Do You Have an Open Heart?

Do You Have an Open Heart?

What’s holding your heart? This question is something that God has been prompting me with lately. I think a lot of times we don’t really give God our full heart…even if we think we are. Maybe we are giving a piece here or there, but is it really the whole thing? We seem to give everything else in our lives our best. Our full attention, energy, and time given to the things that our day requires of us. But what about God? What does He get? Are we giving Him our best?

There has been so much going on in my life lately and there is so much spinning through my head. Between the day to day tasks and the revelation He has been giving me on things it is hard to know which way is up or down some days. The enemy likes to use this. Satan will use our daily lives to distract us and try to drag us down and wear us out. I’ve definitely felt it lately and I’m sure you have too! We really need to just slow down and give everything to Jesus. Take a breath. Realign our thoughts. Stop and talk with Him about what’s going on.

There’s a few things that He has been convicting me of lately. One of which being the words we speak but also think. Yes, I said think! Especially think! Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.” Or the other week I was reading through Matthew and read Matthew 15. Wow! It really convicted me! Matthew 15: 17-19 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts- murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Clearly, what we speak and think matters. They begin to take root and affect our lives and how we view God, ourselves, and others. I really had to check myself in this area. I don’t use fowl language but I complain and grumble. I am not perfect and I really had to ask myself are my thoughts glorifying God? It is so important that we take each though captive and not allow an open door for the enemy in our lives. This starts with our thoughts and the words we speak.

I had to really get real with myself and God. Ask Him to help you and show you any lies you may be coming into agreement with through your thoughts or words. This leads us to the second thing that God has been highlighting to me lately, which is being more vulnerable with God. Let Him in on EVERYTHING. I thought I already did this, but it turns out I was struggling with it. I needed to repent and ask God to forgive me. I had been harboring all this hurt, doubt, and a bunch of other feelings I had deep down towards God. They needed to go! Which again is why it is so important to take each though captive and be aware of the words we speak. I had grown discouraged and felt forgotten by God. When God gives us a promise and it doesn’t happen in our timeline we can grown discouraged if we aren’t careful. I needed to put my full trust in Him and stand on the fact His word is truth and if He said it He will do it. We need to have an open heart with Him because He cares about how we feel. God is never withholding something to be cruel. He loves us and wants the best for us.

This leads me to the third thing that God has been showing me lately. Gods best is not my best. I’ve needed to release that to Him and stop trying to control and make things happen in my own strength. I just heard a sermon where she said “Gods timing is always perfect.” It was simple and something I’ve heard a billion times before, but it just hit me different this time. It was the reassurance I needed. Waiting for God to do things isn’t always easy and sometimes we might feel like it’s too late, the situation is hopeless, or we’ve lost our chance and the list goes on. Things may seem as if they will never change, but God. God knows what He’s doing. Even my “best” still falls short and doesn’t satisfy. I might think I know what I need but something never adds up. But when God is involved everything seamlessly falls into place.

We can trust that when nothing seems to be changing God is in control. Remind yourself that is the best place to be. Pursue Him wholeheartedly. Watch your thoughts and tell Jesus everything on your mind and in your heart. Allow Him to minister to you and heal any wounds. Let go of the fear and the need to control. God’s best is way better than our best ever could be. Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” God has BIG things bigger than we can imagine. It starts with a thought. So, be careful not to let the wrong ones in. Take everything to Jesus and allow Him to fill you with His truth. Meditate on His words and allow them to take root in your mind and heart. You will feel and see the difference when you fully wholeheartedly let God in on EVERYTHING.

Ps… Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

It’s a New Day

It’s a New Day

“This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Let go of yesterday. “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us.” Philippians 3: 13-14. Everything holding you back from experiencing the full relationship you can have with Jesus. Give Him every lie, distraction, and disappointment. What is weighing heavy on your heart? He is saying “Give is to me.”

God makes all things NEW! I felt Him telling me this morning “It’s a new day!” Don’t worry about the promises He gave you coming to pass. Don’t worry what the day will bring. He is saying it’s a new day! Just trust in Jesus. Rest in Him knowing that He is with you and He is for you. He will never leave you or forsake you.

Whatever your circumstances are – trust Jesus. Whatever you may be waiting on – keep trusting Jesus. Give it all to God. He knows your heart and He knows exactly what you need. When you rest in Jesus you have everything you could ever desire. His love for us is all consuming. His plans and promises are greater than we could imagine. His ways are so much better. Rest in His presence and you will realize you have all that you could ever need. Rest in Him knowing that He will show up and do what only He can do.

It’s a new day. Let go of the worry. Let go of the doubt. Let go of the lies of the enemy trying to keep you stuck. Give your heart to Jesus today. Spend time with Him. Pour out your heart to Him. He loves you and knows you – Trust His ways are better. He has the Best for you!

Ps… Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo


Taylor Nicole

Arise and Shine

Arise and Shine

Matthew 5: 13- 16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the household.”

Shine! Shine! Glow! God has been speaking to me lately and telling me to step out and “SHINE!” And as followers of Jesus we should. We should glow and shine differently. This glow we are to have is to help draw others in. We are light in the dark “a city on a hill.” Be the light He has called you to be and encourage others. Be a witness of His love wherever you go. Step out and glow!

It’s funny because throughout my life I’ve had many people tell me that I sparkle and shine. As I was driving to work yesterday I was talking to God about this. He told me that I sparkle everywhere I go to make an impact for Him. We are to make a difference and change the atmosphere! He told me “You are my precious jewel, and what do jewels do? They sparkle and shine! They have properties that are different than a stone so they stand out.” I thought this was the coolest thing! I had never before made that correlation until God told me yesterday. He often calls me His precious jewel and I often hear how I sparkle, yet I never tied the two together.

God has been speaking and He wants us to Shine! He wants you to be the light for those lost in the dark. Remember who you are and whose you are. Walk out in the authority He has given you. Be the light for those blinded by the darkness. He has called you. Can you hear Him? Will you answer? I don’t know about you, but I choose to be a jewel amongst the rocks! Set apart from the rest – You are called! Arise and Shine! This is His call. Take the leap of faith and each day say yes to God.

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole ❤