Tag: godsdesign

It’s Not About Appearance- It’s About Position

It’s Not About Appearance- It’s About Position

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

The other night in prayer I felt God telling me “rest and reset.” Life has been kind of crazy and I have been dealing with a lot of different health frustrations and just plan stressful situations. Through it all the Lord has been really highlighting inner healing to me as well as complete dependence on Him for those things. When He told me “rest and reset” I knew I had to do some things differently. I’ve really been trying to focus more on God, especially praying more and giving myself more grace. I know we all struggle with the fast paced culture of go go go! But when do we make time for God to show up? Do you even do that at all? So, I’ve been trying to slow down and listen to my body and allow God the space to work in me and heal. I know He is showing me that He is asking us to turn to Him. He wants to do a work in us a “reset” and we must rest on Him in this time because what He wants us to do might look a little different.

God has been showing me it doesn’t matter what it looks like from the outside or what others might think. I felt God impress that things need to be done differently. It doesn’t matter what you think because God works in ways we don’t expect. Which brings me to the next point that He told me – “It’s not about appearance it’s about position.” A lot of times we focus so much on our appearance or how we’re perceived. Our online profiles are a curated highlight reel of our best moments. But what if it isn’t our persona or the appearance that qualifies you? What if it’s something else? 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” What we see God does not. He sees our potential even when we don’t.

God revealed more of this to me the other day when I made a trip to the store. After a long day of work I half wanted to go to the store and half didn’t, but I really felt like I should just go. I had already come home after my work day, changed my clothes and washed my face. I normally like to be a little more put together when I leave the house and to be honest I felt a little insecure. My skin was breaking out but I decided to go to the store makeup free anyways. Of course when I got there someone approached me, but it’s funny what a blessing it actually was. The entire conversation I knew God was using this woman to speak to me. She was saying such kind and wonderful things to me the entire conversation complimenting me left and right. She told me how beautiful I am and initially I thought “really?! I’m not wearing makeup and does she not see my skin breaking out?!” Yet, in the moment God was using this woman to speak His truth into me and encourage me, as well as use the situation as a reminder that not everything is about appearance. The conversation then quickly turned into talking about God and she walked away saying how I made her whole day. I never saw this lady before and probably never will again, but I know God used her that day to remind me how special and loved I am to Him.

Now, being a few days since He has told me “It’s not about appearance it’s about position” He has reminded me of the ways we try to find ourselves eligible. But it doesn’t matter what you think you look like and if you think you’re qualified or not. God sees you. There’s two parts to this next one “it’s about position.” God showed me this means the positioning of your heart as well as a physical positioning. God cares about the position of your heart and as you grow close to Him you will have the eyes to see yourself and situations the way He sees – aligning with His word. I could have easily dismissed that lady at the store that day, but I would have missed the blessing it was to encourage her. I also would have missed what God was speaking to me that day. The really cool thing God reminded me of is that He can do things literally anywhere anytime! When we least expect it! The position matters but it’s not how we might see fit. I went to the store that day hoping to avoid people. In all honesty in fear of being really “seen.” It just happened to be the one time I actually run into someone who wanted to talk to me. Go figure…haha. Yet, God so amazingly used it to bless me! This lady really did “see” me but not my flaws. Instead she pointed out every positive, even the ones I couldn’t see. That is the way God sees us. I wouldn’t have chosen the store or that physical state as an ideal for having an encounter with God but He did! And that’s the whole point! He sees what we don’t see and uses what we can’t imagine for both our good and His.

He is reminding us that we need to be ready and prepared for what He has in store for us. Be expectant. Because God can move and do anything anywhere in just a seconds time. Remember to rest in who He is. We are needing to change how we look at things. He is calling us deeper. Don’t look at what you see in the physical, but seek Him for each next step.

Ps… Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo

Taylor Nicole

Who’s Calling?

Who’s Calling?

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

After a series of events this week I woke up with a word from the Lord. He is asking you “Who’s calling?” I was on the phone the other evening with a friend. I knew this person on the other side of the phone. However, often we rarely look, ask, or investigate who’s calling me? When we hear a word or a thought pops in our head we accept it as “oh I know this person.” We don’t ask ourselves “who is it? who’s there?” We often just answer. We let the lies in. After my conversation with my friend, it was so apparent to me the risk we put ourselves in by doing this. We open doors, sometimes bigger than we even realize.

So, ask yourself “Who’s calling?” the next time you get a thought. Is it from God? Yourself? Or the enemy? Often times the enemy sneaks in our thoughts. At first so subtly we think it’s ourselves. Soon these lies grow deep roots and infiltrate our identity. We aren’t asking who’s there. We simply let the enemy waltz right in.

Who’s calling? We need to be asking the Holy Spirit for discernment. He is is our caller ID. When an unchecked thought comes in we need to turn to Him and ask “Is this from you God?” And well if it’s not Him and it’s not you most certainly it’s the enemy. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We need to cast down and bind those lies. Like I said before I realized the severity of letting unchecked thoughts in while talking with my friend. When we begin to let these lies take root and our emotions rule dictating how we live we become imprisoned.

Most of us until it’s pointed out are unaware of this sin. We need to ask ourselves truthfully am I following Jesus? Do my thoughts and the words I speak glorify Him? If not something is wrong. We need to seek Him for direction on what may be an open door in our lives. It starts with a thought. That subtle deceptive lie. If it goes unchecked it can spiral out of control pushing you farther from God’s light deeper into the darkness. So subtle you don’t even know. So, we must ask ourselves. “Who’s calling?” Who is on the other side of the line?

ps… Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

He Is Showing Up

He Is Showing Up

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on here! I just haven’t felt God leading me to post. Then I got COVID. Then I was hit with the stomach flu! In the midst of the chaos I’ve been trying to pour into to God and focus on what it is He wants me to do. But I often feel too distracted by the lack of order around me and start to wonder “why?”

Despite the chaos something really awesome happened last week and God really showed up for me. I’ve started praying in the mornings that God would just show up for me each day. This particular day I was praying and asking God to supernaturally show up for me and remind me of His love for me. Overall I had been feeling really down, but this lady came into my work and she had remembered our brief conversation from her previous visit. She remembered I was a Christian and being a Christian herself she brought in a sheet for me with scripture on it and a little message. It was talking about how when life isn’t the way we expect or want it we tend to blame God, but God uses the good and the bad to draw us closer to Him. It was the exact reminder that I needed and it brought me to tears. I thanked the woman and knew it was a “God thing.” I immediately knew it was Him supernaturally showing up for me. Just as I prayed and asked that morning.

I am so grateful to have these moments in the tough times to cling to. I forget sometimes going through it all how much I grow in my love for God as I endure the hard times. Our suffering truly does create a softer heart where Gods love can work and move. Without the tough times we’d never move forward. We would think we hold the power and control and forget our need for God.

It’s in these tough seasons, situations, and circumstances that I’ve learned to let go a little and allow God to show up. Because when I make room for Him He always makes a way. God always shows up in ways I don’t expect or can’t imagine. His ways are always perfect. When we focus too much on our will and our ways we miss out on the blessings all around us. What is God doing in your life right now? What is He trying to show you? Ask Him to show up and expect that He will.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole ❤

You Are Seen

You Are Seen

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Psalm 12:6 “The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.”

God wants you to know you that you are not forgotten. You ARE seen. He has not forgotten His promises to you. If He has said it then He will do it! I know sometimes things aren’t happening the way we think they should in the physical, and then we allow discouragement and doubt to set in. But God is doing it! Whatever He has promised is already on its way! He has been giving me confirmation lately through the physical as well as encouraging me to just hang on a little bit longer.

Sometimes, at least for myself you can feel as though your circumstances, location, or whatever it may be is limiting. But it’s not for God! He has you placed and positioned exactly where He needs and wants you to be. If you are following Him He will never lead you astray. God will always direct you on the right path leading to His promises. As we wait it can be easy to feel as though we have been forgotten. Sometimes I feel hidden, but God has been showing me that I am seen.

Occasionally we go through seasons where God may keep us hidden for a reason. Not out of withholding good, but actually protecting us from the bad. Like a prized treasure God keeps you tucked away, and in His perfect timing you will be revealed and all will see. God is saying to you now “You will be seen.” Don’t worry about the time line because He has everything all worked out.

Whatever He has promised you the time is Now. It is here and coming to pass! Do not let the lies of the enemy deceive. Though you may feel forgotten you have been strategically covered and hidden in His wings. This protection has kept us safe from things we do not see, but NOW God is unveiling. Step out in faith and take Gods hand. He will always lead the way and direct your path. It is time to Arise and walk out! Clothe yourself in your royal dress robes. Pick up your crown and step out.

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole ❤

Illuminate the Dark

Illuminate the Dark

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

God illuminates the dark. When you seek God and His word He will always show you the way. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the way we think things “should be” we miss what God is actually trying to do. I know I do it. But as we seek His word it becomes a lamp to our feet. It gives us the clarity and direction that we long for.

Truthfully, I’ve been feeling really discouraged and frustrated lately waiting for God to give me direction. I’m waiting for Him to just tell me what to do already. But I think I’ve been spending too much time trying to “fix” myself and my situation instead of allowing God complete control. I want certain things to come to pass but I am so fixated on the how. I forget that the way to get Gods direction is through His word. We need to be seeking Gods word for Him to reveal our path.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or discouraged but I take a step back and think “what is God showing me?” The direction is in the details. Most of the time God doesn’t make a clear cut choice for us. We have free will and we have the freedom to choose. But that’s why being in the word is so important. Without the direction and conviction it gives us we will always be lead astray.

There has been so many times I thought I was right. But the more you pursue God the more He reveals the areas that need work. Just like now. My control is definitely an issue. I am always in such a rush, I mean I think we all are. Constantly striving for the next thing. But I need to remind myself God isn’t pressured by time like we are. As I write this I feel an ease and am reminded that Gods got me.

The thing is your life doesn’t start when these desires or goals finally happen. I mean they can essentially mean nothing without God behind it. My hearts desire is to be married. I know I have mentioned this several times – but it is still something I am waiting on. My faith in it can waver day to day but I know what God promised. My struggle is just allowing God the control and not questioning the when or why. I know God always illuminates and reveals things when they are meant to be.

We may think we’re ready for something, but there are always things that we don’t see or know. We may feel like we’ve been waiting forever, but there is always a reason God has kept you hidden. At the exact moment the time is right He will reveal you. That job, that big move, that person you’ve been waiting for – God will lift the veil from you and you will be found.

The more you seek God the more He beings to reveal in your heart as well as the circumstances around you. Maybe God is growing you right now? Desiring to bring healing and restoration. Or maybe He is protecting you. Trust me, I know it’s hard! But I also know following God and His prompting is so much sweeter than when I try to control everything without Him. God knows what is best. Even in the waiting (no matter how hard it gets) choose to trust Him. Because your Abba loves you. He desires to bless you and give you the desires of your heart.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

All I’m Standing On

All I’m Standing On

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Truth I’m Standing On
Leanna Crawford

Scared, oh I thought I knew scared
Now I’m so filled with fear
I can barely move
Doubts, I’ve had my share of doubts
But never more than right now
I’m wondering where are You
I’m on the edge of fall apart
But somehow Your promises
Find my troubled heart
This is the truth I’m standing on
Even when all my strength is gone
You are faithful forever
And I know You’ll never
Let me fall
Right now I’m choosing to believe
Someday soon I’ll look back and see
All the pain had a purpose
Your plan was perfect all along
This is the truth I’m standing on

Nothing encompasses the last 8 months of my life like this song. The other day I was driving in my car and the end of this song came on. Of course by the time I got home I forgot the lyrics that I heard. But I googled and googled and finally found it! I immediately felt like it was a gift from God because He knew it was exactly what I needed. I sat down on my bed and began to pray and pressed play. I burst into tears instantly.

Overwhelmed with emotions. This song is me. It is my life for the last 8 months. After my breakup I thought I’d never be the same. Yet God is continually making me better healing me more and more every day. I realized listening to this song that the journey isn’t about getting what you want. One day we’ll see every heartbreak served a purpose. His plan is perfect and every struggle and mistake was leading me back to Him. Even now I am so grateful for every trial. God is continually opening my eyes more and more to the purpose in my pain. Looking back He will always show you the “why?” Looking back you will see the purpose and preparation God was working in you. God has plans bigger than ours. We just need to trust Him.

Even if the journey takes a detour through pain. In those moments they draw us closer to God. When I went through my breakup I thought I lost myself. My identity was so attached to someone who just walked away. I didn’t realize at the time the gift God gave me. Calling me to come back to Him. I didn’t lose myself. God helped me find my way back to who I am. You see the journey isn’t about everything going perfectly the way we plan. It’s through the twists and turns – the trials where we truly find ourselves.

You may think you lost the one thing that made you “you.” But turn to God and I guarantee He’ll remind you who you truly are. There’s purpose in our pain. God will always keep His word and do what He has promised.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

You are Seen

You are Seen

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

In my deepest fears I’m alone. I’m abandoned. Forgotten. Cast aside. Many times this fear has become my reality. Tonight as I write I feel this pressing word from God “you are seen.” There’s this urgency I feel to write about His love for us because I’ve felt so alone. I’ve felt hidden away from the love of God. Isolated in darkness.

The truth is you are seen. You are loved. Even when we feel our lowest God is right there. When I feel unloved I want to hide myself away. Isolating in my pain. We become fearful our flaws make us unlovable. But not to God. Not to your Abba. He looks at us and sees perfection. He sees the flaws but still calls us worthy – fearfully and wonderfully made. We are truly and deeply known. Seen for who we are and He loves us. There is no greater feeling than that. Knowing that you are truly known and deeply loved to your core.

I constantly need to remind myself of the fact that I am seen. I am loved. When you are your most broken God sees beauty. He sees what we don’t see in ourselves. He sees the heart. Shortly after my breakup God gave me a vision. I was in a garden with Him and He came up to me as I knelt on the ground crying. He lifted my face toward Him and as I looked at Him he told me “You are so beautiful. You are so loved.” In my most broken hour God showed up and reminded me who I am to Him. How God sees me. The thing is there will always be things that people don’t like about you – they won’t “see” you. Not everyone is going to see the real you and like you. And that’s okay because God sees you and He loves you. God doesn’t see us the way others do – He doesn’t see our brokenness and disregard us like trash. He picks up the broken pieces because He sees the beauty in them.

What we might think is a flaw God finds the most special and unique thing about us. There is purpose in our pain. I am still trying to remind myself of that. I still feel the pain of my breakup but I know God has greater things in store. Brokenness leads to our beauty for ashes. God doesn’t delight in our sorrow and suffering. But these trials produce endurance. Something which I am so grateful for. They give us revelation and wisdom. Often times my biggest pain produces my biggest revelation. I think that’s something most find true. We need the trials to draw us near to God. Drawing us closer to the Father gives us the clarity to see our situation – ourselves through His eyes. I find that I don’t realize how far I’ve drifted from Him until I’m placed in these situations.

Pain will come. Loneliness will knock at your hearts door. But God will always uses our brokenness. He uses the painful, broken, messy stuff and He seeps in all the cracks. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” – Psalm 147:3. He turns our brokenness into one of a kind beauty. When you feel most alone seek God and you will find that you aren’t alone. In fact you are completely seen. Pursued on purpose by your Heavenly Father.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

Tell Me You Love Me

Tell Me You Love Me

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

Tell me you love me. There’s this weight to the words “I love you.” It wasn’t until last night that I realized the true power of those words. I think a lot of times we throw them out so casually they’ve lost their true meaning and power. I know I’ve said them a million times to people that really didn’t ever mean much to me. And then it’s like how do we know if we really mean it? How do others know and can they truly trust our intentions?

I was thinking of all the times I said “I love you” without truly meaning it. And gosh, it’s so easy to say when you’re caught up in the moment. The feeling. The lies. Because emotions lie. Satan often uses them to distract and entangle us. And as I am now single I thought about my future husband. I struggle with the concept of dating or not to date. I easily fall and get swept up in my emotions and easily say “I love you.” As I thought I just realized I don’t want to be one of those people. Someone who says those words with no meaning behind it.

I am so grateful the Holy Spirit gave me this simple revelation of the weight of those words. As I wait for my husband now I do it with intention and I’m no longer giving into old patterns or distractions like I used to. And I thought of the “old me” how I would say “I love you” because I wanted to feel loved. I’ve been tempted when those feelings and butterflies come fluttering in to say those words, but this last time I thought of my future husband. How would he feel knowing I said those words to some random guy I barely knew. Or how would he feel knowing that after my last breakup I waited to say those words to him because he was so special.

Maybe you don’t or haven’t thrown out those words often like I have but I’m just realizing the weight that they hold. And that might sound silly to you but I think it’s important to remind ourselves of the power that they hold. God loves us with unfailing kindness. He is constantly pursuing us. And I am so grateful that He pursues my heart and reveals truth to me at just the right times that I need it ❤

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

I Choose Trust

I Choose Trust

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“So bring on the waves. I’m loved by the one who anchors me. No fear of the grave I walk with the King of victory.” – Red Rocks Worship – I Will Trust

These lyrics and this song fills me with so much joy! As I sing along my heart means every single word. And it just makes this freedom and joy I feel even more apparent. There have been times, as I’m sure you know, as we walk with God that we are mouthing the words but not really living in the fruit of them. That was me.

I tried my hardest to do what was “right” but was still pursuing my own will. I wanted what I wanted. All God had promised to me just in my own way. I compromised and I convinced myself that God could work His way in an unbelievers heart that had no desire for that. I gave my heart and soul in a relationship with someone for 3 years who stripped away every part of who I was. My self worth diminished and the person in the mirror wasn’t me. I said I trusted God – and I did but I was so blinded by fear. Satan had his grips in me and he was trying to steal my purpose and all God called me to be. But God moved. God made a way.

Isn’t it funny how the trials we endure seem to feel like the end of what we thought the dream was. We hold so tightly to the things God is removing thinking that it was His promise, only to get to the other side and realize it was a counterfeit all along. Yeah, I got dumped. Hard core. I thought this was going to be my husband “the promise” but God revealed this mans true character. God revealed his character as well as my own and I needed to find my way back to God. It’s funny how sin has a way of making us desperate. Desperate for the desires of your heart and when you’re desperate you compromise. You are so desperate you are willing to do things your way over Gods way. You lose everything that makes you who you are because you’re operating outside of what God created you to be. Satan wants you to lose sight of your purpose and who you’re called to be. But God has different plans.

Through my breakup God saved me and I felt Him with me through it all like never before. I honestly didn’t know heartbreak could hurt so bad or that you could cry that hard. But God was with me and He carried me through it all. I’ve had heartbreak and hurt before but nothing like this. But there’s something I realize every time and it’s how much stronger that I come out. Through every trial I grow so much closer to God and through it He draws closer to me. Listening to this song I mentioned earlier I can’t help but smile. When I worship I have this undeniable joy like never before. And yes, I am still waiting on promises God gave me but I trust Him. I trust Him like never before because I’ve been through the darkest valleys and He was with me. There’s something freeing about knowing God is right there to catch you when you fall. I know even if it’s bad and my heart gets ripped out God is right there. God is restoring! He is rebuilding! He is healing! And I am stronger! I am better for it all and He has better in store. I came to God broken and lost. Every ounce of my self worth had been wiped away. But I humbled myself before God and I surrendered my heart. A powerful thing happens when you give God full reign of your heart. You can experience full healing.

I am finally feeling more like myself again. God swooped in and repaired my heart and brought joy. The more you begin to find who you are in God the more joy you begin to experience. God has continually given me Ephesians 3:20 – He is doing exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all I could imagine or ask! So I know He will bring His promises. I wait excited in expectation trusting Him because I’ve tried things my way and God has shown me the fruit of my decisions. So now I joyfully praise “bring on the waves” because “I’m loved by the one who anchors me” I know God is with me through the good and the bad. And He is using it all for my good and His glory. The king of kings is with me and for me. He has carried me when I couldn’t stand on my own and He will do it again! So I will continue to sing joyfully even in the waiting! Submit your heart to God and He will bring healing and joy like you’ve never known.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

#NoFilter

#NoFilter

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 2 Comments

I felt so unsure what God wanted to me to share this week. But then I was scrolling through all my old photos…scrolling through Instagram and the endless feed of pictures. And I thought “what would my life look like unfiltered?…what would their life look unfiltered?” So many times I find myself comparing myself to others on social media. Even comparing myself to photos of me on social media. Really, what would life look like unfiltered?

What if we stopped comparing. Stopped feeling the need to put a filter over everything. Like being real isn’t enough. I know most images we see online are edited or retouched in some way or another. Still, it doesn’t make me feel any better about who I am. Measuring myself up and all that I am versus the perfection portrayed online. And then I start to question “who am I?”

These images we all overload ourselves with aren’t real. Yet they affect who we are. How we think. How we perceive ourselves. How we live our lives. Personally, I try to live up to this standard of perfection that just isn’t realistic. I go through waves of security in who I am only to crash when I see an image that just seems too unattainable. Just when I start feeling worthy enough I compare myself to someone who seems they have it all together. That’s the trouble with basing our worth off of the worlds standard of success and beauty.

When you turn to the world for worth and value you will never be secure in who you are. This world is constantly changing. Shifting. What’s beautiful today may be considered ugly tomorrow. Fashion, beauty, sex …all these standards are constantly shifting. But when you base your worth on Gods word. The truth. You can be sure you won’t be shaken. Gods word never changes. Just like Psalm 139:14 says “You are beautiful for you are fearfully and wonderfully made.” God created you to be unique! That really is amazing when you stop and think about it. There never is or will be another you- EVER! So why not be the best you that you can be? No one else could ever be a better you!

When I’m feeling down I have to sit and remind myself of what Gods word says about me. I can sit and compare myself for hours and have a pitty party. Or I can celebrate all the gifts and talents God has placed in me. God will never ask you to be someone else – so we might as well stop expecting ourselves to be. I think its easy to look at everyone’s perfectly filtered curated lives on Instagram and think they have no flaws. But the truth is perfection doesn’t exist and we all fall short. I know it can be hard to do but look at all the amazing qualities you do have. No one person or their life is perfect no matter how it looks online. Start looking at things as if there were no filter.

Remember…YOU are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole