“Wisdom is the principal thing: Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

Don’t settle for 2019 problems or solutions in 2020. God's will is always to take you to new heights. Maybe you sought after God every morning at 6 am, or maybe you handle your problems with a drink and dessert. NO JUDGMENTS here. I’m no saint, which is why I know you need to intentionally seek God out daily, and continually seek him in new ways. You have an adversary who has time to study you, which is why your attacks always fit, why they are so tailor-made. He has your measurements, he knows your size. He’s armed. So you should be, too. Being steadfast is about standing shoulder width apart, feet planted, rooted, so you can’t be knocked off your square. 

Steadfast. The holy spirit dropped it in my spirit in January, and I knew I was being called to a season of unwavering devotion. But TBH I hadn't weighed the cost. Obedience to God is a challenge to our norms, our habits, and our comfort zone. Weigh the cost or suffer the consequence of Groundhog Day battles with the enemy. Repeating the same battles, hitting the same brick wall, experiencing stagnancy. During my 20 days of prayer and fasting in January, I received some instructions from God about discipline and sacrifice that challenged me. And he recently convicted me about how I had been following him. The Message bible says, "God is strong, and he wants you strong...This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple hours. This is for keeps: a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. " (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Allow me to share with you how to remain steadfast in a season of waiting.

1. Read your BIBLE. There is no substitute for reading the word. It is the sword by which you guard yourself; it is the faith builder that will ignite your heart’s desires. Personally, I champion the You Version Bible App. I have been using it for YEARS.

You can follow bible plans that are from 3 to 365 days. You can share plans with friends or read them solo. You can also compare different versions of the bible, which is the best way to get greater context and understanding. You can also take notes, highlight, bookmark, and more.

2. Pray about Everything! In the past two years, I have sought God about things I never would've before. I was challenged to go to God before others. I have asked God for help with temptations and help in areas of weakness, and even told him about desires I had that were impure. I held nothing back. I encourage prayer for obvious reasons, but one reason is that often we look at God as an outsider looking in, who knows our challenges, but doesn’t at the same time. As you develop a healthy prayer life, your intimacy with God grows, your love grows, and your knowledge of him improves. We can never fully know God, but the bible gives us a clear analysis of his character. And just like you develop relationships with others by talking with them and spending time with them, that’s how you do with God.

3. Repent Often, Chances are you're going to make the wrong decision a time or two. (Psst. or 3) Repentance aligns your heart posture with God, but also guards your heart from condemnation that the enemy will surely try to bring. *Spoiler Alert* Repentance is not my jam; it’s tough. It’s an admission of guilt, it’s an apology. (Allow me to cringe for a moment) I don’t like apologizing. And most importantly it is a change in behavior. But it is a constant prayer of mine to have an intimate relationship with God. He’s my daddy, and he loves me more than anyone else. He deserves my heart. And I can only give it to him by seeking his face in transparency, and saying I know I fudge up a lot, but allow me to be like David, flawed but forged by your love, in a way that is so deep. I never want to be too far from your will that a small tug won’t bring me back.

David’s heart was forged with God’s love. He truly loved the Lord. It encourages me that David was so far from perfect, but in his words and his deeds, he still showed reverence for God.

4. Keep your eyes/ hearts fixed on God; he alone knows your heart and identity. 

God speaks. We must listen. One of the biggest issues of my heart was seeking love. My desire for love and acceptance was driven by insecurity and past hurts. How I sought it out manifested in toxic relationships and depression. And now I seek God about the desire for love. I keep my heart fixed on God by acknowledging that he alone gives me identity, and he loves me above all others. My validation comes from him, my confidence comes from him. And I am more confident than ever before. And it’s not about my body or my clothes, it’s an inner knowing that I am loved. He has already seen the entirety of my life and said, Yes. He alone positioned me, right standing in his sight by his grace. So keep your eyes fixed on God so he can touch the inner parts of your heart!

5. Check your heart regularly, ask yourself the hard questions.

Lastly I would encourage you to be more self aware. When I launched my site, I didn’t reach out to every friend and person I know. I wasn’t trying to be modest but, we know who we seek out for amen and applauds. We know who our fans and followers are. Checking your heart is about knowing yourself and making the necessary adjustments. I can’t speak to your individual issues, only the holy spirit can do that. So don’t quench the spirit, listen closely to your heart. The word says, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, that means that you can tell your heart posture by the words you speak.

Pay close attention to your words, and evaluate your heart. Allow the spirit to correct you. One day a friend or family member might bring a behavior to your attention. Or maybe you notice something about yourself that unsettles you, the holy spirit gives us gentle nudges that prompt correction. Basically, check yourself sis!

I’m not perfect; I live by these principles through correction from the Holy Spirit. In the 1st quarter of 2020, my flesh fought back like crazy. At times, I'm screaming internally, and let me be clear, at times I’ve screamed externally. There are times when my prayers to God are groans of distress. Let it all out in the face of God. He cares about your frustrations. I share my truth to build a community of women who can uplift one another in truth. Tearing down facades of filters, so often used on instagram. We are a spiritual family, in this human experience, trying to figure it out. But for real for real, I’ll tell you the honest to God truth. This walk can be challenging, but, consider Eve, Rahab, Mary Magdelene, women who loved God, but were far from perfect. My prayer is that you wake up daily with an intention to invite God into your heart and get understanding, and will be able to walk in wisdom. Flat footed, feet shoulder width apart, planted in God