Wanting What God Wants

One day, my husband took the kids to get ice cream, and at this ice cream parlor, they also had macarons. At this time, my children had never had macarons and had been wanting to try one since seeing them made on a baking show. One of my children insisted on having one but my husband explained to him that he should try macarons at a place known for making them. He knew this ice cream parlor wasn’t an establishment known for their macarons and they most likely wouldn’t be good there. He didn’t want to mess up their first experience of having a macaron. Well, despite my husband's explanation, one child still insisted he should have a macaron and stated he would eat it because he knew it would be good. After my son took one bite, he then spat it out and said he should have listened because it was horrible (LOL)! As adults, we find ourselves, in many instances, like my son...insisting that we have something that God doesn’t desire for us. We then later realize; what we desired didn’t give us the satisfaction we thought we would receive because it wasn’t what God wanted for us all along.

Sometimes, as believers, we try to use God’s Word like a “genie in a bottle” to gain all that we want in life. I can recall in times past using this scripture to try and make manifest everything I wanted to happen in my life: Psalm 37:4 AMPC Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

Now, there is nothing wrong with using scripture to remind you of what God wants to do in your life and conform your mind to God’s promises. However, I was using scripture to stand on what “I” wanted God to do and never asked if that is what He also wanted for me.

The word delight in Psalm 37:4 means to take pleasure, satisfaction, and joy in God’s Word. There is a pleasure so much in God’s Word that you decide to bend your life towards it. It is when your desires are bent towards God’s desires, that He then gives you the desires of your heart. When you want what God wants, He can give you the desires of your heart. Your time in God’s presence shapes your internal being for His will for your life. You begin to have a consciousness infused with His morality and yearning.

How can you not have a successful journey and be pleased in life when you go after what God wants for you! He already settled your end at the beginning of time... For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. - Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC

Prayer for the journey

Thank you, God, for allowing me to be in your presence. Jesus has made me right and by His blood, I have free access to your throne. I believe it is in your presence that my heart is shaped for what you want for my life. Lord, I surrender my will to your will. I believe you know what’s best for me. In Jesus name, Amen!

Hope after Disappointment

When my husband and I were believing God for our first home, the process didn't go at all as I expected. We prayed, sought God's direction, and found a home we thought God wanted for us. I loved this home and truly thought God wanted it for my family and me, so my husband and I believed that the process of obtaining it would work out favorably on our behalf. Well, the plan for moving into our dream home didn't go through. They gave the home to another family and I was devastated. I thought I had heard God's direction and felt let down!

I know you may be thinking Danielle, it's just a home. For me, it was more than just about the home. I thought to myself, I have a relationship with God, how did I miss His direction. Why did He let me continue to believe I had heard Him, only to be let down!

One day I was talking with a friend, openly discussing my feelings of being let down by God and she said, "Danielle, if you know God's voice, maybe it's your home, but in another location." That word sparked something in me too difficult to put into words to describe it. It ignited hope in me again to go out and look for the home God had for me. However, although I was hopeful, I was hesitant. I didn't want to be let down again, I didn't think my heart could take that. So, I told that to the Lord. I expressed to Him my heart of fearing He would let me down, and here is what He said..."You can put your trust in me, I will not let you down!" I trusted God again and found the almost exact home in another location.

There are many reasons in which things don't work out exactly as expected that I truly can't explain, but here is what I do know, God is faithful and He is a good father! When you feel as though you have been let down, you need a WORD FROM THE LORD to go forward and believe again. A WORD FROM THE LORD is not just you reading your bible but it is His direct Word to you regarding the matter. For example, you may read your bible one day but as you are reading, a scripture may be echoed in your heart as if God is speaking that Word directly to you. That is your WORD FROM THE LORD and your promise to trust in!

God's Word is a seed. Now imagine a seed as a container that automatically brings with it these things:

1. Faith: an ability to believe in what is not seen

2. Power: an ability to do what needs to be done to see the results

3. Hope: an earnest expectation

In 2021, many of you experienced trials, hardships, disappointments, let-downs, and frustrations! After all you experienced, you may wonder how can you be hopeful for a great year? I believe you need a WORD FROM THE LORD. Here is what God says about His Word in Isaiah 55:11 NLT - It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Please don't start this year without a WORD FROM THE LORD! Make it a priority to spend time with Him to receive His direction and guidance for all that He has for you in 2022. May He give you a Word that brings with it faith, power, and hope! May the Lord clearly speak to your heart in a way that you know it's Him and not you!

Prayer for the Journey

Father, today I am reminded again that you are a good father! If we on earth know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will you give good gifts to your children who ask (Matthew 7:11 paraphrased). Lord, I need a Word from you concerning this year. It is your Word that fuels me with hope and expectancy. I may have experienced difficult moments in 2021 but today I a reminded that you are not the source of the bad in my life. I know I can't escape the troubles of this world but I'm grateful for an expected end of good. "If it's not yet good, then it's not the end" (quote from Pastor Archie Collins)! I look forward to all you will do in 2022! In Jesus name, Amen!

Enough Faith to Rest

In today's society, most have a philosophy to grind hard to receive the goodness of the land. Most believe all blessings are a product of the hard labor of their hands. Please know that I believe in working in obedience to the Holy Spirit's guidance but it is not my effort alone that allows me to reap the blessings of God. It is my faith in what Jesus has already accomplished that I come into alignment with through belief and actions that allow me to see the manifestations of God's promises.

Jesus understood how vital it was to retreat into the presence of God to be refreshed and receive encouragement and direction (Luke 5:16). Unfortunately, I have found myself in some instances afraid to rest because of the thought that some tasks would not be completed. God has reminded me that rest is a product of faith in what He has already done. It is not by my effort only that I receive God's goodness! He has completed all things and I can rest in His finished works because of grace and mercy! Remember, although we live in a space called time, God lives outside of time and has completed the plans for your life. I hope during this season, you will take time to rest and refresh in the Lord to receive encouragement and direction for the upcoming year. I too will be doing the same. I will spend time refreshing in the Lord to obtain what He has for me to deliver to the women of God. With that being said, this will be the last weekly Prayer for the Journey post until January 3, 2022. I look forward to sharing with you what the Lord will give me. Until then, be blessed and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Be on the lookout on January 3, 2022, for the restart of the Prayer for the Journey and enrollment for the latest courses at DWDI!

Prayer for the Journey

Father, I now realize that my inability to rest is grounded in not having faith in what you have already accomplished for me. I trust your finished works and make a conscious decision to rest in what you have already done. I will not worry about what has to be completed but will retreat into your presence believing that you have already worked it all out for my good. As I rest, I believe you will provide divine wisdom and guidance to take care of what needs to be done. In your presence, I declare that I will receive direction for the upcoming year. Your presence is more important than checking off a task on my To-Do List. I set my priorities in order right now. In Jesus Name, Amen!