By His Spirit

I recently trained for and completed my first 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). I started off by not being able to even run 1 mile without feeling out of breath. Then I slowly added more time and eventually I made it to 13 miles.

The journey was not easy but I know that everything I did was unto God so I was motivated to push beyond my perceived limitations.

I looked at my body and said "you don't look like a marathon runner"...."you should have trained harder and lost more weight". Then God ministered to my heart. He said "you are doing this by my spirit not with your body".

I had to remember that I was doing it for His glory. I wasn't trying to prove to myself or to anyone else that I could do it. I was ultimately fulfilling God's purpose.

I was aligning my body with His spirit and moving by faith. It didn't matter what the external looked like. It was all about His spirit and His power.

So I finished my last week of training more inspired than ever. Was I nervous? Of course but I had to meditate on the truth. The truth said that I was more than able to accomplish what I thought was impossible through my ability to rest in God.

I didn't have to sacrifice my body to fulfill my destiny. I only had to surrender and allow my body to be used to bring Him glory. I am the Temple of God.

On December 4th, I did it. I actually finished my first half marathon with a time of 2:53:53. I did it all by His spirit. I praise Him with all that I am because He is good and so worthy of my praise.

This marathon was not just about my physical abilities. It made me realize that everything I do must be executed in this manner. I must move by His spirit and allow it to empower me and carry me across the finish line.

No matter what the external circumstances may look like I have the power to endure them through resting in His love and allowing His spirit to empower me.

I am built for success. Victory knows my name and love is my home. Nothing is impossible because I walk in the joy of the Lord.

Praise Him!

Living my life surrendered the wind....surrendered to His spirit. Living my life awaken and conscious of my power, my calling, my worth.

Taking nothing for granted. Realizing that who I am and what I do are all for His glory.

Does it feel right? Does it bring Him glory? Does it align with His word? Does it stand for truth?

Only God can direct your path. Only He can sustain your strength.

His power is forever moving....His love inspiring....His grace motivating and bringing hope.

Nothing can cage up or contain what is His goodness. It is more than enough to fill this cup and bring forth blessing for others. It is more than enough to find the words to describe.

To God be ALLLLLL the praise...AMEN!!!

Attached

We are attached to a power and source greater than our carnal self. We are more than our ego...our human identity.

When we begin to step away from the Truth of who we are we begin to grasp for air. We begin to fight for life or what we thought was life.

We begin to desperately and frantically look for ways to distract our vulnerability as we are stripped from what we perceive to be our true self.

We can't survive when we step away from the source of our existence. We can't function without the power of God propelling us forth.

In God we live, breathe and have our Being.

Stayed attached and be empowered by remaining in the Presence of God.

I am here and HERE I STAND!

I am a strong and powerful woman of God. What I have been through, what others have done to me, and my "failures" do not define or validate my worth.

I am strong and powerful because God created me. I am desirable, wanted, loved, attractive, intelligent, sexy and strong. No one can take away or add to my worth.

I am who God says I am because He designed me to fulfill is destiny....His purpose. I am not just here on this Earth to fill space but I am here to move, transform and reconcile space. I am here to redeem, restore and manifest the Glory of God.

I am a powerful woman and I will stand each day for the truth. I will consciously surrender my life and my will to God's so that I may live true and real....so that I may fulfill my calling...my destiny.

Today I stand....Today I live....Today I fully awaken...never looking back but always moving forward in the spirit of God.

Why Not?!?

Imagine being fully yourself. Letting go of all fears, doubts and insecurities. Imagine walking this Earth aware of your true calling and fulfilling it with each step. Imagine holding His hand and trusting that no matter where you are He will never let go. Imagine knowing that He is always in control.

Letting go and believing. Believing and recieving. Releasing and walking in freedom. High above every situation. Breaking through. Flying high.

Why not?

The Opportunity

Many of us ask God for many things and never understand the process it takes to obtain that request. We often ask for love, stability, patience, peace or understanding. We ask for natural possessions and wait on God to fulfill them.

What I have come to realize is that everything we need is already within us. So when we make our requests unto God He brings certain situations into our lives to draw it out of us. He creates a situation in which your patience is called forth. He strengthens you by exposing your weakness.

Although the process may be painful at times it is that process that perfects us and prepares us for the fulfillment of His glory. We are the glory of God. He will reveal His righteousness and love through our testimony. We are the living word of God.

If you want love then you must get past the fear and walk by faith. If you seek peace then you must lean not unto your own understanding but acknowledge God in all your ways. If you desire God's favor then you must give unselfishly to others. What you sow is what you reap.

We often feel that "the opportunity" is an attack from the "enemy" when in reality the only enemy you have is your own carnal mind. "It" (the enemy) is a crack in our faith. The speck in our eye. It is the stormy sea. It is your unstable mind.

The opportunity is a chance to grow stronger and fulfill your destiny. Adversity is the breeding ground for greatness. Resistance makes us stronger. Don't give up.......keeping pushing and break through the silence.

Many of us live in the silence of our fears. We dare not step forward and proclaim God's promises because they seem impossible. We are afraid of what others may think. We are afraid that we might get disappointed.

We can't remain in that mold. We can't continue to allow our fears and insecurities to hold us back from what God has promises us. He sent His son so that can live and live abundantly. We are not supposed to lack. We are supposed to be abundant....our cup should be overflowing.

Take the opportunity and don't look back. Walk by faith and not by sight.

Suffering

"Suffering is evidence that weakness exists"

I heard this quote today in a movie and it really resonated with me. I remembered the scripture in the bible that says "My strength is made perfect in weakness". This made me understand this quote in a different light.

We suffer...feel pain....experience heartache when we don't lean on the promises of God. God said "lean not unto your own understanding but acknowledge me in all your ways and I shall direct your path".

So I suffer when I lean on my own understanding. When I try to analyze and figure out why something is happening in my life. When I try to manipulate and force things to play out the way I want them to. When I allow my emotions to control me. When I let my circumstance define me.

But when I lean on my faith and trust that God is in control then I stop suffering. Although life may be spinning out of control I know it is not out of God's reach. I allow myself to be strengthened by God and therefore come out victorious and remain in perfect peace.