~ I DECLARE ~

Declaring out loud scripture, any prayers or positive promises of the Lord is crucial to not only your walk with the Lord but to living everyday life as a believer. What we face daily is a test that we must pass. God uses certain situations to help build our faith so that we can become stronger in Him. God designed us so that we will need him every moment of our days. All throughout scripture is proof of this. That is why studying God’s word helps us to communicate and understand who He is. When I declare and say out loud a promise, scripture or a good thing with my mouth each day I am storing much in eternity. Also, when I do this I please my Father. I show Him that I need him and trust in his promises for my life and of course the devil is having a hissy fit. When I am down with despair and full of no hope the devil is having a party as many of you know. We have got to start today! We have got to claim our identity in Christ and stand and not waver in good or bad. We were not made for any other way. When we do not do this we let our flesh win and we give God nothing to work with.

Do you not want to fulfill your true purpose here on this earth? Well, sisters you have got to stand and stop giving this enemy all the glory with your thoughts, decisions and or mouth. Let’s give the Lord something to work with today.

John 15:5 says that we are to abide in the Lord and he will abide in us. We will bear much fruit if we stay connected to him. Apart from the Lord, we are NOTHING! How encouraging is that verse?

Today, join in with me….I declare this: “I am a child of God. Something good will happen in and through me. God loves me and he would never leave me so I will not fear. I will think on thoughts that are of the Lord and serve others as if I am serving my Father”.

Will you let this declaration be your anthem today? Say this all day to yourself until fear, doubt, confusion or anything else negative leaves you.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Lord, you did not come down to this earth and die on the cross so that I could live a miserable life. You came to save me and give me a new life in you. Help me to use my mouth to declare your promises over my life. When I am down and in despair Holy Spirit convict me so that I can use the authority you have given me to speak victory. Jesus, thank you for your love, thank you that you are already working on my behalf. Thank you for new beginnings in you. Amen

~ He Will Equip You ~

Ever since I was young I knew I was different. I knew that I had a unique call on my life and that everything I went through was not in vain, there was bigger purpose. What that was truly I did not know. Getting pregnant and married young was indeed chaotic however God ALWAYS provided. I graduated high school early only to go on to start working at a decent company with a decent benefits package. There was much favor given to me then but did I see that? NOPE. Even when adversity in the marriage struck and it dissolved God still shined his face upon me. He gave me courage to go on. Courage to remarry.

These things I did not do by myself with sheer determination. There was a fire inside of me but at the time I just did not know what/who was my source was until I was older. As I got older and let Christ truly rule in my life I understood that this specific God designed purpose would come to fulfillment in due time. But of course there were/are things that I need to align myself up with. For instance, I need to hate the very sin I once loved. I need to start to renew my mind and understand my identity in Christ. I need to produce fruit and stop listening to the enemy and his plans. I need to love God’s people and not with a phony love. I need to love with compassion and do it purposely. I needed to totally live for the Lord whole heartedly. The only way all this was to happen was to let God be in the driver’s seat and I take His guidance second by second. I could no longer be average because I knew God set me apart. God is a loving God and will wait for us to get our acts together.

Throughout this process and of course even now I have many questions. But each time God comforted me in his word. Each time he made my path straight.

Hebrews 13:21 says God will equip me with everything for doing his will. Philippians 2:13 says that it is God who works in me to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 2 Timothy 3:17 says that the servant of God is equipped. Over and over I am reminded that God will equip me and I do not have to worry nor focus on what this world reminds me of. I am to set my mind on above, trust the Lord and do life with excellence in the big and small. If I fall, I get right back up and hold God’s hand.

As believers, we are set apart. The old person we were has died and we are now a new creature in Christ. What holds us back is how we think and what we say about the situations in our lives and about ourselves. I know this first hand.

Today, I encourage you to seek the word of God like no other and find the peace that God so willingly has given you. God does not call you because you are qualified. He qualifies the called. He is waiting on you to see that he has his hand on you. Just because this process doesn’t look or feel pretty does not mean God is not working. You are His child. Tag team with your Father right now and step out to greatness in faith, trusting him. Remember God gives peace not disturbance. Do not block what God is trying to do within and for you.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Father, you love me. You are for me. You said in your word that you will NEVER forsake me. You died so that I may live. You have much to show me and the process will not be glorious sometimes. I do trust that you know what you are doing. I move out of the way right now so that you can fulfill your plans on my life. I am so sorry for standing in the way. Forgive me and help me to walk hand in hand with you through it all. I love you and thank you for your presence. Amen

~ Biblical Submission: Trusting the Lord in Marriage ~

The other day I was listening to a sermon on biblical submission and the pastor said something that stood out. She said “as a wife you are to submit unto your husband as you do to Jesus and if you do not then you have a trust problem”. I sat parked there for a little thinking that she was crazy first off. Is she saying I do not trust my husband?!?!? Because I love the Lord and I do not know what trust problem she thinks I have. Then I stood back and asked the Lord what is she talking about and why am I bothered by what she was saying. I heard many speak about biblical submission Lord and I have studied your word. So what is it Father? Boy was I in for a rude awakening.

 Ladies, I was bothered by it because she was right. My little rebellious self only submitted when it was convenient for me. Every time I “had something to say” when my husband made a final decision, suggestion or gave his guidance I showed him I did not trust him. I showed him that my way is more important because I just had to disagree. Did I do it all the time? No, but I did it and I recognized lately my part in some disagreements.  Bottom line is: I must trust my husband knows what is best for me and our home. He is the leader and accountable to the Lord. I am his helpmeet, NOT his God (Genesis 2:18). There is a way to go about some things and let’s just say I was going about some things WRONG.

Let’s look at Ephesians 5 though because here is where God shows us true submission, HIS way. I love reading in the CEV translation so that is where I will be okay?

In verse 21-22 it says “Honor Christ and put others first. A wife should put her husband FIRST, as she does the Lord” Verse 23 goes on to say that the husband is the HEAD of his wife just like Christ is the head and Savior of the church.

Jesus did not say honor yourself. He said honor others. In a marriage, who is that “other”? YOU’RE SPOUSE. I would always tell my husband GOD, you and the kids THAT is my priority. But you see every time I choose to honor myself by not letting my husband lead I showed him he is NOT my priority. I want to lead in the marriage and not my husband and that is the reality of what I would sometimes do. Why do I share this with you?

I share this with you because I want you to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are not perfect BUT we can learn from what God reveals to us through his disciples. Letting our husbands lead does so much for our marriage and for truly honoring the Lord. We learn how to truly die to our ways in marriage. When our husbands lead and take direction from God EVEN when we “think” our way is better, they become who God has planned for them to become in our marriages. When we move out of the way and see the big picture we know that biblical submission has a much bigger purpose. We start to take our eyes off ourselves and put Christ first by putting our husband’s first in our homes. As our husband’s helpers, we are to encourage, edify and HELP not hinder. I am not saying we as wives have no voice. I am saying we take our position under our husband and trust him because we know God is leading him. We trust God. Our husbands value our input and they will listen to our suggestions but there is a fine balance to this approach.

Well, Monique God is not leading my husband! He is doing some real foul things, you say. Well, sis that is not up to you to worry about. Your job is to trust God. What he is doing is between him and the Lord. Let him do what he will do and you focus on being the helper in the marriage. You cannot change him ONLY God can. You can pray for his heart and ask God to work in him BUT you cannot keep frustrating yourself because he is not doing what you think a man of God should do. God honors that and he sees your obedience to his word. Remember Romans 8:28? God works ALL things together for our good for THOSE who love him. Stand on this scripture.

Today, I encourage you to trust the Lord. Trust that he knows what he is doing for you and your marriage. If things don’t look like you imagined they would keep pressing anyway. The Lord will NEVER forsake you. God restores, he heals and he turns things in your favors when you believe…J

In Christ,
Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Lord, forgive me for not taking my position under my husband. Thank you for showing me your way to love and put my husband and marriage first. Convict my heart, when I try to lead in my marriage. Give me wisdom and direction, Father. Help me to let go and give everything to you in my marriage. My goal is to honor you Lord. Show me how do to that in my marraige. I want to be a wife that demonstrates the fruits of your spirit, please help me. May I honor you in all I do especially in my marriage, Lord. Amen

~ Be THANKFUL & Keep Your Word ~

In Psalm 50:14-15 (CEV) God talks to us about want he truly wants out of us. He tells us that HE is the Most High God and the ONLY sacrifice he wants is for us to be thankful and to keep our word. I stop here at the verse because I wonder why this concept is very important to him. Hmmmm… perhaps can it be that we are to give up something? He goes on to say in verse 15 that we are to pray to him in times of trouble and he will rescue us and we will honor him. The true sacrifice that honors the Lord Ladies is a THANKFUL heart. He wants us to obey him and he will show us his power EVEN in times of trouble. We offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving…..

In the NIV translation of the Bible it says:

“sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me”

What is sacrifice anyhow? It is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the surrendering a possession as an offering to God or a divine supernatural figure. Well, God is my divine Supernatural Father figure so that definition I will take. J

I believe our feelings are a possession because I mean they do belong to us right? When we surrender the way we feel to God despite the situation and continue to thank Him in the midst of the storm we sacrifice thank offerings to Him.

Here is another example: In order for me to offer up a thank offering to God as a sacrifice I believe that would require me to give up something my flesh loves to do. My flesh LOVES to complain. When I wake up in the morning and I “feel” so tired mentally and physically I at times complain. I moan, pout and complain about how much I do not want to go to work and how I deserve to stay in bed longer with my hubby. But what am I really doing sisters? Who am I really giving praise too? It sure is not my Gracious Father…I am praising the enemy with my lips.

The one thing my flesh desires the most is to complain and remain there. I believe the enemy works through these desires. He wants me to stay there with an ungrateful heart because he knows I won’t give praise to my Father with my “defeated” feelings. He knows I will praise “his sly of a snake self” most likely by my moaning and complaining staying all in my fleshly desires. He is a sly snake I tell you. But sisters?!?!?!? We are smarting than him. God gave us authority.

God says “obey me daughter” fight pass your feelings and offer me a sacrifice of praise this morning. The enemy says “complain and pout you deserve to stay in the bed and not get up”. God wants us to keep our word which I believe is our faith in all situations and praise His Holy name no matter what. Be thankful through it all he says to us because I will save you. I am your God I go before you. You will honor me in the end.

We must train ourselves to be thankful no matter what and keep our word to our Father. God will provide a way out if we truly surrender our ways and truly depend on him. It truly is about HIM not us after all.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, thank you for your word and thank you so very much for showing us what REALLY matters to you. Our one true desire is to be more like you. Forgive us for complaining and moaning and not offering you praise with our lips. Help us Lord Jesus, to stand and fight against our flesh. We love you and honor your precious name. Amen

~ NO More Anxiety ~

Anxiety, doubt, loneliness and frustration, what do all these have in common? How about peace, joy, hope and courage, what do these have in common? I can tell you that one leaves you feeling drained and in despair and the other leaves you feeling energized, ready and vigilant. Why, why do these different emotions have the tendency to make us “feel” a certain way? Well, I believe it is because one is of Jesus and one is of the enemy. Let me explain…….

God made us with a variety of different emotions so that we can channel them for good and to glorify his kingdom but our focus is off when we are in an emotion that is not of him. God is of peace and would never want his child in despair so feeling anxious with doubt and of loneliness is not him sisters. We have a situation in front of us and it makes us feel uncomfortable so we panic. We choose chaos instead of peace. We think that God needs our help so we call everyone we know and start to speak defeat. Or we sit in a corner and entertain a anxious heart and think “I am an anxious person, I always been this way”. We don’t use our words to focus on the positive or have any faith we start giving life to every emotion under the sun. We give into anxiety instead of peace.

I think that what we miss it all when we think about emotion and feelings and we get too caught up in them (preaching to myself here). We think because we “feel” a certain way that we have to “act” in a certain manner than we just rely on our flesh to respond and it just is a mess. We fail to look to Jesus in the whole scenario. We fail to see why we are “this way” in the first place. We take no accountability. We start to think “oh, I am like my parents”. We start giving ourselves titles and speaking things into existence based off of one single feeling. We forget who we are in Christ just like that. Why, sisters?

We are human, that is why and we will fall short daily BUT we can call upon the name of Jesus and trust him in that exact moment. We are of flesh in a dark world where the enemy is very present. We are messy and sin is in our lives, we are not perfect and never will. But we do have dominion we can hone in on and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. As believers, we daily take up our cross and strive to be better remembering that God is at the center of everything we do. When we purposely shift our thoughts, emotions and responses to life’s trials we see the beauty (Jesus) in the pain and can choose peace, joy and hope, not ourselves in a situation. We can do this supernatural thing because sin is removed from us (doubt, fear, confusing etc) and God is now welcomed to be God.  

It is very possible that we can feel one way and listen to our spirit inside of us to do right despite our “emotion”. We will suffer and there is no way around that but we can choose different in our crazy emotions. What we need to understand is that through the hardship we face God is already working behind the scenes to bring forth something good in and through us but we cannot lose hope. We cannot lose our peace. We cannot lose our joy. We cannot get tired of thinking well and responding with faith or we block Jesus from working. We need to stand steadfast and trust God through it and talk back to our emotion and say “I will not stress, God is in control”, “I am not lonely, Jesus loves me”, “I will nor fear, that is not of the Lord", “I will not be anxious, God has me in the palm of his hand”. When you start to speak victory and faith situations change and we do as well. This takes practice.

 Remember like the word of God says in 1 Peter 5:8, "the enemy, the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour". Sisters, he is ready to pounce on you. The enemy thinks he is smart when in actuality he really is not. We give him to much glory. The enemy forgets that we have authority over his tactics. But if we handle life with how we “feel” he will play and toy with our weak state and flesh. Soon we will work our self into a frenzy and loose our power over him. He will win in your thought life and you will respond not like the bold Christian you are. We cannot believe all the lies that he whispers in our ears and we can no longer give him glory with our emotions.

Sisters, we must be more than how we "feel". We can push pass emotions and choose to speak life, not death. We can respond with grace, not stubbornness. We can hope not be in despair with anxiety. We can sleep in total peace because God is with us and he will provide. We can love and serve instead of whining and complaining. Let’s grow. Let’s be more. Let’s not waver today. Let’s let peace, love, joy and courage be at the center of what we think, feel and do…..

In Christ,
Monique Smith

 Prayer Starter:

Thank you Father for this trial, I trust you. Thank you that you gave me a courageous spirit so that I can channel my emotions and thoughts in a healthy manner for your kingdom. Thank you for lovingly correcting me and giving me conviction in my heart. Thank you giving me freedom and helping me to walk in it. May I stand and be a light in this dark world by speaking victory even when I can't see it. Help me to push pass any emotions, thoughts or feelings that are not of you. I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Amen  

~ A New Commitment ~

Often times we wonder why life is headed in a certain direction and we never stop to question ourselves why. We stumble and fall, which is normal, as we are not perfect but we do not learn from our mistakes. We keep doing the same and wanting different results. We say we are believers and say we love the Lord but want to fill our minds with filth. We want life to go smoothly every day and if it does not we throw a fit. Life with the Lord does not work in this fashion; I am here to burst your bubble. Whoever told you that life would be peachy each day lied. You cannot keep doing life the way you want to and expect favor.  We keep sinning and wonder why life is so bad for us. : /

I remember when I asked Christ into my heart at a young age I thought that I would be given special treatment, like I was exempt from pain. Life was so hard after I made the decision to live for the Lord, so I thought. I will tell you now that I look back in retrospect it was not hard, I made it hard. I wanted to praise Jesus Sunday and drink all throughout the week. I wanted to listen to R.Kelly talking about “sex me” and shout to the Lord that I love him Sunday. I wanted to do me and be spirit filled at the same time. When I did not see favor I was like “Jesus, what happened”.  I did not know how to put my flesh in order so I gave in to it EVERY second. God knew my heart and he knew I needed a revelation but he needed me to see that I needed him. Until that happened, I went around the same mountains over and over and over again.

Sisters, it is time to renew your commitment to the Lord. Whether you do not know Jesus at all or you do and are hiding, it is time for you and the Lord to be in right standing again. Time to take the shackles off your feet and truly dance!!!!!!

You want blessing, but your mouth is garbage. You want favor, but you won’t forgive who has hurt you. You want peace, but you want to be God. You want a Godly marriage, but are waiting on your husband to change and will not even respect him. You want purpose for your life, but refuse to even pick up the word of God to find out what God wants you to do. If you find it hard to read this, then it is because you are comfortable doing life your way. I know I could not read or listen to anything spiritual when I was so comfy in my cute little sin. I had an ugly attitude towards positive spirit filled people. Why? Because that was the stronghold Satan had on me.

Listen, you are a child of God and you were bought with a hefty price. Who you were before Christ is no longer, that person died and you are now a new creation. I come from a loving place to say, you cannot expect victory in your life and you still want to live how you want to. As a follower of Christ, you will be uncomfortable and you will daily have to die to yourself but living a righteous life is oh so worth it. I am not saying to have all these list of rules, that is religion. I ask saying to invest in your relationship with Christ and live a life pleasing to him. It is time!!!! It is time to go deeper with Jesus and commit to a life of excellence with him by your side, he is waiting for you. Jesus has so much he wants to teach you and show you but living how you want to will block it all. Same goes for what you think, say, read etc. It is time to kick your flesh to the curb and make a decision today to completely live for the Lord.  

My wrong thinking and negative words were holding me back from who I was to be, please do not let that happen to you. God will let us do our own thing because the life we have is choice driven. He is a gentleman and he will never push himself on us. But we have to seek him with all your hearts and pursue him because we no longer want to live life "our way". It is a choice. What will you choose?

Today I encourage you to ask yourself some hard questions even if those answers hurt and sting, write them out. Be truthful with yourself and take them to the Lord. Take a look at the answers and do something today to change it. If it is your lifestyle, repent now and get right with the Lord. If it is your thinking, renew your mind in his word and purposely seek what God says in his word. If it is your mouth, ask God to help you to hush and find all sermons and scripture you can on the tongue…If it is a person? give them to the Lord and work on you. You cannot control others and their actions. You are responsible for the development of your own soul so stop worrying about other people.  

It is my prayer that your soul is so convicted that you stop now and make your life right with Jesus. Give it all to him sis. He is the way, truth and the light. He will tag team with you and help you to live the life that he so willingly died for you to have.  

In Christ,

Monique Smith

 Prayer Starter:

Jesus, I no longer want to live my life the way I have been. I am tired, bruised and broken. I want you to please take control of me and change me. I am nothing without you and I want your presence in my life over anything else, Father. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean. All strongholds that are not of you must flee now in the name of Jesus’. Today starts my new life with you. Amen

~ 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

~ Love Notes ~

During my devotional time I have been writing down what I think God is saying to me each day and this has been so powerful. I tailor each sheet of paper like Jesus is personally writing me love notes. For example, I enjoy opening up the Jesus Calling Devotion and re writing what the author, Sarah Young has wrote just so I can observe the message from God’s eyes. She writes from God’s perspective but I like tailoring mine to me personally from God. Each day is so fun and I get so eager to see what God says to me. I write each day from a passionate perspective and let God sign the letter.

This way of writing is just so very personal and I am filled with so much joy. I feel absolutely amazing knowing that God is speaking directly to me. I encourage you to try it if you have not already.

Ladies, I believe God is teaching me to not leave his presence for the things and people in this world for NOTHING. When I sit and write from this perspective each day I believe he is building my faith and trust in him. He wants me firmly planted in his presence daily storing up his love notes in my heart. This intimate relationship is what he desires.

Ladies, God teaches us so much each day but sometimes we choose to focus on what this world has to offer instead of what he is offering. We leave him. Imagine him with his arms stretched out trying to reach for us only to get rejected because this world looks better than he does. God wants to be at the very center of our life but how can he if we keep leaving him for the things of this world (jobs, spouses, friends, status, or money). When we choose to trust God more than anything or anyone in this world we show him that he is our true dependence and our life makes sense. If we lose the lifeline we have in Jesus that is because we decided to shift gears from his presence.   

Sisters, if you stay close to the Lord and purposely focus on who he is and everything he is all about than the things of this world no longer matter. I mean you no longer care to have the best job making six figures or drive thee best car with the finest husband on your arm. What you start desiring is looking more like Jesus.

Sit down each day and let him write on the walls of your heart. He wants nothing but the best for you and wants to show you some things. He wants to prep you for so much. When all hell breaks loose in your life God wants you to keep your eyes on him, to stay with him. Find yourself so lost in all that God is that all you have time for is the love he is injecting into you from the love notes you write.  Grow, Stretch, Press, Stand, Trust, Believe………Don’t leave, stay with the Lord. You are safe there!

In Christ,

Monique Smith

 

Prayer Starter:
Lord, teach us to never leave your side. Teach us to stretch our faith and to walk hand in hand with you, never letting go. Nothing in this world can fill us, no job, no spouse, and no amount of money NOTHING. You, Lord are the only dependence I need. Help me to make choices that are of you and not of this world. In the name of Jesus’. Amen