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

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

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?

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

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 ❤

Dry Wells Dry Up

Dry Wells Dry Up

So, I came across this post I made from over two years ago. The words jumped off the screen and pierced my heart…further convicting me. Insightful. Real. Raw. These words spoke to a part of me I think we all have. I had written these words at the lowest point in my life. It so clearly made me realize how much I heard God in my season of pain. In the darkness He illuminated my brokenness allowing me to see my desperate need for Him. He embraced me with His loving presence and revealed to me His heart. In turn this opened my eyes to my heart and where I was standing.

I feel often times we are living to fill a void. We forget to check ourselves and what our motives are. Enticed by this world and the instant gratification it offers. We accept love through likes, follows, and material things. We allow this world to tell us what we are worth. We become too lazy to seek the lasting love through our Fathers words. We all too quickly allow the distractions of this world to lead us to this place again. This place we never wanted to be. This instant attraction and love affair with social media or the things we encounter in day to day life has left us empty and desperate. We begin to lose ourselves and become unsure of our true worth and identity. What this world has to offer cannot sustain or satisfy this thirst we have. We were created by God for God. We have a longing in our hearts which can only be filled by Him. Colossians 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” A dry well cannot provide water for those who thirst. This world cannot tell you who you are. The ever changing standards will give you whiplash. You will get lost in the shuffle and soon after forget who God created you to be.

If you seek God and His word to fulfill you, then you will never thirst. You won’t need that instant gratification you seek. You will have a deep wellspring overflowing and His word will satisfy your heart. You will not be deceived for you will know you are fully loved. Trust Jesus with your heart and allow Him to move. You are His precious jewel the desire of His heart. Stop seeking to be filled from these dry places. The Lord spoke to me and said “Stagnant water dries up and goes nowhere.” Do not be stagnant. Do not seek fulfillment in these dead things keeping you stuck. Anything that we seek above or before God serves as a dry well. Though it may seem that we get the validation we desire it is short lived. Leaving us wanting more. Soon these things we base our worth and value off of will fade away. Likes, followers, and material things this world values will all disappear. So, do not seek these dry wells to tell you who you are. For just as quickly as they came they will soon dry up. Instead seek the word of God and never thirst again. John 4:14 “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

I Will Wait For You

I Will Wait For You

Lately I’ve felt so distracted and distant from God. Focusing on my own will and how I need to fix things. It wasn’t until I was worshiping the other day that the words “I will wait for you” rang into my heart.

These words were something I promised my future husband. But lately I feel like they’re further from the truth. I’ve been pursing relationships and opening up my heart to others. Granting access to my soul and giving myself emotionally. I began thinking “Am I waiting? Am I keeping my promise?”

This stirred up a prompting to wait on God. “I will wait on you” God has promised me things but I need to trust and wait. We become desperate in our own pursuit but we don’t need to search for what He has promised. God will always provide and in ways greater than we can imagine. Gods way is worth waiting for. Still ringing in my heart the words “I will wait for you” linger.

A lot of times we think we know what’s best. We get tired of the wait. But God doesn’t. God reminded me of the promises I made to myself and also Him but more importantly His promise to me. “I will wait on you” no matter what we do God is waiting. He is guiding us and waiting for us to draw near to Him. It doesn’t matter how broken we are. How many detours it takes to get there. God is waiting. He whispers “I will wait for you.”

In my lowest point after my breakup God showed up in the garden with me. Lifting me out of my sorrow. Restoring all my brokenness. No matter how broken you feel or how far you feel you strayed off course – God is there. He is there in the brokenness. Waiting on you to turn to Him. He is there ready to pick you up and make you whole. Ready to bless you with His promises.

He is waiting on You.

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

Letting Go

Letting Go

Sometimes I miss it. Nine months have gone so fast. Yet they haven’t. Some days the pain is worse. Sometimes the hardest part is admitting the truth to yourself. You just aren’t over it. They hurt you and things won’t ever be the same. But that’s okay. Letting go is necessary but sometimes you just aren’t ready. Letting go is a process and it’s different for everyone.

After my breakup I looked around at others going through the same thing and they acted like nothing. Some days I felt guilty or stupid for voicing my struggles with it. That I wasn’t handling it as well as others seemed to be. Then I would hear things like “it takes half the amount of time you dated to get over the relationship.” Dating someone for three years that isn’t exactly something you want to hear or believe. I constantly felt like I was letting go “wrong” like I wasn’t doing something right. I didn’t seem to be handling things and doing things like everyone else…I wasn’t as alright as everyone else appeared to be. But I didn’t want to pretend I was.

Three years is a long time. Nine months later I look back and I see the ways I’ve grown and what I’ve learned. I realize it’s okay that it maybe took me longer to grieve and let go. Maybe I didn’t find someone new the next month but I found myself. I found God. And in the midst of pain I discovered that it’s okay to be different.

You are not them. Your story isn’t theirs and it’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to take your time. Not everyone is on the same timeline and letting go is a process. Allow yourself to feel what you feel – nothing happens over night.

Nine months have gone by but I am finally ready to say goodbye. Goodbye to who I was and who I can never be again. Goodbye to that love. All the promises and expectations that were made. Accepting the truth that nothing was what I thought and nothing will be the same again. But it’s okay because God has something better. When one door closes God surprises us and opens the door to something so much more. Just have faith and trust Him. He is in control and what He has for you is so much sweeter than anything we could dream of.

Ps…Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

All I’m Standing On

All I’m Standing On

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

Tell Me You Love Me

Tell Me You Love Me

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