start this post off without first saying Happy New Year!!!!! I know some of you have been wondering where I’ve been, and when my next post would be going up, so I’m back to catch you all up on what’s been going on.
The best way I can describe why I’ve been gone is simple, one word, LIFE. Reflecting back on my 2017 year, I’ll be the first to say it was not easy. I got a couple of bumps and bruises along the way, more than a couple to be completely honestly, shed a lot of tears, lost some things and gained new things, and became a stronger woman. It was one of the hardest years for me but beautiful at the same time. So now I’m back and ready to continue on with the rest of my journey.
I’m challenging myself to change my outlook on everything in 2018, and I’m going to challenge you to do the same. Of course, it won’t be easy, people will look at you funny, you’re going to be tested, you will have some discouraging times, nor will everyone understand. But if we keep our eyes lifted up above, there’s nothing that can stand in our way. #MileFive
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
WHO ARE YOU TRUSTING IN?
Man says…. Show me and I’ll trust you. God says…. Trust me and I’ll show you.
People pleasing is one of the biggest things we struggle with in today’s society! Surprisingly I never thought I’d say it because who really wants to admit that? But I have definitely found myself in many situations where I’m trying to please people, seek validation from them, go to them for counsel, and so much more. However, there’s one big problem with that, God is not in the equation.
Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with talking to friends or seeking wisdom from others. But majority of time we allow the thoughts of friends and family to really take control over our own thoughts and we get lost in that. We end up doing what they want us to do and allow them to squeeze us into their idea of who we should be. The trust we once had in God diminishes because we begin to put our trust in man because we think they have our best interest at heart. Totally forgetting about the one who’s created us, knew what we’d be before we were in the womb, the author of time, and everything in between!
If we are truly going to be who God has called us to be, and live in His will, we have to put complete trust in Him. God equips us, empowers us, and anoints us to do everything and that alone is enough.
” Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.” (NLT)
#MileFour
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an unknown God”
EXPERIENCE PRODUCES INTIMACY
If you want a relationship that looks and feels like the most amazing thing on earth, you need to treat it like it is the most amazing thing on earth.
Lord why am I going through this? What purpose does this actually serve? Are you even here with me? These are questions everyone has asked out loud once or twice, and if you’re like me, you’ve asked these questions multiple times.
As I have been reading the book of Job, his story has brought me some understanding and clarity on where I am in my waiting season. Everything we go through is purposeful, however it is made to show us who we are in Christ. Let me break it down a step further, trials bring light to our weaknesses.
Do we really trust in God? When things get hard do we easily give up or stay the course? Now Job was considered a man after God’s own heart, and experienced a lot of suffering, more than what a lot of us could probably handle. But God allowed Job’s suffering to increase his faith and mold him even more. Just how God allows us to go through certain experiences to grow in Him.
So, when things get tough, sit back and enjoy the ride! Of course that’s easier said then done, but God knows you better than you know yourself and see far more than we see. So I’m learning how to be patient and and respect this process and trust that God is for me, not against me. He’s setting me up for something BIG!
#MileThree
“Look for Christ and you will find Him. And with Him, everything else.”
WHAC-A-MOLE 101
When you realize who you are, what you are, and who you belong to, you can always begin to find peace and understanding.
This post today will be short and sweet. I know for a fact everyone has felt like their life was a game of Whac-A-Mole!!!! And if you haven’t, let’s be real you’re not being honest with yourself. Today I felt like that old mole in the game and life was the mallet! So, to help me regain some peace, I took a moment to breathe and this scripture from Proverbs came to mind. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight (NKJV).
If you ever come to the place where I was today, here are some scriptures I like to meditate on……
James 1:2-3 (KJV)” My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
Philippians 4:6 (KJV)” Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Psalms 55:22 (KJV)” Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Goodnight! #MileTwo
“Never be in a hurry; Do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”
A TURN OF EVENTS
When life gives you lemons, the best thing to do is make the best darn lemonade and put your best foot forward.
Well Well Well, Let’s get down to business. Ya girl is in a waiting season, and I must say this by far has been one of the most challenging things ever (literally). But before I explain that, let’s go back a little bit. April of 2017 rolled around and I just knew that I would be walking across the stage with my class in May getting my bachelor’s degree. I took a few senior pictures, told family and friends, and I was set on being done especially because I was ready to move on from undergrad at the illustrious Fisk University. However, nothing worked out the way I had planned on it. I found out my credits were a little off, and had 3 more classes to finish. Of course, being the perfectionist, I am, and one who likes to have control I tried to take the classes elsewhere. But the GAG is, that did not go as planned either! I felt very discouraged at the time, and became depressed because I had gotten so close to graduating and I was delayed. To be completely honest, I felt like a total FAILURE.
Now I know everything happens for a reason, and I did try to tell myself that God knows what’s best, but for once I didn’t have any answers for this nor could I fix it. I had no one to really turn to for answers either, and I was worried about what other people would say, because let’s be honest…… People will criticize and judge your situation without even knowing you or your life. I did a lot of praying and crying every day because for the life of me I couldn’t see what God was doing, and why I had to wait! I remembered a scripture that was told to me by my seventh grade teacher who became one of my mentors, ” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end” Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV). This scripture gave me hope again in understanding that God wants the best for me and He will alter your plans as He sees fit. So, am I waiting on God’s best for me? I guess so! I’m in a place where God wants me to fully trust and rely on Him. So, here’s my journey……. #MileOne
““There’s no such thing as a coincidence.” ”