​       For the first time in a while I’m feeling content and fulfilled in my dating life; and, I’m not actually dating anyone! I’m filled with the Holy Spirit and this is bringing me contentment. Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of messages on being filled with the Holy Spirit. This is something we should ask for in prayer. I heard a great Word from Pastor Toure Roberts of OneLA on Pentecost Sunday on the Holy Spirit. The pastor mentioned how what we may perceive as a physical need may actually be spiritual. We need to pray for more of the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is God; the Holy Spirit does not have Favor, the Holy Spirit is Favor. The Holy Spirit will attract everything to us we need. 

       Recently in prayer I had a revelation: I’ve never been able to be myself spiritually in a relationship. This struck me because I often check to see if I’m able to be myself in the general sense…do my jokes land with the person? Do they mind I speak in many vocal styles (often times in the same sentence!)? But my spiritual life is often kept separate from my relationships. Even if God is broached in relationships, I’ve never been on the same page with anyone. I’ve encountered various scenarios from this person only follows certain scriptures to this person doesn’t believe the Bible is divinely inspired by God to this person has some strange interpretations and views. Through it all, I remain optimistic. While I was struck by this revelation in prayer, I was also encouraged; one of the true marks of the right person for me will be that I won’t have to feel like I need to dim my spiritual light for them. Not only will they support my spiritual life and dreams but they will have dreams of their own; our purposes will align; they too will be overflowing with the spirit.
      “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12
       As far as when people find each other, whether it’s a business partnership, marriage, etc God works in many ways and often accomplishes the same thing for people in different ways; there are several examples of this in the Gospels. In Mark 8:22-26, Jesus spit on a blind man’s eye and put His hands on him to restore his sight. In Mark 10:46-52, Jesus heals a blind man by asking him what he wants, to which the blind man answers he wants to see, and Jesus tells him to go because his faith has healed him. In Mark 5: 35-43, Jesus healed a dead girl by grabbing her by the hand and telling her to get up. In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus touched a coffin and told the boy inside to get up. These examples and many more show how during Jesus’ time on Earth He performed similar miracles in different ways.
So when you’re waiting on God for your miracle, don’t box Him into performing it a certain way.
      “See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43: 19

       As I wind down my job search for a full-time position after completing my MBA, I thought waiting was the worst part of the process but actually not having anything to wait for or hope for is the ultimate worst. That signifies a loss of hope, imagination, creativity and honestly loss of trust in God. God is never done with us. I believe He plants dreams in us through our entire time on Earth that are in His will for us to complete.
     “When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139: 15-16
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“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Ephesians 1: 11
     Contentment through the wait is critical; gratitude for new opportunities, challenges, tests, and ultimately growth is necessary. What is being taught in the wait? What is being refined? 

        A wait for a job brings opportunities to grow professional skills and catch up with friends and family.
        A wait for a relationship brings opportunities for self-discovery and confidence growth.
   It’s hard to see it now but waiting is rarely regretted. We may never know the terrors and trials God is helping us evade during an extended wait.
     I know God hasn’t failed me yet and I’m sure He never will.
    “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1: 37
    We all have a track record of how He’s brought us through. We have no reason to stop trusting Him; so, we should remain patient and faithful during our waiting period. Even if no evidence is provided to comfort us. Did Noah receive a drop of rain before the flood? Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego feel a cool breeze before entering the fiery furnace?
     Stay strong in the faith, future generations are depending on it.
   “They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.” Psalm 145: 11-12
 
 

When I was setting about finding this next job I didn’t intend for the search to become a great test of my faith. I thought I’d find something with ease early and be relaxed my last few months on the job. Boy was I wrong!  It’s like God knew the only way my faith would grow would be if I was depending solely on Him. A verse I really leaned on/adopted as my mantra was Jeremiah 17: 7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

I would constantly tell myself this verse when I was rejected for a job or not contacted for a follow-up interview.  But at the same time I knew I couldn’t just take the first thing I was offered; I was testing my faith in this way too. I was trusting God to have a good job for me.  My criteria wasn’t too extensive and really boiled down to three things: I didn’t want to work overnights again, I wanted to make more money, and I wanted to be in a larger city (closer to home was a bonus!) And you know what, I got all three! And because God is amazing, I’m also working in a city where my sister and law’s family lives, and also getting to work with a few former co-workers .  I’m so glad I didn’t settle for earlier jobs I was offered; I was stepping out on faith and trusting God had the right next job for me.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 Commentary in my Bible (Life Application Study Bible) for this verse says “When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.”  More commentary also says “Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprises will surely be ours.” Through this whole process I was able to lean on past experiences, namely my 2008 wreck , as proof of God’s promises.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13: 8

 

So I encourage you to step out on faith, you won’t regret it!

I leave you with one of my posts from 2008: