Tag: jesus

The Importance of Obedience

The Importance of Obedience

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” Jeremiah 7:23

I wanted to share an awesome encounter I had earlier this week. So, the other day at work I got done about 20 minutes early and the last patient of the day was about to leave. It being one of my long work days I was excited to get done a little early. But the patient came up front and we began chatting about life and everything that he was going through. I LOVE talking! But I also love listening and I think it we underestimate the power that it holds. A listening ear is a loving heart. This opened the door for me to pray this patient. As we talked about his struggles I encouraged him and pointed him to Jesus. I told him that I would be praying for him. Yet the words felt void as I said them. Immediately in my head I heard the Lord tell me “Ask him if he wants prayer!” The Holy Spirit prompted me a few times. I could have ignored it and left work early like I was hoping to, but I didn’t. Don’t ignore that prompting when God shows up and makes a way!

By obeying that prompting to ask a simple question it opened the door for me to pray for this person. I asked this patient if he wanted prayer and at first he was hesitant, but after a few seconds his heart was softened and he agreed. I had an awesome God encounter! It’s so cool how God makes a way for these things to so easily fall into place. Where there is a need God opens the door and He will bring the right people and opportunities to you.

Don’t underestimate the power of your “yes” in the seemingly small. These small things might be what makes the biggest difference in someone’s life. Even if it’s just a smile be obedient to what the Lord is telling you to do. I have so many awesome little testimonies like that just from being obedient to God. Pray. Pause. Listen. Take the time to listen to what He is saying. Just be available and He will lead you to the next step and the next. Step out in faith knowing He is with you and He’s leading you. Nothing is wasted with God. Even if you do it and it doesn’t go as planned God honors your obedience.

I could have just walked away. But I would have been walking way from one of the most incredible opportunities to witness to someone and possibly change their life. I don’t know how God is going to use it. But He does! I don’t know what He’s going to do through me or this patient. But He does! So stay obedient even in the seemingly small. You’re growing your own faith and confidence with each step you take trusting the Holy Spirit as He leads. God is right there with you ordaining your steps. As believers we have the ability to draw others into the light or the dark. You have the power to choose how God is going to use you each day. Don’t get distracted. Don’t numb yourself to the sound of His voice. He is calling you to take a step out. Don’t you hear Him?

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole ❤

“I am Here”

“I am Here”

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Driving to work the other morning I started thinking about trauma and situations in my life that have caused wounds. Still painful, I asked God to heal me. As I continued praying I told God how I just always feel so alone and began to cry. I poured out my heart of past hurt and the present pain I still carry of feeling over looked and never listened to or heard. But then I heard Him speak to me. He told me “I am here.”

In the midst of the heartbreak and tragedy God is there. He is right there. He rests beside us picking up the broken pieces to make us whole again. In that moment I realized as silly as it may seem that I’m not alone no matter how lonely I feel. And I know this but sometimes our situations can make everything around us go dark. We feel as though we are alone, so we forget to reach out to the one that is always there. Jesus is just waiting for us to reach out so He can heal. He can encourage. He can lead and guide us. The truth is Jesus is always with us and He will never leave or forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave your or forsake you.”

Even though we go through painful seasons… sometimes with no explanation as to why. Jesus uses everything for our good. Often I look back and see God’s hand in my most difficult seasons. Sometimes it feels too much to bear. Then I hear the nudging “I am here.” And I think of what Jesus is waiting for. He wants us to go deeper in His love. He wants us to draw closer.

In the midst of chaos we can turn to “feel good” things that this world offers. The comfortable, familiar, or easy things that tempt us at our weakest. Or we can turn to Jesus. It’s in these moments He is wanting us to turn to Him. Jesus wants to heal our pain not for us to numb it or push it away. He wants us to rest in Him and know the joy that His love brings.

I’ve come to know that resting in His embrace is the sweetest place. Through the isolation and rejection He is preparing us and He uses everything. He is right here and waiting for us to turn to Him. Will you give Him everything? Your whole heart and all that is holding you right now? Surrender and trust in Jesus. Allow Him to draw you closer He is saying “I am here.”

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

Not Walking Out

Not Walking Out

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

You know this week I wanted to talk about restoration. How God repairs and restores what is broken and makes it knew. With spring making its appearance the evidence of God bringing new life is all around. But, there was this heaviness on my heart. This overwhelming sense that I would be fake if I spewed some story of how great everything is. Don’t get me wrong, God has completely restored my heart! I’m definitely not where I want to be but I’m not where I used to be. God is using me and bringing new blessings everyday…but something has still felt off. Until I heard this song “How to be Yours” by Chris Renzema. OMG! It’s seriously amazing! Right then I thought to myself “This is it!” the lyrics of this song are exactly how I feel. I’m sure how most of us feel.

A lot of times we don’t know how to act or how to feel. We almost feel unworthy of God and the process that this walk entails. I love the lyrics he sings “You say that you love me, don’t say that you love me. Cause I don’t know how to be yours. You say that you want me, don’t say that you want me. Cause I don’t know how to be yours.” This speaks straight to my heart because I realized that I project my hurt onto God. We have all been told we’re loved and then got our hearts broken. And it’s hard to let someone back in with every scar and wound we’ve accumulated. That’s kinda where I’m at right now. Everyday I process my feelings and it’s always changing. Life. Healing. Growing. It’s all a process.

“I still act like an orphan I guess, and my hard heart breaks to confess. That even while you hold me as I cry on the floor, I still don’t know how to be yours.” We act like orphans. Like we’re alone in this, not knowing how to accept His love and sometimes pushing away out of fear or self defense. I know many of us compare God to our earthly fathers or maybe other relationships we’ve had. We turn away from God in all our brokenness because we don’t think He will accept the mess. Through every broken situation God is right there. But I still push away in fear “I still don’t know how to be yours.” We think we have to be perfect to be loved. But God’s love is the kind of love that pulls you from your mess to turn it into your message.

The last few months have been really hard for me. Honestly, it has been the biggest struggle some days. I went through the most painful breakup and it’s brought trauma out in me that I forced myself to forget. Often times we force ourselves into isolation out of fear because we don’t see the value in who we really are. But God never called us to be “perfect” He’s called us to be real. He allows circumstances or situations to occur to let His glory and light shine through us. Without all our brokenness we wouldn’t have a reason to rely on God. Just because you are broken doesn’t mean you’re too broken for God.

“So love me or hate me, I’m not going anywhere. Leave me or take me, You still bear my signature. Know me or not, seen or forgot. I’m not walking out on you.” God will NEVER walk out on you! Period. That’s the amazing thing! Even when we don’t know how to act. When we are scared we aren’t enough. God will never leave. Stop comparing God to your earthly father or whoever hurt you in the past. Because the truth is that they are human. Humans make mistakes but God is a supernatural God! He died for you and He desires to have a close and intimate relationship with you. He is your Abba. He is never going to walk out on you.

It’s okay if you don’t know what to do. Sometimes I feel too broken for God to use. But then I remember 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ” My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power rest on me.” God doesn’t desire perfection. He desires your pursuit. It’s okay you still don’t know how to to be His – all that matters is that you ARE His.

Ps…You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole