God, I trust your "No"

     Happy beautiful Wednesday!! I am so glad you’re here! So glad you made your way to this blog post. Praying that what I plan to write about blesses you and encourages you in some way. Praying that your day and week thus far has been the sweetest week/day you’ve encountered to date! So, I know the “Happy New Year” kick has passed, but it’s still January and I just want to talk about the mindset I’ve been in, in regards to the new year.  

     I love goal setting. I love sitting down and thinking about where I am, and where I want to be. As a matter fact, I’d almost go as far as to include “big dreamer” as a description of who I am. I love to think of the most outlandish things and give them to God. Want to know what’s even sweeter? To look BACK at those, list a year, or years later and see the things God said “yes” to or to see the things God out did due to me dreaming too little. However, as of recently, I’ve grown quite fond and appreciative of the things God has said, “no” to.

     Can you trust God’s no? Can you find the joy in Him saying “no” and or choosing to not open a door for you? This year, I made a post on Instagram publicly declaring that I have no goals for this year. (SAY whaaaa!) No, seriously, I did not sit down and make a list of things I wanted to see come to past, complete, or accumulate. This year, I entered the yearly really, only wanting to be close to the Lord. Here’s my logic, I have everything in Him and if I believe what the word of God tells me, then all things WILL work together for my good, He will supply every NEED of mines according to his riches, I can carry all my heaviness to him,  I’ll never be shaken, I have his peace, and that wherever I go He goes before me…..I repeat, I have everything in Him.

     Anyhew, if we are going to be completely honest in this space, No’s don’t initially feel good. I don’t care how spiritual you are, how saved you are, how close to the gates of heaven you are, how you got a chair next to the throne, how many scriptures you know, INITIALLY a no doesn’t feel good. As a matter fact, “no’s” require and demand you to stir up yourself in the word and in maturity. (read that again) No’s require and demand that YOU stir YOURSELF up IN and WITH the word and in maturity. *insert eye roll *

            Yesterday I was talking to the Lord about something and He gave me a hard, “no.” I right about flipped but then, I had to check myself….

     WHO AM I to demand that the God I serve, who is ALL KNOWING and OMNIPRESENT tells me yes? As a matter fact, who am I to even ball my face up as if the things I’ve accumulated, or will accumulate come from my strength and abilities. Who am I? Who am I to question his decision making. (Don’t get me wrong, we serve a God that allows us to come to him and pose our concerns) Who am I to question if He understands or is seeing the “bigger picture.” I was absolutely hot, I was in my feelings, all over in my emotions, annoyed, crushed, disappointed and just ugh! I didn’t want to be bothered, face was probably on stank, attitude on stank, and looking back at that moment, I was immovable, unusable and couldn’t hear clearly if the Holy spirit WANTED to talk to me, if it wanted to elaborate, if it wanted to whisper an explanation, strategy or further encouragement. I was full out of having an child’s tantrum in my emotions, in my flesh and in my attitude. But no’s require…maturity….

     Want to know something else that I hear the Holy spirit telling me? A no from God, also puts a demand on His word and HIM. If you’re mature, a NO, will posture you to wait in expectancy…however, if you aren’t you’ll handle those moments similar to how I did, “whoa its me.”

     Can God trust you with a no? Can God trust you, to trust Him above your feelings, above your conditions, above logic? Can God say “no” and you say, “ok, so then what?” and mean it. Yesterday, after being in a funk, sitting in my funk, being FUNKY (lol) I opened my mouth and stirred myself up.

     How do you stir yourself up? I’m glad you asked. You open your mouth and you speak back to your situation with what the word of God says. You remind God of His promises and you put the demand BACK on Him.

Got a “no” today? Cool. (read below for an idea of how to stir yourself up)

“God,

“I know all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord, and Lord I love me some you, so I’m believing that whatever is happening is for my good! I believe that you will supply every need of mines according to your riches in glory in Christ, so if it’s a need you’ll supply it, and if it isn’t here yet, maybe it isn’t a need, maybe it’s a heightened want. Lord, I won’t worry about any, instead I will pray about everything! Telling you Lord what I what and need and thanking you for all that you’ve already done. I WILL experience your peace, which exceeds anything I can understand. I will experience you peace which will and does guard my heart and mind. I will boast in your name, I will wait quietly before you because my victory comes from YOU alone. You are my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. I won’t look at the conditions, I’ll keep my eyes and mind stayed on you. I won’t allow my feelings to be facts, only your word is true and it wont return to you void. I’ll trust you as the captain of this ship, and I’ll trust wherever you’re leading me. I’ll walk on water as long as you’re there, and I’ll see this single no, not as a door being closed but as you moving me in the direction of the door I need to actually go in. Thank you for the “no” and saving me time, and keeping me from tangling myself in spaces, places, people and things that have nothing to do with your will for my life. Thank you for the “no” because its led me closer to you, it’s birthing in me a greater dependency on YOU, it’s fixing my priorities and checking my motives. Thank you for the “no” because I might not know it now, but I trust that you’re protecting me from the things I can’t see. Thank you for being all knowing, so wise, so perfect, so patient, omnipresent and so attentive to me. So attentive to the point that I asked and you answered! No is an answer, so thank you for answering. It doesn’t feel good now, but it will. So I thank you and I praise you now for that…I celebrate the “yes” because when it comes, it’ll be because you said so! It’ll have my name all over it, and most importantly you all in and through it.”

     So I ask you today, can God trust you with a No? Can you trust God MORE than you trust YOUR emotions, and the conditions right in front of you? Can you trust that the PLANS he has for you are for good and not for evil, to give you a FUTURE AND A HOPE? “No’s require and demand that YOU stir YOURSELF up IN and WITH the word. They require that you tap into a mature perspective…”

P.S,

Faith stretches you. Feeling uncomfortable? You’re in good company, and an even greater work is happening within you. Keep going. No provides an opportunity for you to put a greater demand on God, do it. He can handle it.

XoxXoXo,

Alicia Elizabeth  

Super random and totally not related to this post but,  HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMBEAR! If you know me then you know kimberly is my first child and Isreal is my second! (These are really my older sisters children, but I feel like they belong to me! LOL!) Here is a picture of when the three of us went on a date!! Honey, can we say exhausted!! They gave me a run for my money!! David Busters, Chuck E. Cheese and eating!!! WHEW! She's a big 8 today!!!