In February 2023 the Lord led me on a new journey to follow Him more than I ever have in my 40 years as a Christian. Yes, I was living for the Lord and loving Him, but I wasn’t fighting spiritually like I once did. The challenge really began in June 2020. For two years I let the “stuff” of life distract me as I encountered several personal trials and health challenges. At times I would find myself fighting the wrong battles or not fighting at all. It took everything in me to hold onto the vision, dream & calling that the Holy Spirit planted in me years ago. Then July 2020 the Lord challenged me to get out of my comfort zone in a way I never dreamed of.
This challenge came to me in the form of a dream where the Lord showed me that I was to move to Taylorsville, a town approximately 50 minutes north of where I was living at the time. Usually, I am not one to venture off on a long drive by myself into unfamiliar territory. But the Lord really stirred me. Finally, on Sunday morning August 2, 2020. I decided to take a test drive to visit a church in Taylorsville. As I drove up Hwy 16, I can only say that God must've had me in a protective bubble of some sort because I saw beautiful scenery on the way into town that to this day I've never seen again.
In the dream I was shown a three-fold mandate of sorts to relaunch my recovery ministry (Free Indeed RM), start a women’s bible study, and begin to host yearly women’s conference again. I knew nothing about Taylorsville at that time. Little did I know that there is a massive problem with drug/alcohol addiction, and there isn’t much available to encourage Christian women to reach their full potential in Christ.
One of the first lessons I learned upon moving to Taylorsville was that just because God calls you to something that doesn't mean it's going to be easy. As I continued this journey there were tough decisions had to be made, yet at the same time ministry burning in me and God was restoring the hope of His original calling in my life. So much has happened since I moved to Taylorsville in November 2020, too much to share here except to say it’s been a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m so thankful for God’s grace!
Iin October 2023 the journey took a twist I never imagined. I had been praying and fasting and the Lord had really been stirring some things up inside of me. Oh my, I never dreamed of the whirlwind that was about to happen. Friends were even sending me texts and e-mails saying, “God is about to bring a suddenly in your life”. God confirmed this with (2 Corinthians 16:9 NLT) “There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.”
Then God dealt with me in the end of 2023 to take some significant steps. I requested of Him that in this season He would put people around me to support and encourage me with the ministry unlike ever before because it was getting tiring fighting alone. He has done that in ways that I have never imagined would happen and with people that I have never dreamed would happen with. To God be the glory!
Now, let's look to see how God was building His view to me from the scriptures. Look at Psalm 73:1-28. In verses 1-20 David was bemoaning the blessing of the wicked around him and questioning God about his own trials, even questioning whether it was worth going on with God. Then in verses 21-28 David turns his trust back to the Lord, having his vision and hope renewed. The Psalms are the most read book in the bible because so many of us relate to David. He was a man after God’s heart but like us he often struggled with who God called him to be, but he wouldn’t give up and would always find the grace and mercy of the Lord available to him giving him victory after victory.
The next scripture from the Lord was a familiar one but stronger than ever as I read it “12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV)
In closing let me break this passage down for you a little since I feel this is right where I’m at in my life right now and a place we all need to find ourselves at some time.
I’m not perfect: I have made mistakes along the way, and I still miss it at times. But I keep getting up. (v12) I haven’t arrived (apprehended), but I am forgetting the past and pressing on. (v13)
Most importantly, I am pressing toward the call of God so that in the end I can hear “well done.” (v14)
One more verse. We can never get too much of God’s word! “For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. (Haggai 2:3 NASB)
Friends, I challenge you. Do not give up on
the calling, dream or vision God has planted in you. Remember, two of my
favorite statements: “Obedience doesn’t require understanding.” And “There is
hope beyond where you are.”
Yes, there will be hurdles to jump along the way, but it will be worth
it to follow the Lord and know that we have been obedient to His calling. We
will be able to say as the Apostle Paul said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have
remained faithful.” (2 Tim, 4:7 NLT)