Lord Where Are You?

What do you do when everything feels stagnant? Who do you run to when you need answers? When situations arise in life, it is easy to begin to question everything that surrounds you. Naturally, you may want to take matters into your own hands and come up with a plan to solve the issue. What if God never intended on you solving that issue?   

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. - Deuteronomy 8:2 NKJV

 Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the reason you have not seen a change in your situation is because you have not changed your response? 

You must accept the fact that there will always be test and trials.  The real question is how you are responding to the situations that arise in your life? Are you responding with negativity? Or are you standing firm, planted and rooted in God’s word and allowing him to guide you through the storm?  Remind yourself that he has your back and that he will never leave you nor forsake you. Your job is to do your part and let him do His. Think about the many blessing and situations he has saved you from. Was he not faithful then? Is he the same God now? Of course he is! I admit it can be hard to lay down your own desires and plans. However, When you do so then that is when you allow God to come into your life and do the work that only He can do. 

How can he guide you out of this if you are not yielding to him? Your not even listening to him. He is there tugging at you heart trying to get your attention and you won’t even stop to pay attention to what he is trying to tell you. 

 Think about it this way, if we are standing on the ground, we can only see things from a certain perspective. We can look left, right up and down.  We are only able to view all that is a eye level. For example, we only see the problem. Often Time we only see the mountain that is in front of us. God being ruler and creator of all things, can see far more than what we are capable of. He can see things that will take place months from now. He knows how you will get out of this situation. You must be willing to seek him and His will for your life. In order to do so you will need to set aside all of what you know to be true and allow God to elevate you enough for you to see things the way he has planned them.  As you do this, things will begin to unfold. The bigger picture will become clearer.  

 God did not intend for that thing that you are in to hurt you. He is using it to GROW you. You may say well I’m ready now!  I am ready for my blessing and all that has my name on it!  However, God is saying that you are not.  You are still trying to do things in your own strength and with your own knowledge.  

Do you not know that your strength comes from the lord?  You have been called to walk in obedience and to do what God is telling you, it is for your own good. A lot of times it is hard for us to focus on the lesson that is to be learned during the storm because we are focused on feeling uncomfortable. God is more than capable of pouring out the many blessing that He has in store for you. But will you stop long enough to seek him? Will you listen to what he is trying to tell you? Even if it means cutting that person off? Or not going to that place anymore? Would you risk being uncomfortable for a season if God has called you to do.

  

  During this season I encourage you to Trust, Listen and Obey the Lord.  

Trust -Trust that your season will soon come. Trust that His ways are better than anything you could ever think or imagine. Trust in the fact that that He said he would never leave you or forsake you. Trust that he is a provider!  Trust that he is a healer!  Trust that he is a way maker!  Most importantly trust that He will see you through this. He loves you too much to leave you where you are. He has your best interest at heart.  All you have to do is open up to him and ask for clarity. He will lead and guide you as you walk with him. 

Listen -Listen to what God is trying to tell you. Stop overreacting and get quiet before the Lord and allow him to tell you his desires. Pay attention to those daily prompting by the Holy Spirit. Be sure to pay attention to the lessons he is trying to teach you. Many of the lessons that you learn during the storm, will strengthen you for what is to come.  

Obey - Obey the word of God. Do what he is telling you to do, and remember to obey quickly. It may not make sense now but soon you will see why things had to happen the way they did. 

During this season I encourage you to get intentional! Get intentional about spending time with God. It does not have to be a long drawn out process. There are many opportunities during the day when you have time to spend with God.  Still scrolling on your phone?  Ask God to come into your life and illuminate the very reason for this current season in your life. Remember all seasons are subject to change and so will this one.  Are you letting God in or  are you shutting him out? 

He loves you so much and wants to lead and guide you.  He desires to take you higher and bless you. There is also one more thing that God wants from you! What?  YOU! He desires to have an authentic relationship with you. Chose to let him in! I promise you will gradually see a change. 

Smile God Loves you!

Lots of Love, 

Lakeda Deneen 

Obedience is Key

What do you do when God gives you an idea beyond your current perception? Do you obey quickly? Or do you analyze and try to control every aspect of what needs to be done in order to get to where he has called you to be? I can admit that letting go and fully submitting my life to Christ was hard at first. I never stopped to realize just how messed up I was. However, I am forever grateful that he met me right where I was. So much has occurred over the last several years that has taught me a lot. My desires are no longer the same, my life is no longer the same, and I now have this unexplainable peace in knowing that things are going to work out for my good.  For years now I have been thinking about a few things that God had placed on my heart to do.  At one point I tried to block things out, but deep down I knew that I had an assignment to begin. What was stopping me? I would have to step out of my comfort zone. One of the hardest things for me to do is to be transparent. I have always been a reserved person, only letting in a few select people until one day I heard something that was so profound “There are others that are depending on your obedience”. Hearing this made me realize that I need to trust God’s process.

After many lessons I learned early on that man will always fail you, but God never will! Everything that you go through is for a reason. God can take all of your situations both bad and Good and use them to your advantage. Jeremiah 29:11 says “for I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (NKJV)  Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”. (NKJV) As well as, Proverbs 3:5 reads “Trust in the lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (NKJV)

The bible says to seek first the kingdom of God and ALL things will be added unto you. We must remember to place God first in all things. One must really be ready to fully surrender, withholding nothing in order to allow God to have his way. He is not out to harm you, he is here to help you, protect you, and keep you on the path to righteousness. He cares about your soul, not your selfish desires that you will look back at one day and thank him for not allowing you to have that person or thing you so badly desired, the very thing that you thought you could not live without.

It reminds me of a child that desperately wants a toy, and is willing to give their parent the whole spill as to why they should have it. Only for the parent to say, NO, please wait and be patient. Despite the parent saying it with good intentions (not to be mean) the child cannot seem to grasp the concept that is much bigger than what their mind is capable of processing. Not willing to submit, the child neglects to wonder as to why things have transpired this way. They simply are focused on what they want, and their current emotions.  Not knowing that the parent has an even better toy in store for them. One that is far more amazing than the one they have in mind. What must they do to get it?  Submit! Submit to the will of the parent. Once the parent deems the child as ready and responsible then He gives the child the gift that has awaited them. Asking for nothing in return, the undeserving child then receives the gift with Joy and thanksgiving in their heart. As the parent watches the child proudly and lovingly  watching the child enjoy their new gift, knowing that they will always have the child’s best interest at heart, even when they can’t seem to understand, even when at first it may seem unfair. In the end it will always work out.

So my question is what are some of the things that you desire and God is telling you No! or wait, be patient? The real question is, are you willing to do a heart check and say "Father, I don’t understand this but I will submit. I lay down my selfish desires, I chose to let this go and allow you to have your way in my life." In trusting  that God is always with you every step of the way, protecting you, guiding you as lovingly as possible far more than anything you could have ever imagined. It is through Christ Jesus that we have access to the Father, Him knowing you before you were placed in your mother’s womb was reason enough to want to seek him for his desires for your life.

God is all knowing and all powerful, and has proven to be faithful and loyal numerous times throughout history as well as in your life. Count your blessing! Look at what you have already! Not what you don’t have. Trust in God and learn to be content in this season in your life. This will make you stronger! This will prepare you for your path and purpose! Everyone’s path is different, all set forth by the Father. I encourage you to spend time with him daily, seeking him and his will for your life, all the while asking him “Lord, what would you like for me to do?” Trust in him He will take you many places, places that you would have never imagined.

~ Lots of Love

Lakeda Deneen