~ Are you Willing? ~

What do you do when someone just hurt you so bad and you just cannot trust them no matter how much you try? You have tremendous pain in your heart because of the reckless decisions they are making.

Well,sis…first I pray that you stand with boldness and with authority because even when you cannot see hope or any light, you are a child of the most high God. He is always there to comfort and to provide for you.

But you ask what do you do? You let go….you let go of trying to control the situation. You truly, with all your heart, give it all to the Lord. You surrender sis. God wants you to move out of his way so he can work his purpose for that loved one through you. When you choose to surrender that comes with discomfort. It feels so horrible but you are strong because of the Lord and you can push past those emotions. Remember the enemy wants you to feel all sorts of ugly emotions for that person so you cannot forgive and you can judge and be oh so critical to them.

There is much pain before a child is birthed right? You go through labor and contractions and discomfort and it hurts…BAD. But at the end you have a precious beautiful child that you can hold and see that you pain was not in vain.

Letting go and trusting God through this trying life storm will cause you to suffer A LOT BUT you will rejoice later my sister. I am, speaking from years of experience. The Lord makes mention of this in Psalm 30:11 (You turned my sorrow into joyful dancing). He will turn it. He is a turnaround God but he needs you to take your hand off of it. Not saying you need to rid that person out of your life. I am saying you let the Lord heal your heart work on you so that you can be used for that individual. They need to have a relationship with the gracious Father you serve. 

The Lord is the only one that can help you to heal, let go and forgive in that area. I do understand how it feels to have your life ripped into two because of a careless decision that a loved one made. No matter how hard we want to try and control the whole situation, we cannot and you must try and come to grips with that.

 It is my belief that God wants to build our faith through what seems like a heartless event that another caused. I believe there is greater purpose there. You may ask: why does the decision of one have to make me pay personally? Or is this not their issue Monique? Why did they bring me all up in the mix because they are a hot mess with life choices?

It is not our job to judge anyone’s sin even if it is your spouse, mother, child or whomever. You do have to trust and know that as a believer God is having you go through this for some reason. Our job, no matter what is to love and forgive and maybe love that person from a distance BUT not to give up on them. The whole situation is much bigger than little ol you. God is trying to save your loved one possibly. Their reckless and thoughtless decisions hurt you because of course you are the one closest to them. But did you ever question why are they making such heartless decisions, ones that try to ruin good people’s lives? Sis, they need the loving touch of Jesus in their heart. They do not know that they have a Father who loves and cares for them, one who wants to mend their broken soul so they don’t go about this world doing life on their own. Have you not been there before? Have you not made stupid decisions and wished someone was in your corner? No matter how big or small the sin is it is sin and God hates it. You can hate the sin BUT please do not hate the sinner. They need you. The only Jesus they will see, and you heard this time and time again, is YOU. You are the only Jesus they will see so yes you will have to sacrifice your comfort some so that maybe, just maybe they can get to know our King. Is it not worth it?

If you believe with all your heart that is Jesus is Lord. Than you will know that he has purpose in all that you go through. Absolutely no trial you go through will EVER be in vain. He wants to use you. Are you up for being used? Will you be obedient to the Lord and sacrifice your pain to carry another who is in much greater pain than you?

I pray in the name of Jesus, that you dig deep and find courage to let go and let God move in the heart of another BUT through you.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Oh Jesus, I am a mess right now. I feel so confused Father God. Please guide me and show me your ways because I do know they are greater than mine. My loved one is hurting and they need you and if that means that you need to use me, I say yes Jesus. Use me to let my loved one see your mercy, love and grace. Help me to be patient with them. Help me to remember how it was when I was in my sin and needed you. Thank you Father that you are working on our behalf. I declare victory on the other side of all this pain. Thank you that you can convict my heart in a way that brings forth much fruit. You will turn my mourning into dancing, I trust you. I love you Lord and I honor you with my responses to this individual. Amen 

~ Look Up ~

Today, I checked my mail and I received my Master’s degree. I stood back and looked at it and could not help but just look up and smile. God carried me when I simply could not. There were many times I wanted to give up and just throw in the towel with so much when I started this degree (marriage, work, and life). I knew God needed me to stay obedient because he had purpose. I fought, pressing through those emotions and he renewed my mind each second, each minute and gave me strength for the day.

God knew all along that I would sit alone in his presence today thanking him for a completed degree. He took this wretched little stubborn brat and saved her. I could go on and on about how he saved me but this post would be too long. I want to encourage you to look up to the Lord in faith when what is in front of you looks so dark. God has a plan and he has a purpose and if you would just press through those emotions there is victory.

Where God is taking me exactly I cannot say but I do know that I know that I know it is somewhere big and I am ready, willing and able. Do you know God wants to take you somewhere big as well? God wants you to trust that when you do look up to him he will meet you with favor and blessings. Jesus loves you and he needs you to see that every second of your life. God wants to carry you through tough terrain because he can see the light at the end of the entire chaos question is will you?

Ladies, look up to your Father who has his arms wide open just waiting for you to believe. Look up sis, you will find purpose.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, thank you for carrying us. We can stand against evil and say yes to you because you have given us power to do so. You give us strength and protect us day in and out and we are thankful. We are your children and we look up to you Father. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for meeting us exactly where we are at. Amen

~ I am Unique with a Specific Purpose ~

I have been in HR for the past 8 plus years. I originally went into this field because I wanted to help employees see their potential within the organization. I have always had a servant’s heart but I just did not know it was that. I have a specific purpose from the Lord and I have been dragging my feet on it. Why? Because I am scared but God did not give me that power, the enemy did so switching my perspective is of the utmost importance. Learning to recognize God and the enemy is what I thank the Lord for today. May I share some things with you?

I have completed my Master’s degree in Christian Counseling last month and I have asked God over and over “what am I to do now”. You see I have been going back and forth with the desire to leave HR full-time and go into full-time ministry coaching women with A Risen You. I fear losing the income, how to start it all, if I should charge, just so much. 

Earlier this morning, I sat at Jesus’ feet and just loved on my father. I proceeded to go watch Joyce Meyer and she was preaching on “In God’s Timing”. I thought this is just great so I prayed that God would speak to my heart and of course he did because he is just so crazy faithful. Joyce said something that just spoke to me she said “the devil will try and tell you to stop trying to change the world, to settle down and be a regular woman”. I felt this was so for me because that is exactly what he has been trying to do. The enemy has being filling my head with doubt about my God given specific purpose and this message convicted my heart. I know that I am to go into ministry and coach, write, teach while empowering women in the Lord. But sometimes this sly slick snake will start to speaking and it goes downward IF I am not vigilant. 

Sisters, we are unique and God wants to use us in very specific ways. I cannot tell you those ways only he can. But I do know that we cannot go to where God wants to take us with the same old thinking, behaviors and responses to life. He wants us to help impact this world in the big and in the small ways but we need molding. We are his hands and feet on earth until he comes for us and we need to guard our hearts from the enemy. You are unique with a specific purpose and I say you ask the Lord to reveal this purpose to you.

Today, I encourage you to take some time and purposely sit still before the Lord and ask him to give you perspective about this purpose. I pray you are willing to wait for his response and trust him at his word. You are made to be more and you do have a God given purpose that Jesus wants you to live out. But God first needs to prep you and deal with some areas that you cannot take to the next level. I believe that God is stripping us into elevation. Let’s trust God without borders and studying his word because there we will find his will for us. Let’s go ladies, together we shall grow.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Holy Spirit, we thank you for your guidance. Jesus we thank you that you continue to reveal your word to us in a way that convicts our hearts. Teach us to live like you and walk as you did. We know that you have a specific purpose for us and that we are to help by being a light for you here on earth. Help us Father God, to live a life full of faith, purpose and excellence with trusting you. We want to live out what you teach us, please help us do that Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen