Better Together

God's Definition of Success - Episode 1092

September 9, 2025 | S7 E1092 | 52:34

God cannot fail, so neither can YOU! After surrendering your life to an all-powerful God, the only way to fall is forward. Our responsibility is to give Him our "yes" and open our eyes to the provision He places on our path. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

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Better Together | God's Definition of Success - Episode 1092 | September 9, 2025

Family, work, church.
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We are busy, but are we fruitful?
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God's definition of success is
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A life that is aligned with his heart.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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♪♪
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One of the things that's been super interesting about being
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An author is that i feel like the lord makes you write about
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The very thing you need to learn.
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But that's literally been the last two years of my life.
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I had been working on a second book.
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It was all around
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Sanctification, and i was like, yeah.
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And i went through a really hard family crisis over these
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Last two years.
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And i just remember being on the call and my publishers were
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Like, we can't let you come out with that book.
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I talked about moral failure in the book, and my ex-husband was
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Going through a moral failure,
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And they were like, we just don't.
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It's just not good timing.
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And i was like, what am i gonna do?
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And so i ended up having to write another book while
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Processing through the crisis. goodness gracious.
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Because i had deadlines and all the things that i wanted
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To honor them. i remember calling lysa
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Terkeurst i was like, what do i do?
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I don't even-- i can't even form words.
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I'm barely sleeping. i'm barely eating.
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And i remember lysa was like, this will be the most powerful
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Book you write, because what will happen is instead of being
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Just the expert in the topic,
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You will become like the home girl
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That's like, we are going to get through this.
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And the book that i ended up writing is called don't
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Try this alone.
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And it's all around, pressing into and building deep
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Community when you want to hide from your pain.
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And i was like, yeah.
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And i was like, i suck at that, actually.
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Like, i wrote it and it was--
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All i want to do is hide from my pain.
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I actually want to hide. like it's very, very difficult for
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Me to accept help, especially when i need it
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Which is weird.
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I can kind of accept help when
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I'm feeling like, okay, go ahead.
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I'm letting you help me. i'm letting you help me.
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But when you get to a point where you're desperate and you
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Have literally nothing else left to give
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And you've got humans that depend on your strength
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And you don't even have it,
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You have to tap into the
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Strength of your god and your people.
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That's been what the lord has been challenging me on.
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I'm the type of girl where i love to go to god
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And celebrate with him.
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Hey, have you seen? i know you have.
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All that i've done.
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All that i'm doing for the kingdom.
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Look at me go. yeah. thank you, big guy.
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When i need to pray for something,
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When i'm desperate, when i'm battling through something,
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It's so difficult for me to go to god because i'm just like,
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Well, he's going to look down on me.
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He's going to pity me.
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He's going to be, you know, he's going to take things away
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From me that i really want to do.
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But he cares about me so much
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I guess he's going to like, take them away, and i'm not
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Going to be able to perform and show up, and i'm going
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To be less than.
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And i think when we look at passages like proverbs 31, it's
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So easy for us people that battle with asking for help to
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Look at a list like this and be like, how am i going to be
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Able to do this? how can i sustain this?
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For me, there was a season when i was crushing all this, and
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Then i just hit a season two years ago.
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I can't do anything. i hit a wall.
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I can't even get up and bathe. i gotta move houses.
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I'm transitioning.
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People's got to furnish my house, build my furniture.
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I'm weak.
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I'm not eating, i'm not sleeping.
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And i'm like, oh, well, there it goes.
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Like no longer proverbs 31.
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Shoot, i'm verse 15 i'm one of the female servants that
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Y'all got to help. is there a proverbs 32?
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Proverbs 32?
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Where is 31.5
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When you got half of what you what you want to give?
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Like what happens then when you're like, i'm not
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Performing, i'm not showing up?
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And when i tell you, the lord has humbled me in this season
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And redirected my idea of strength in a whole new way.
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It's changed me.
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And i think it's changed my children.
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I think my daughter, you know, she she used to say things
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Like, my mom's perfect.
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And for some reason, like our kids do think that, like, we're
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Their heroes, we're instructing them.
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We're their leaders.
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And in this season, she's seen me not be.
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She's seen me cry and be weak and not able to do certain
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Things with our family because i don't have the strength or
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The capacity.
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She has seen our finances go way, way down and us have to
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Cut so many things out.
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And she's seen me suffer.
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And it's so interesting because we were driving and my daughter
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Says to me, you know, mom, these last couple of years have
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Been really crazy and really hard, but i kind of feel like
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Our life is better. wow.
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We have less. i have less.
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Yeah. and she sees it as more,
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As more beautiful and more happy and more free
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Because i think i've allowed her to see my humanity.
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Wow. and i'm just like, i can only imagine what it is like
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For a daughter to look at her mother, who's doing the best
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She can, and she starts to see her humanity.
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Yeah. i think that she doesn't think less of me.
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I actually think she thinks more of herself because she
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Feels like, oh, i can make mistakes.
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Yeah, my mom makes mistakes.
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Oh, i can be weak and not show up.
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My mom is weak and doesn't show up.
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And i love her.
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And she's leading our family and i just for me, at least in
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This conversation today, i pray that i can set some women free
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Around this, around this idea that we've got to pull up our
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Bootstraps and just muster up the strength and do it.
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And maybe change the narrative that real bravery is not just
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Doing everything by yourself,
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But it's what these scriptures called,
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I hope i say this right, eisheth chayal meaning the strong and
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Full of mental strength woman.
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And that sometimes does not look like crossing off all the
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Things, but it looks like being brave enough to ask for help
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When you really, really need it.
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Yeah. because from that place you can actually do everything
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The list says, maybe a little bit better and a little bit
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Faster because you've got an army of people around you
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Helping to get it done.
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I love what you're saying because i think that, and
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There's lots of talk about this in current culture, the damage
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That has been done to generations, particularly
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Younger millennials and gen z'ers because of the
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Standards that are unachievable.
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I'm a gen xer.
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I you know, i'm proud to be a gen xer.
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Yeah. i mean, you know, come home when the
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Street lights come on. that's that's all i got.
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I don't know where you are. i don't know what you're doing.
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Drink from the water hose. you'll be fine.
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But the reality is that the world has changed.
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And so the standards for generations have shifted
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Partially and largely because of social media.
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Yeah. a standard of success
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First of all, that is promoted that's not even real.
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And then it's constantly in your face.
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And then you've had a level of, for lack of a better word, the
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Development of grit that has shifted because of the ease
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That's happened in our culture with the technology era.
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And so you have a whole generation of people who are
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Going, yes, i need to be successful, but i can't.
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And if we are not vulnerable in sharing our struggles, then not
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Only can people not reach it, they think you are.
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You know what i'm saying?
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And if your daughter is asking that question, of course our
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Children are looking at us as their first impression of
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A loving god.
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So if my parents get it right, always reach the goal,
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If the people that are ahead of me in life are successful, and
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I can never seem to reach that, then i'm always failing.
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And does a god who loved my parents who were successful, or
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A god who loved the lady who teaches at bible study and
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She's never done anything wrong, then will he actually
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Love and accept me?
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That's good.
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And so, because i am seeing it played out in real time in so
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Many different ways in my family, with young women who
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Are just and i'm looking like, where did you get this from?
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So in our culture and with how we present a loving god who
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Accepts people who produce or who have all the things that we
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Think we should have, we are also creating a generation of
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Young believers who then don't think they are ever acceptable.
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The world will have you out here trying to achieve, trying
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To have the goals met, trying to do the most.
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And it'll also have you out here exhausted and tired.
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That's why so many women are always complaining about being
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Exhausted, out of balance and just flat, worn out.
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Which is why we have to go to the scripture.
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Because god's definition of success is not the world's
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Definition of success.
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And in fact, in the word god talks about giving blessing
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Without sorrow.
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So following the leading of of the spirit of god in your life,
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Which you can follow better when you're in the word,
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Because god reveals himself through his word,
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That's how you will find yourself moving along the river
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Of peace.
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And as you move along the river of peace.
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Then you will find yourself in the destination of success that
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God has for you.
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It makes me wonder.
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I want to ask the question when you talked about your daughter.
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Yeah. because with what crystal was saying, when i think about
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Some things in my life, i know that the older i've gotten, it
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Has been revelation to me that the most success i have felt is
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Really when i have operated in a life of peace.
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And i think we put success on a different plane.
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And a lot of times when you're chasing things for the success
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You think the world is giving,
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It often is at the expense of your peace.
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And so when i'm wondering if what your daughter was seeing
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Is not that you were ever chasing the wrong things,
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That's not what i'm saying.
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But i'm saying what she was seeing is you had no option,
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No other option in your life when your life is falling apart
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To seek peace in chaos.
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And what she was sensing was i am feeling peace when maybe
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Around me things, things have felt--
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We've had more.
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But maybe there was a peace that she she was sensing new.
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That's good.
00:10:26.816 --> 00:10:28.050
And so all of a sudden, even in the midst of loss, she's
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Feeling peace because you were intentional.
00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:33.923
I can't do anything, lord.
00:10:33.923 --> 00:10:35.191
But i've got to have your peace today, and i'm going to put
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People in my sphere. i'm going to put people in
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My world to help me find that peace.
00:10:39.962 --> 00:10:42.064
So if that means i have to give some, divvy some things out
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Because i can't do it all,
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What she was sensing is you
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Were creating peace in your world.
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And i think that's a gauge of success.
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Yeah. it's so good.
00:10:50.673 --> 00:10:51.741
When can we live in peace?
00:10:51.741 --> 00:10:53.342
And for me, i've always with my kids and whatever,
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I think in a lot of ways, there's a lot of parts
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Of my life that could have been more worldly successful.
00:10:59.181 --> 00:11:02.284
Yeah. and i just couldn't,
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I couldn't risk giving up my peace for them.
00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:06.822
I think that is absolutely the heart of it.
00:11:06.822 --> 00:11:09.425
Good. i like this.
00:11:09.425 --> 00:11:11.060
I think what a gift you've given to your daughter, toni.
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What a gift.
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Because the message is, no matter what happens in life,
00:11:13.729 --> 00:11:16.365
Jesus is still there.
00:11:16.365 --> 00:11:17.833
Yeah. no matter what happens in life, god is there.
00:11:17.833 --> 00:11:20.302
There's something at the moment i cannot get away from this
00:11:20.302 --> 00:11:22.671
Idea of just,
00:11:22.671 --> 00:11:24.039
It's his presence that changes everything.
00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:26.675
You know, it's like sometimes we think, well, i need answers.
00:11:26.675 --> 00:11:29.311
And if this could happen and that could happen, then that
00:11:29.311 --> 00:11:31.480
Would be great
00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.815
Until you realize it's really his presence you want.
00:11:32.815 --> 00:11:34.784
Because when his presence brings that peace, i think our
00:11:34.784 --> 00:11:38.788
Kids just feel that.
00:11:38.788 --> 00:11:40.022
You know, i think there's something. they just know that.
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I have found in my life where i feel the most successful is
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When i'm living in peace.
00:11:47.696 --> 00:11:49.965
And for me, people may say, well, what does that look like?
00:11:49.965 --> 00:11:52.234
I want to know, you know, you can say that, but what does it
00:11:52.234 --> 00:11:54.436
Mean for me?
00:11:54.436 --> 00:11:55.237
It is the scripture.
00:11:55.237 --> 00:11:56.172
It's in philippians 4.
00:11:56.172 --> 00:11:58.040
It says, let your gentleness be evident to all.
00:11:58.040 --> 00:12:00.810
The lord is near.
00:12:00.810 --> 00:12:01.977
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
00:12:01.977 --> 00:12:05.648
Prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
00:12:05.648 --> 00:12:08.751
Requests to god.
00:12:08.751 --> 00:12:10.019
And the peace of god, which transcends all understanding,
00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:14.023
Will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus.
00:12:14.023 --> 00:12:16.926
For me, what i have learned in my years of walking with the
00:12:16.926 --> 00:12:20.296
Lord is if i don't guard my heart, i don't have peace.
00:12:20.296 --> 00:12:25.734
So whenever i'm talking about success for me is peace,
00:12:25.734 --> 00:12:30.439
What it really means is there was some fork in the road where
00:12:30.439 --> 00:12:34.043
I had to choose.
00:12:34.043 --> 00:12:35.411
I had to choose a job or not a job.
00:12:35.411 --> 00:12:37.947
I had to choose a friend or not have that friendship i had.
00:12:37.947 --> 00:12:40.783
There's always decisions to be made.
00:12:40.783 --> 00:12:43.052
And if i'm guarding my heart and i'm asking the lord, lord,
00:12:43.052 --> 00:12:46.222
My heart is guarded to listen to you, to lean into you,
00:12:46.222 --> 00:12:49.959
I'm surrendered.
00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:51.193
My heart is not going to be given away, but my heart is
00:12:51.193 --> 00:12:53.529
Going to be preserved for you to speak to.
00:12:53.529 --> 00:12:56.165
When i let the lord speak specifically to that situation
00:12:56.165 --> 00:12:59.468
Into my heart as i'm guarding it, he gives me the path to
00:12:59.468 --> 00:13:03.339
Take, and the path he gives me brings me peace.
00:13:03.339 --> 00:13:07.710
God wants us to do life together.
00:13:07.710 --> 00:13:09.378
Because we are better together.
00:13:09.378 --> 00:13:11.280
That's right.
00:13:11.280 --> 00:13:12.548
So connect with us on social media and join a community that
00:13:12.548 --> 00:13:14.817
Encourages and prays for one another.
00:13:14.817 --> 00:13:16.685
We can't wait for you to join us.
00:13:16.685 --> 00:13:19.655
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:13:19.655 --> 00:13:22.024
You can find the better together podcast on your
00:13:22.024 --> 00:13:24.293
Favorite listening platform.
00:13:24.293 --> 00:13:26.195
Subscribe today!
00:13:26.195 --> 00:13:30.009
Subscribe today!
00:13:30.009 --> 00:13:30.900
Well, the peace of god, i don't
00:13:34.003 --> 00:13:35.204
Think is just a spiritual thing.
00:13:35.204 --> 00:13:36.505
It's a tangible thing.
00:13:36.505 --> 00:13:37.773
I mean, even down to the way that our brain processes pain.
00:13:37.773 --> 00:13:41.443
I've said this so many times over the last couple years.
00:13:41.443 --> 00:13:44.146
God's comfort in the pain is
00:13:44.146 --> 00:13:45.681
Actually greater than the pain itself.
00:13:45.681 --> 00:13:47.583
Like, yes, of course we're going to go through things.
00:13:47.583 --> 00:13:50.052
And also the peace of god changes you.
00:13:50.052 --> 00:13:53.689
It changes the way you speak about things.
00:13:53.689 --> 00:13:55.324
You go from bitterness to this hopefulness.
00:13:55.324 --> 00:13:57.860
Like, yeah, like, yeah, that situation happened.
00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:00.229
But you talk about it different
00:14:00.229 --> 00:14:01.797
Because i got peace on the inside.
00:14:01.797 --> 00:14:03.666
Even the way that-- i mean, can we be honest?
00:14:03.666 --> 00:14:05.501
Like my skin and my hair, everything is, like, glowing.
00:14:05.501 --> 00:14:08.904
But i even look at myself in the mirror.
00:14:08.904 --> 00:14:10.973
My friend and i, we did like a little side by side collage of
00:14:10.973 --> 00:14:14.076
Like me, like processing through divorce and infidelity
00:14:14.076 --> 00:14:18.380
And all the things that had happened to us.
00:14:18.380 --> 00:14:20.482
And then like today.
00:14:20.482 --> 00:14:22.017
And she's like, look at your eyes.
00:14:22.017 --> 00:14:23.819
Yeah, look at the light in your eyes.
00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:26.255
The peace of god is flowing out of you.
00:14:26.255 --> 00:14:28.824
The peace of god,
00:14:28.824 --> 00:14:30.025
It changes and transforms everything about your life,
00:14:30.025 --> 00:14:33.128
How you talk, how you think about finances.
00:14:33.128 --> 00:14:35.497
I remember i went from nervous, anxious to finances, to like,
00:14:35.497 --> 00:14:38.634
No, you're gonna have to figure it out,
00:14:38.634 --> 00:14:39.802
You got it.
00:14:39.802 --> 00:14:40.669
Yeah. and who you blame?
00:14:40.669 --> 00:14:42.671
There's something huge about who you blame.
00:14:42.671 --> 00:14:45.274
Yeah, there's something about god delivers you from a
00:14:45.274 --> 00:14:47.943
Devastating situation.
00:14:47.943 --> 00:14:49.578
The temptation is so often is to point fingers at other
00:14:49.578 --> 00:14:51.780
People and say, this is because you did that and you did that,
00:14:51.780 --> 00:14:54.750
Or this.
00:14:54.750 --> 00:14:55.918
I mean, i went through a devastating time where i lost
00:14:55.918 --> 00:14:58.587
Everything in my life, went from having a beautiful home
00:14:58.587 --> 00:15:01.690
And all sorts of things to literally being in an apartment
00:15:01.690 --> 00:15:04.326
With two white plastic chairs.
00:15:04.326 --> 00:15:06.462
And it was like, i remember my mom flew over from scotland to
00:15:06.462 --> 00:15:09.665
Be with me, and she had been in the beautiful big house with
00:15:09.665 --> 00:15:13.802
The boat, and she got one of the plastic chairs and i got
00:15:13.802 --> 00:15:18.073
The other one.
00:15:18.073 --> 00:15:19.308
And i remember sitting and i hadn't been able to furnish
00:15:19.308 --> 00:15:22.077
Anything yet.
00:15:22.077 --> 00:15:23.345
We're just sitting there and i looked at my mom and she had
00:15:23.345 --> 00:15:25.280
Tears rolling down her face, and i said, mom, i'll be okay.
00:15:25.280 --> 00:15:29.284
She said, no, i'm not crying because i'm worried.
00:15:29.284 --> 00:15:31.920
I'm crying because the peace of the lord is in this place.
00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:36.392
You know, i had nothing but the peace of the lord, and you
00:15:36.392 --> 00:15:39.294
Realize i wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.
00:15:39.294 --> 00:15:44.533
If you were walking in a storm, let me say this.
00:15:44.533 --> 00:15:47.136
God is closer to you
00:15:47.136 --> 00:15:48.404
Than you think you are.
00:15:48.404 --> 00:15:50.139
When we believe in a good god who comes after the one after
00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:54.543
Leaving the 99 that's doing great,
00:15:54.543 --> 00:15:56.945
We start to build a confidence.
00:15:56.945 --> 00:15:58.647
When we're in pain, when
00:15:58.647 --> 00:15:59.581
We are in storms,
00:15:59.581 --> 00:16:01.250
This is why god's on the way.
00:16:01.250 --> 00:16:03.352
It's in his character to save and to redeem and to rescue.
00:16:03.352 --> 00:16:07.456
And so when we trust in that god, in the true god of good
00:16:07.456 --> 00:16:11.427
God, when we walk through a storm, we can laugh at danger.
00:16:11.427 --> 00:16:15.697
We can laugh at the days ahead because we know that it's no
00:16:15.697 --> 00:16:18.734
Match for our good god.
00:16:18.734 --> 00:16:21.236
I wouldn't change how difficult these past years have been,
00:16:21.236 --> 00:16:24.640
Because when i tell you i've seen the goodness of god in the
00:16:24.640 --> 00:16:26.642
Land of the living-- yes.
00:16:26.642 --> 00:16:27.910
I just genuinely could not do none of this.
00:16:27.910 --> 00:16:31.013
I went from high performing, knocking out 50 million tasks a
00:16:31.013 --> 00:16:35.017
Day to let me just pray over my little to do list for the day.
00:16:35.017 --> 00:16:37.820
I had like the little blue's clues little notepad.
00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:39.988
I'm just going to do three little things as long as i
00:16:39.988 --> 00:16:42.024
Shower and do like--
00:16:42.024 --> 00:16:43.926
Write the three things down after you did them so that
00:16:43.926 --> 00:16:46.028
You can check them off.
00:16:46.028 --> 00:16:47.129
So then you can check it off
00:16:47.129 --> 00:16:48.464
After the fact.
00:16:48.464 --> 00:16:49.131
What did i do today?
00:16:49.131 --> 00:16:50.732
What did i do today already
00:16:50.732 --> 00:16:53.836
Just to make myself feel good.
00:16:53.836 --> 00:16:55.270
And it just, you get to a point where you're just like that
00:16:55.270 --> 00:17:00.209
God, the one that chases after the one--
00:17:00.209 --> 00:17:03.145
Yeah. it's so good.
00:17:03.145 --> 00:17:04.446
And leaves the 99 who's, like, pretty straight and found
00:17:04.446 --> 00:17:07.049
And good to go, it's different
00:17:07.049 --> 00:17:09.718
When scripture says-- so different.
00:17:09.718 --> 00:17:11.153
-- that he's close to the brokenhearted and he's near to
00:17:11.153 --> 00:17:14.223
Those crushed in spirit,
00:17:14.223 --> 00:17:15.858
What we get from those is closeness and nearness.
00:17:15.858 --> 00:17:19.261
I can't think of any amount of success--
00:17:19.261 --> 00:17:21.497
If you can rise to the highest level of success and you're
00:17:21.497 --> 00:17:24.633
There by yourself,
00:17:24.633 --> 00:17:26.068
There is nothing that is going to feel fulfilling and
00:17:26.068 --> 00:17:28.537
Satisfying to that.
00:17:28.537 --> 00:17:29.638
And you can be at the lowest of low,
00:17:29.638 --> 00:17:31.640
But if you feel him close and you feel him near because it
00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:35.444
Says, that's for our good.
00:17:35.444 --> 00:17:36.912
Yeah. so you can be in almost any situation,
00:17:36.912 --> 00:17:39.281
You can be in any situation if you have the closeness and
00:17:39.281 --> 00:17:42.384
Nearness of god to you,
00:17:42.384 --> 00:17:43.886
You do all of a sudden feel hope.
00:17:43.886 --> 00:17:46.488
Yeah. and you feel like however low i am, however, the rug has
00:17:46.488 --> 00:17:51.827
Been pulled out from me here,
00:17:51.827 --> 00:17:53.662
If i have him, i have everything to get me through.
00:17:53.662 --> 00:17:56.899
When you talk about that, belinda, it makes me think
00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:59.434
About, like, i think peace produces a different fruit.
00:17:59.434 --> 00:18:02.871
I think it's very different.
00:18:02.871 --> 00:18:04.072
Like, i can remember times where i was just busy, busy,
00:18:04.072 --> 00:18:06.341
Busy, busy.
00:18:06.341 --> 00:18:07.376
I'm good at being busy, very good at being busy.
00:18:07.376 --> 00:18:11.313
But the fruit that produces out of busyness is different.
00:18:11.313 --> 00:18:15.584
It's a little hard. it's a little tart.
00:18:15.584 --> 00:18:17.886
It's very stale. it chooses progress over people.
00:18:17.886 --> 00:18:21.623
Fruitfulness, being step in step with the lord, going even at
00:18:21.623 --> 00:18:25.994
The pace that he wants you to go,
00:18:25.994 --> 00:18:28.463
That fruit, it flourishes.
00:18:28.463 --> 00:18:30.165
It's different.
00:18:30.165 --> 00:18:31.466
It's different when you step in step with his timing, because
00:18:31.466 --> 00:18:34.169
The fruit comes when it's supposed to come and not before.
00:18:34.169 --> 00:18:37.606
It's ripe.
00:18:37.606 --> 00:18:38.840
Okay. and there's an abundance of it that you can share.
00:18:38.840 --> 00:18:41.910
Blessings with no sorrow.
00:18:41.910 --> 00:18:43.045
I'm trying to tell you, i have had more people in my
00:18:43.045 --> 00:18:45.480
House with less resources than i've ever had these last two
00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:48.383
Years, because the fruit has come at a different pace.
00:18:48.383 --> 00:18:52.387
Yes, there's something different about a season
00:18:52.387 --> 00:18:54.656
Walking step in step with god that you think is like, man,
00:18:54.656 --> 00:18:57.926
This is bad.
00:18:57.926 --> 00:18:59.261
I have nothing, i'm so dependent on the lord and his
00:18:59.261 --> 00:19:01.063
People right now. i'm lowly.
00:19:01.063 --> 00:19:03.065
But when i tell you we have had more souls in our house, more
00:19:03.065 --> 00:19:06.335
Souls come to church with us,
00:19:06.335 --> 00:19:07.869
Random people from my gym.
00:19:07.869 --> 00:19:09.638
Like it's a different thing.
00:19:09.638 --> 00:19:10.973
And i just think it's easy to
00:19:10.973 --> 00:19:12.975
Be dependent on god when you're desperate.
00:19:12.975 --> 00:19:15.510
But what does it look like to be dependent on him when you
00:19:15.510 --> 00:19:19.047
Don't necessarily need him, but you want to make sure the
00:19:19.047 --> 00:19:22.150
Fruit is good?
00:19:22.150 --> 00:19:23.452
I think the reason why that's resonating with me is because i
00:19:23.452 --> 00:19:26.488
Do think fruitful seasons,
00:19:26.488 --> 00:19:28.490
There's part of that that does feel busy.
00:19:28.490 --> 00:19:30.425
There's things to do, i guess, is what i'm saying.
00:19:30.425 --> 00:19:32.995
If you've been called into a season of doing something that
00:19:32.995 --> 00:19:34.997
Is bringing fruit, there are things to do.
00:19:34.997 --> 00:19:37.266
So how do you know the balance of i am--
00:19:37.266 --> 00:19:40.168
I'm doing what god has asked me to do.
00:19:40.168 --> 00:19:42.237
There's fruit, good fruit from it.
00:19:42.237 --> 00:19:44.506
But it is--
00:19:44.506 --> 00:19:45.707
It's keeping me on my toes versus i'm just spinning my
00:19:45.707 --> 00:19:48.176
Wheels, busy thinking i'm doing something for the kingdom that
00:19:48.176 --> 00:19:51.880
Maybe he didn't even ask me to do.
00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:53.081
How do you know? what are the warning signs?
00:19:53.081 --> 00:19:54.283
What are the signs?
00:19:54.283 --> 00:19:56.251
I think it's hard to differentiate sometimes
00:19:56.251 --> 00:19:59.655
Busyness versus fruitfulness.
00:19:59.655 --> 00:20:02.024
But the way that i look at it is i believe that busyness, the
00:20:02.024 --> 00:20:06.361
Fruit that you're going to get from that is not going to be
00:20:06.361 --> 00:20:08.030
The fruit that you're wanting in your life.
00:20:08.030 --> 00:20:09.564
And so i would ask myself, am i doing things because i don't
00:20:09.564 --> 00:20:13.035
Want to miss out?
00:20:13.035 --> 00:20:14.303
Am i doing things because i think society thinks i should
00:20:14.303 --> 00:20:17.205
Look a certain way, do a
00:20:17.205 --> 00:20:18.140
Certain thing, have a certain thing?
00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:20.042
Am i doing things because if i don't keep up with the joneses,
00:20:20.042 --> 00:20:23.111
Then i won't--
00:20:23.111 --> 00:20:24.379
I will feel less than? like if these are your motivational
00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:26.515
Questions, you're probably just doing things out of busyness
00:20:26.515 --> 00:20:29.551
Because fruitfulness asks completely different questions.
00:20:29.551 --> 00:20:33.055
Fruitfulness says even if i experience lack meaning maybe
00:20:33.055 --> 00:20:38.327
I'm in a season
00:20:38.327 --> 00:20:39.494
I'm not getting as much sleep because i'm staying up.
00:20:39.494 --> 00:20:41.163
Like, you know, i would say that i work with the young
00:20:41.163 --> 00:20:43.432
Adults and sometimes i'm out past my bedtime.
00:20:43.432 --> 00:20:45.867
But if my motivation is to serve the body of christ, to
00:20:45.867 --> 00:20:50.238
Find out how god can use my
00:20:50.238 --> 00:20:51.807
Giftings in the most fruitful way,
00:20:51.807 --> 00:20:53.809
If i'm asking him for open
00:20:53.809 --> 00:20:55.344
Doors and i'm following his leading,
00:20:55.344 --> 00:20:57.412
This is these are ways that are going to produce fruitfulness.
00:20:57.412 --> 00:21:00.649
And i love in john 15:5, it says, i am the vine, you are
00:21:00.649 --> 00:21:04.619
The branches.
00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.887
If you remain in me and i in you, you will bear much fruit.
00:21:05.887 --> 00:21:09.558
But apart from me you can do nothing.
00:21:09.558 --> 00:21:12.394
I think that would be the scripture
00:21:12.394 --> 00:21:14.296
I would ask the lord in handing him all the things you're doing
00:21:14.296 --> 00:21:17.566
In your busyness or your fruitfulness,
00:21:17.566 --> 00:21:19.134
Lord, is this bearing fruit?
00:21:19.134 --> 00:21:21.002
Because apart from you, i can't do anything.
00:21:21.002 --> 00:21:23.772
So will you show me all the things that i have on my plate,
00:21:23.772 --> 00:21:26.842
What things are partnering with you and what things am i doing
00:21:26.842 --> 00:21:30.045
Out of a motivation of something of self that i feel
00:21:30.045 --> 00:21:33.281
Like i could personally lose if i don't do that thing?
00:21:33.281 --> 00:21:35.650
I don't want to be motivated by self at all.
00:21:35.650 --> 00:21:37.486
I want to be motivated by you putting it on my heart for the
00:21:37.486 --> 00:21:41.690
Purposes that you have planned for my life.
00:21:41.690 --> 00:21:44.926
It's like if you're running a race, you're supposed to be
00:21:44.926 --> 00:21:49.598
Tired. you're supposed to expend a level of energy.
00:21:49.598 --> 00:21:54.870
Your heart rate is supposed to be higher.
00:21:54.870 --> 00:21:57.973
You are supposed to have to
00:21:57.973 --> 00:22:00.142
Think, keep going, maintain a pace.
00:22:00.142 --> 00:22:03.478
But there's a difference between running a race and
00:22:03.478 --> 00:22:06.615
Expending energy and running a
00:22:06.615 --> 00:22:08.884
Race to an extreme level of exhaustion.
00:22:08.884 --> 00:22:11.753
And how do i know the difference?
00:22:11.753 --> 00:22:13.555
Well, my body sends out warning signs.
00:22:13.555 --> 00:22:16.124
I might get lightheaded.
00:22:16.124 --> 00:22:17.893
I might find that i actually can't pick up my foot.
00:22:17.893 --> 00:22:20.829
I may find that there is something that physiologically,
00:22:20.829 --> 00:22:24.566
My body is indicating
00:22:24.566 --> 00:22:26.201
I actually cannot keep this pace up.
00:22:26.201 --> 00:22:29.137
Like even when you're running a race, there may be short
00:22:29.137 --> 00:22:31.406
Stints, like you got to go up a hill so you put a little more
00:22:31.406 --> 00:22:33.775
Energy into it.
00:22:33.775 --> 00:22:35.310
But just like physiologically, we know the difference between
00:22:35.310 --> 00:22:38.213
I'm hungry, but i'm about to pass out or we know the
00:22:38.213 --> 00:22:41.416
Difference between my stomach is uncomfortable
00:22:41.416 --> 00:22:43.685
Or something is wrong. yes.
00:22:43.685 --> 00:22:45.854
I think when you walk with the lord and you know when
00:22:45.854 --> 00:22:49.691
You're learning to walk with the lord,
00:22:49.691 --> 00:22:50.992
This is why it's so important for other women to be in your
00:22:50.992 --> 00:22:53.795
Life, because they can point
00:22:53.795 --> 00:22:55.330
Things out that you might not see.
00:22:55.330 --> 00:22:57.232
So in terms of what that looks like in my life, i know the
00:22:57.232 --> 00:23:00.869
Difference between this is a season, but i am moving through
00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:05.540
It with a pace that is healthy.
00:23:05.540 --> 00:23:08.009
Then i'm yelling at everybody.
00:23:08.009 --> 00:23:09.344
I'm always irritable and my people are saying, girl,
00:23:09.344 --> 00:23:11.746
What's wrong with you? you're not like yourself.
00:23:11.746 --> 00:23:13.815
Yeah, there's a difference between me being at the throne
00:23:13.815 --> 00:23:17.719
And asking god for mercy, or crying my ears out and being
00:23:17.719 --> 00:23:21.256
Isolated and alone and not just being in a tender spot, but
00:23:21.256 --> 00:23:25.660
Being in a spot that is dangerous because i am thinking
00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:28.763
About harming myself or harming other people.
00:23:28.763 --> 00:23:32.067
I think that you have to look at what does it look like for
00:23:32.067 --> 00:23:34.569
Me to go through life's difficulties and it be hard,
00:23:34.569 --> 00:23:38.673
But doable?
00:23:38.673 --> 00:23:40.775
Like i can keep this up
00:23:40.775 --> 00:23:42.677
And between it being exhausting where it puts me in a dangerous
00:23:42.677 --> 00:23:45.380
Place. and this is why community is so important, because
00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:48.950
Sometimes we don't know it.
00:23:48.950 --> 00:23:50.452
Sometimes it takes other people looking at us to go,
00:23:50.452 --> 00:23:53.021
Are you okay? you know what i'm saying?
00:23:53.021 --> 00:23:54.589
And we think we're okay, but we're breaking out in a cold
00:23:54.589 --> 00:23:57.125
Sweat or our eyes are glazing over.
00:23:57.125 --> 00:23:59.794
So being in community is one of the ways that we can help to
00:23:59.794 --> 00:24:04.666
Have feedback when we're outside of our comfort zone.
00:24:04.666 --> 00:24:08.703
And walking with the lord consistently is how you have a
00:24:08.703 --> 00:24:13.675
Measuring stick for what it looks like to be walking with
00:24:13.675 --> 00:24:17.078
The lord.
00:24:17.078 --> 00:24:17.812
And it's hard, but he's good.
00:24:17.812 --> 00:24:19.514
And what it looks like for it to be hard,
00:24:19.514 --> 00:24:22.183
And this does not look like what it has looked like before.
00:24:22.183 --> 00:24:25.353
So i can look to other seasons of my life and say, this was
00:24:25.353 --> 00:24:27.989
Really hard, but because i was in a good place with the lord,
00:24:27.989 --> 00:24:30.926
I have a measuring stick.
00:24:30.926 --> 00:24:32.928
I was-- it was hard.
00:24:32.928 --> 00:24:34.296
But i know what it's like to be held.
00:24:34.296 --> 00:24:36.398
If you don't do that through all the seasons, then when life
00:24:36.398 --> 00:24:39.134
Gets harder, you don't have a measuring stick for what your
00:24:39.134 --> 00:24:41.736
Heart rate should be.
00:24:41.736 --> 00:24:42.737
That's good.
00:24:42.737 --> 00:24:43.338
You know, you exercise--
00:24:43.338 --> 00:24:44.472
You know this, toni, because you're a workout queen.
00:24:44.472 --> 00:24:46.474
You know that there's like a target heart rate zone.
00:24:46.474 --> 00:24:49.578
There's a zone, right?
00:24:49.578 --> 00:24:50.812
And then there's the place where you are outside of that,
00:24:50.812 --> 00:24:53.214
And it's dangerous.
00:24:53.214 --> 00:24:54.516
The only way you know what's dangerous is if you're
00:24:54.516 --> 00:24:56.518
Constantly taking your pulse to know what it is when you're
00:24:56.518 --> 00:24:59.454
Getting, when you're working out on a regular basis.
00:24:59.454 --> 00:25:01.690
Because what can happen, too, is what was maybe right for you
00:25:01.690 --> 00:25:04.859
At a season--
00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.727
It shifts. it shifts.
00:25:05.727 --> 00:25:06.895
And if you're not aware of it, the pulse, then--
00:25:06.895 --> 00:25:09.164
You think something's wrong with you.
00:25:09.164 --> 00:25:10.432
Yes. all of a sudden now you're having all of these warning
00:25:10.432 --> 00:25:12.901
Signs, but you're like, but i've been doing this, and god's
00:25:12.901 --> 00:25:15.737
Already shifting and moving, and you weren't paying
00:25:15.737 --> 00:25:17.906
Attention close enough. you weren't close enough to him.
00:25:17.906 --> 00:25:21.610
The faulty thought that follows most people when they read
00:25:21.610 --> 00:25:25.347
Proverbs 31 is this idea that the woman in that passage did
00:25:25.347 --> 00:25:29.250
Everything, and she did everything at the same time.
00:25:29.250 --> 00:25:32.287
If you are overwhelmed, if you're exhausted because you're
00:25:32.287 --> 00:25:35.123
Trying to do all the things, let me free you.
00:25:35.123 --> 00:25:37.892
Living your life well as a woman is about living your life
00:25:37.892 --> 00:25:40.996
In seasons.
00:25:40.996 --> 00:25:42.297
And like my mother used to say, even if you can do it all, you
00:25:42.297 --> 00:25:45.834
Can't do it all simultaneously.
00:25:45.834 --> 00:25:47.936
So asking yourself out of priority and out of importance
00:25:47.936 --> 00:25:52.007
To god, what should get the first of your efforts and
00:25:52.007 --> 00:25:55.310
Realize that the things that are at the end of that list
00:25:55.310 --> 00:25:58.313
Maybe won't get done.
00:25:58.313 --> 00:25:59.614
And here's the thing if you're doing the most important things
00:25:59.614 --> 00:26:01.983
First, then that's all that matters.
00:26:01.983 --> 00:26:05.687
Let's talk about the gym for a second.
00:26:05.687 --> 00:26:07.322
You know women, we go through phases every single week.
00:26:07.322 --> 00:26:09.891
Okay. luteal phase can die okay.
00:26:09.891 --> 00:26:12.694
Luteal phase.
00:26:12.694 --> 00:26:13.662
But we're grateful for the design, lord.
00:26:13.662 --> 00:26:15.530
But what's interesting is that concept of being in the gym one
00:26:15.530 --> 00:26:20.268
Week, i can be crushing it like superwoman,
00:26:20.268 --> 00:26:22.537
Okay? and the next week, i can't even lift half of the
00:26:22.537 --> 00:26:25.907
Weight that i did last week
00:26:25.907 --> 00:26:26.975
Because we're constantly changing.
00:26:26.975 --> 00:26:28.743
Our energy's going in and out.
00:26:28.743 --> 00:26:30.011
So that concept, even there, is like, i could literally, if i
00:26:30.011 --> 00:26:34.115
Wasn't tracking it, if i wasn't aware of what phase i was in
00:26:34.115 --> 00:26:38.186
With my hormones and all the things, then i would think,
00:26:38.186 --> 00:26:40.188
Man, i can't believe i'm so weak.
00:26:40.188 --> 00:26:41.556
I don't know what's going on.
00:26:41.556 --> 00:26:42.557
This is crazy. i'm getting--
00:26:42.557 --> 00:26:44.459
I'm regressing.
00:26:44.459 --> 00:26:45.293
I'm not actually getting stronger.
00:26:45.293 --> 00:26:46.361
Right? forget the gym.
00:26:46.361 --> 00:26:47.429
Let's talk about the seasons of a woman's life.
00:26:47.429 --> 00:26:49.664
When women start getting into perimenopause and you're
00:26:49.664 --> 00:26:52.367
Thinking something is wrong with you because i can't find
00:26:52.367 --> 00:26:55.670
The word, or i don't have the energy, or i used to be able to
00:26:55.670 --> 00:26:58.306
Knock out 25 things a day, and now there's only three or maybe
00:26:58.306 --> 00:27:01.509
One and a half.
00:27:01.509 --> 00:27:02.811
If we're not aware of where we are in our physical fitness, in
00:27:02.811 --> 00:27:06.314
Our life season, or in what our daily walk looks like with the
00:27:06.314 --> 00:27:10.218
Lord, if we're not tracking it, then we have no measure for
00:27:10.218 --> 00:27:13.988
What it looks like to be out of bounds.
00:27:13.988 --> 00:27:15.690
Yes. yes.
00:27:15.690 --> 00:27:16.624
That's literally the season i'm in.
00:27:16.624 --> 00:27:18.626
Not perimenopause or luteal phase.
00:27:18.626 --> 00:27:20.595
Maybe, i don't know, but being pregnant, like i need women
00:27:20.595 --> 00:27:24.165
Because i don't know what's normal and what's not normal
00:27:24.165 --> 00:27:27.635
Because as you know, there are so many things that happen to
00:27:27.635 --> 00:27:30.171
Your body that you're like, this cannot be normal.
00:27:30.171 --> 00:27:31.706
And you're like, that's super--
00:27:31.706 --> 00:27:32.674
It's very normal. don't worry about it.
00:27:32.674 --> 00:27:34.275
But my efficiency level from seasons past is very different
00:27:34.275 --> 00:27:39.547
In this season.
00:27:39.547 --> 00:27:40.815
And as someone that was very used to getting up, going for a
00:27:40.815 --> 00:27:43.651
Three mile run, getting up and going to a class that is just
00:27:43.651 --> 00:27:46.755
Not getting up, that is just like, i'ma hit the snooze and
00:27:46.755 --> 00:27:51.392
Feeling for a minute, like, what's wrong with me?
00:27:51.392 --> 00:27:54.195
God, i'm so sorry i missed our time.
00:27:54.195 --> 00:27:56.464
I'm sorry. i was sleeping.
00:27:56.464 --> 00:27:57.732
I'm a failure.
00:27:57.732 --> 00:27:58.666
Rest. like you are--
00:27:58.666 --> 00:28:00.769
What you can't see is that he is building something inside of
00:28:00.769 --> 00:28:05.039
Me that will become self sufficient and sustaining one
00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:09.244
Day, but it currently is incubating.
00:28:09.244 --> 00:28:12.046
You have no idea what god is building on the inside of you
00:28:12.046 --> 00:28:15.049
In those seasons where you feel less productive.
00:28:15.049 --> 00:28:18.586
Okay, so does this mean sometimes for him to grow
00:28:18.586 --> 00:28:20.989
Something that's coming,
00:28:20.989 --> 00:28:22.590
There's a season of pulling back.
00:28:22.590 --> 00:28:24.359
Requires rest.
00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.960
So here is where i think this is really interesting when we
00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:28.163
Talk about success
00:28:28.163 --> 00:28:29.430
Because for a season i lived in orange county in california,
00:28:29.430 --> 00:28:32.867
And i'm very grateful for that season.
00:28:32.867 --> 00:28:34.269
But it was during the stirring that i felt that my time in
00:28:34.269 --> 00:28:37.505
California was coming to a close, and i had no idea what
00:28:37.505 --> 00:28:40.108
That meant.
00:28:40.108 --> 00:28:41.009
I've told the story before.
00:28:41.009 --> 00:28:42.210
After seven years of being single again after a divorce
00:28:42.210 --> 00:28:45.547
And just praying god like, will i ever be a mum?
00:28:45.547 --> 00:28:47.649
Will i ever get to get married again?
00:28:47.649 --> 00:28:49.017
Will i ever like, i'm so grateful for what you did, what
00:28:49.017 --> 00:28:52.654
Toni was saying before,
00:28:52.654 --> 00:28:54.122
But there is this dream that i'm still praying for.
00:28:54.122 --> 00:28:56.558
And in this season, there was this restlessness, this
00:28:56.558 --> 00:29:00.061
Something's not-- this transition season i was coming
00:29:00.061 --> 00:29:02.330
Into, but i'm in the oc and i wasn't in full time ministry.
00:29:02.330 --> 00:29:05.333
I had a business, i was still traveling and speaking, and i
00:29:05.333 --> 00:29:08.970
Was around this business mentor that publicly wasn't a pastor
00:29:08.970 --> 00:29:12.974
Or anything, like she was in an entrepreneur world and publicly
00:29:12.974 --> 00:29:16.477
Was killing it.
00:29:16.477 --> 00:29:18.146
And i was like, i want to be around this woman.
00:29:18.146 --> 00:29:19.781
And i did learn so many business things.
00:29:19.781 --> 00:29:21.583
But there was one day my best friend katie sat me down and
00:29:21.583 --> 00:29:23.885
Said, this isn't good for you, because behind the scenes there
00:29:23.885 --> 00:29:26.988
Was panic attacks, there was outbursts, there was,
00:29:26.988 --> 00:29:29.457
I'm just having a bad day for the 25th day in a row, and it
00:29:29.457 --> 00:29:32.594
Was rubbing off on me that i was starting to think that
00:29:32.594 --> 00:29:35.363
Success equals that,
00:29:35.363 --> 00:29:36.764
That requires that,
00:29:36.764 --> 00:29:37.599
That requires that level of stress.
00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.901
And she was like, this is not good for you.
00:29:39.901 --> 00:29:41.536
And the second i stepped away from that, that peace came back
00:29:41.536 --> 00:29:45.240
That i was like, lord, success is not these things that look
00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:51.412
Like this.
00:29:51.412 --> 00:29:52.380
Success really is i can sleep at night.
00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:56.651
My, my nervous system has calmed.
00:29:56.651 --> 00:29:59.287
And, you know, in that season where it looked publicly like
00:29:59.287 --> 00:30:02.490
The least efficient time in my life, god did the complete 180
00:30:02.490 --> 00:30:07.362
That people now look at on social media and go, look at
00:30:07.362 --> 00:30:10.565
The last two years, it really has been so many things, one
00:30:10.565 --> 00:30:13.534
After the other.
00:30:13.534 --> 00:30:14.702
Moving to florida, getting engaged, getting married,
00:30:14.702 --> 00:30:16.137
Becoming an instant mom to two girls now, being pregnant with
00:30:16.137 --> 00:30:18.673
A boy, back in full time ministry.
00:30:18.673 --> 00:30:20.675
But if god hadn't been able to take me out of what i thought
00:30:20.675 --> 00:30:23.678
Success looked like, where the fruit was forced and it was
00:30:23.678 --> 00:30:27.315
Actually producing stress and producing physiological signs,
00:30:27.315 --> 00:30:31.686
Producing conflict in relationships, if he was able--
00:30:31.686 --> 00:30:34.856
He had to take me away from that to realize success
00:30:34.856 --> 00:30:37.225
Starts from peace.
00:30:37.225 --> 00:30:38.326
Success starts from rest.
00:30:38.326 --> 00:30:40.194
Success starts from being still long enough to hear my voice.
00:30:40.194 --> 00:30:43.431
To get the next step, you'll hear a voice behind you saying,
00:30:43.431 --> 00:30:46.968
This is the way, walk in it.
00:30:46.968 --> 00:30:48.870
But we're just trying to find all the right ways.
00:30:48.870 --> 00:30:50.571
That is my mo.
00:30:50.571 --> 00:30:51.706
That's my my brand,
00:30:51.706 --> 00:30:53.041
If you will, that there wasn't still enough.
00:30:53.041 --> 00:30:58.079
He had everything planned and the way he has condensed time,
00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:01.549
I couldn't have done it in my most productive season.
00:31:01.549 --> 00:31:04.986
And it reminds me of this story that i always wonder if this
00:31:04.986 --> 00:31:08.189
Was the purpose of the story.
00:31:08.189 --> 00:31:09.657
But it's been my what i've taken from this story of jesus
00:31:09.657 --> 00:31:12.460
Walking past this fig tree that had no fruit but had leaves,
00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:15.897
And he cursed the fig tree and everyone was looking at him
00:31:15.897 --> 00:31:18.032
Like, what are you doing?
00:31:18.032 --> 00:31:18.967
Are you just like, obsessed with figs?
00:31:18.967 --> 00:31:19.834
Like what's going on?
00:31:19.834 --> 00:31:21.402
And he comes back.
00:31:21.402 --> 00:31:22.704
The disciples walk past a few days later and the fig tree has
00:31:22.704 --> 00:31:24.906
Shriveled up and died.
00:31:24.906 --> 00:31:26.507
And to me, i don't know where i got this from.
00:31:26.507 --> 00:31:29.277
I remember reading it around easter and having this sense
00:31:29.277 --> 00:31:33.581
From the holy spirit like elise, it is okay to be in a
00:31:33.581 --> 00:31:37.151
Season where you don't have any figs,
00:31:37.151 --> 00:31:39.687
Where you don't have any fruit.
00:31:39.687 --> 00:31:41.923
Just please don't present
00:31:41.923 --> 00:31:43.224
Leaves to people pretending you do.
00:31:43.224 --> 00:31:46.160
And i think for so many of us when we talk about success,
00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:49.397
Yeah, we have all been in
00:31:49.397 --> 00:31:51.866
Seasons where there has been no fruit.
00:31:51.866 --> 00:31:54.035
Yeah, we have all been there's many people watching today that
00:31:54.035 --> 00:31:57.538
Are currently in a season, and the difficulty in our day and
00:31:57.538 --> 00:32:00.274
Age is that you can present leaves when there is no fruit.
00:32:00.274 --> 00:32:05.179
But what that takes to produce a leaf that actually doesn't
00:32:05.179 --> 00:32:09.017
Sustain anything is so much stress and so much work.
00:32:09.017 --> 00:32:13.454
And to me, it felt like this, this very thing of like god's
00:32:13.454 --> 00:32:16.657
Fine in a season where i don't have fruit.
00:32:16.657 --> 00:32:19.127
God's fine in a season where i need to rest.
00:32:19.127 --> 00:32:21.629
God's good with that.
00:32:21.629 --> 00:32:22.930
He puts me in that to actually walk with me in it to prepare
00:32:22.930 --> 00:32:27.001
For the next.
00:32:27.001 --> 00:32:28.302
But the worst thing i can do in that season is to work and to
00:32:28.302 --> 00:32:32.407
Strive to produce leaves to people because of the pressure
00:32:32.407 --> 00:32:37.145
I feel for this worldly success.
00:32:37.145 --> 00:32:39.313
And so it's a tension that i'm constantly back and forth on.
00:32:39.313 --> 00:32:42.383
Honestly, i haven't mastered it, but i have been in enough
00:32:42.383 --> 00:32:45.153
Seasons now where i know what peace feels like.
00:32:45.153 --> 00:32:48.589
And if you can give me any book deal, any tour, any whatever in
00:32:48.589 --> 00:32:53.528
The world, and i know peace feels better.
00:32:53.528 --> 00:32:57.565
Join the conversation on our
00:32:57.565 --> 00:32:59.033
Better together youtube channel.
00:32:59.033 --> 00:33:01.002
Subscribe today and never miss a new upload!
00:33:01.002 --> 00:33:05.006
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00:33:05.006 --> 00:33:08.410
Colossians 3:23 and my amplified version, which just means it
00:33:12.014 --> 00:33:15.818
Has a few more words than probably your translation,
00:33:15.818 --> 00:33:18.187
It says this,
00:33:18.187 --> 00:33:19.521
It says, whatever you do, whatever your task may be,
00:33:19.521 --> 00:33:22.391
Work from the soul.
00:33:22.391 --> 00:33:24.293
We'll talk about that in a second.
00:33:24.293 --> 00:33:25.894
That is, put in your very best effort.
00:33:25.894 --> 00:33:28.097
It's something done for the lord and not for men knowing
00:33:28.097 --> 00:33:30.933
With all certainty that it is from the lord, not from men,
00:33:30.933 --> 00:33:34.036
That you will receive the inheritance which is your
00:33:34.036 --> 00:33:36.038
Greatest reward.
00:33:36.038 --> 00:33:37.739
We're looking at working for the lord in whatever you do.
00:33:37.739 --> 00:33:42.778
I love this verse because in the greek we see it in the
00:33:42.778 --> 00:33:45.948
Amplified version, but a lot of versions don't have that where
00:33:45.948 --> 00:33:48.484
It says work willfully, work willingly.
00:33:48.484 --> 00:33:52.087
Some versions say work heartily in whatever you do for the lord
00:33:52.087 --> 00:33:56.158
And that actual word,
00:33:56.158 --> 00:33:57.759
What it comes down to, what it boils down to in the greek is
00:33:57.759 --> 00:34:00.262
Work from your soul.
00:34:00.262 --> 00:34:01.730
Suppose reminding us that in a world that wants us to separate
00:34:01.730 --> 00:34:05.734
And segregate the kind of work we do, as if working over here
00:34:05.734 --> 00:34:09.638
In our job is different from serving at church on a sunday,
00:34:09.638 --> 00:34:12.708
Or attending to our family, or being with our friends as if
00:34:12.708 --> 00:34:16.545
It's different in the sight of the lord,
00:34:16.545 --> 00:34:18.280
He's reminding us, hey, this is not about working harder.
00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:21.650
This is about working from your soul.
00:34:21.650 --> 00:34:24.720
This is about finding that joy place again, the understanding
00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:29.091
That for me, whether i am writing a sermon or braiding my
00:34:29.091 --> 00:34:33.295
Girls' hair, whether i am in a team meeting at church, or i am
00:34:33.295 --> 00:34:37.733
Fixing dinner or hanging out with my friends, all of it is
00:34:37.733 --> 00:34:41.837
For god.
00:34:41.837 --> 00:34:43.105
And all of it isn't a chance for me to work harder, as if i
00:34:43.105 --> 00:34:46.408
Have something to prove.
00:34:46.408 --> 00:34:47.676
All of it is a chance to work from the depths of my soul,
00:34:47.676 --> 00:34:52.681
Knowing that all of it is to honor god.
00:34:52.681 --> 00:34:56.451
Well, i think what has happened is that we've taught a whole
00:35:00.055 --> 00:35:02.157
Generation that success is about perfection and likes and
00:35:02.157 --> 00:35:05.727
Followers, when really it's about surrender, when really
00:35:05.727 --> 00:35:08.363
It's about, lord, what would you have today?
00:35:08.363 --> 00:35:10.432
What size is my lot?
00:35:10.432 --> 00:35:11.633
What do you want me to carry?
00:35:11.633 --> 00:35:12.935
What is included in this burden that is not going to crush me?
00:35:12.935 --> 00:35:16.538
And i think that that's the tension we hate.
00:35:16.538 --> 00:35:18.540
And then this generation just hates to surrender.
00:35:18.540 --> 00:35:20.642
We don't want to be weak.
00:35:20.642 --> 00:35:21.543
We don't want to be this and that.
00:35:21.543 --> 00:35:22.811
But the apostle paul in second corinthians 12 is very clear
00:35:22.811 --> 00:35:27.015
That our weakness is the catalyst to god's power.
00:35:27.015 --> 00:35:29.818
It's the very thing that he responds to, like when we trade
00:35:29.818 --> 00:35:33.121
Our weakness for his power.
00:35:33.121 --> 00:35:34.656
And what's great is that in that scripture, everyone only
00:35:34.656 --> 00:35:38.760
Looks at the first part.
00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.962
They're like, god's grace is sufficient for you, honey.
00:35:39.962 --> 00:35:41.730
Okay. his power is made perfect in weakness.
00:35:41.730 --> 00:35:43.298
But paul's response to that is therefore.
00:35:43.298 --> 00:35:45.367
Yes, there's a therefore.
00:35:45.367 --> 00:35:46.401
Therefore i will boast about all my weaknesses.
00:35:46.401 --> 00:35:48.670
I will stop pretending to have fruit.
00:35:48.670 --> 00:35:52.574
I'm not going to pretend to be perfect.
00:35:52.574 --> 00:35:54.776
I am going to just boast about the fact that i don't have
00:35:54.776 --> 00:35:57.779
This, and i don't have that.
00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:59.047
I'm going to be honest about it, and i'm going to boast in
00:35:59.047 --> 00:36:01.416
It with an expectation that all of this boasting about my
00:36:01.416 --> 00:36:04.353
Weakness will produce power,
00:36:04.353 --> 00:36:05.988
The power of christ.
00:36:05.988 --> 00:36:08.590
You know, finding success the way god wants you to experience
00:36:08.590 --> 00:36:11.994
Success will always require surrender.
00:36:11.994 --> 00:36:14.896
We weren't designed to experience the height of
00:36:14.896 --> 00:36:18.000
Achievement or the height of excitement about our lives
00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:20.636
Without him.
00:36:20.636 --> 00:36:21.870
And he is interested in us following him, obeying him and
00:36:21.870 --> 00:36:26.608
Doing what he says.
00:36:26.608 --> 00:36:27.976
He is always trying to pry control from our hand and have
00:36:27.976 --> 00:36:31.113
Us operate in the release of our own desires, so that we are
00:36:31.113 --> 00:36:35.517
Following along with his desires for us.
00:36:35.517 --> 00:36:38.287
So surrender.,
00:36:38.287 --> 00:36:39.721
It's a part of the journey of being a believer, and if you
00:36:39.721 --> 00:36:42.291
Feel like you're being asked to stop doing something, do less
00:36:42.291 --> 00:36:45.827
Of something, or wait to do that something at another time,
00:36:45.827 --> 00:36:49.298
Well, it's probably god's way of saying, listen, i know
00:36:49.298 --> 00:36:51.833
Better than you.
00:36:51.833 --> 00:36:53.135
Do what you need and surrender puts you in a place where god
00:36:53.135 --> 00:36:56.905
Can deliver his best to you.
00:36:56.905 --> 00:37:00.142
I also just want to take for a second a moment to nerd out
00:37:00.142 --> 00:37:03.945
Over this scripture, okay.
00:37:03.945 --> 00:37:05.514
I love it because i took a little time in proverbs 31 to
00:37:05.514 --> 00:37:10.752
Outline each line that talks about what she does, and the
00:37:10.752 --> 00:37:16.725
Other lines talks about who she is.
00:37:16.725 --> 00:37:20.362
And can you believe that from verse 10 to 31, there are
00:37:20.362 --> 00:37:24.266
Exactly ten verses that describes what she does, and
00:37:24.266 --> 00:37:29.538
There are exactly ten verses that describes who she is.
00:37:29.538 --> 00:37:34.743
This checklist is not all about what we can do with our hands,
00:37:34.743 --> 00:37:38.747
But the posture of our hearts.
00:37:38.747 --> 00:37:40.749
How cool and poetic is that? yes.
00:37:40.749 --> 00:37:46.021
And i want to draw attention to verse 22.
00:37:46.021 --> 00:37:49.291
She makes coverings for her bed.
00:37:49.291 --> 00:37:54.563
We're just trying to get the bed covered.
00:37:54.563 --> 00:37:56.264
She sleeps.
00:37:56.264 --> 00:37:58.700
She's making a covering for the bed that she sleeps in
00:37:58.700 --> 00:38:03.438
Because they are making it clear that she sleeps.
00:38:03.438 --> 00:38:06.675
She rests.
00:38:06.675 --> 00:38:08.610
She's step in step with the lord.
00:38:08.610 --> 00:38:10.712
She's doing and she's being.
00:38:10.712 --> 00:38:13.215
She's doing things that honor people, honor god, care for
00:38:13.215 --> 00:38:16.351
People really well.
00:38:16.351 --> 00:38:17.986
And she is being a person who cares for people really well
00:38:17.986 --> 00:38:22.257
And honors god with who she is.
00:38:22.257 --> 00:38:24.092
And she has a bed that she's made beautiful so she can
00:38:24.092 --> 00:38:26.728
Rest in it.
00:38:26.728 --> 00:38:28.096
One of the most important things to me i'm learning in
00:38:28.096 --> 00:38:30.632
This season is god's timing,
00:38:30.632 --> 00:38:33.535
Because when i was growing up, one of the things i loved, my
00:38:33.535 --> 00:38:35.604
Grandmother grew roses and they were just the most she had
00:38:35.604 --> 00:38:39.641
Just, you know, green thumbs.
00:38:39.641 --> 00:38:40.809
She had just the most beautiful rose garden.
00:38:40.809 --> 00:38:43.478
And the perfume from those roses was incredible.
00:38:43.478 --> 00:38:48.183
And i remember not so long ago buying some roses and thinking,
00:38:48.183 --> 00:38:52.454
Why don't they smell anymore?
00:38:52.454 --> 00:38:54.489
Roses have lost so much of their fragrance, and it's
00:38:54.489 --> 00:38:57.292
Because they're forced now to grow in a certain thing quicker
00:38:57.292 --> 00:39:01.062
Because we want to sell these.
00:39:01.062 --> 00:39:02.831
But somehow, in the beauty of still, the shape is there, but
00:39:02.831 --> 00:39:06.868
The fragrance is gone. uh-oh.
00:39:06.868 --> 00:39:08.770
And there's something about god's timing.
00:39:08.770 --> 00:39:11.506
Don't worry so much about what you're getting done every
00:39:11.506 --> 00:39:14.242
Single day, or whether you're producing all the things or
00:39:14.242 --> 00:39:16.845
Whether things are falling into place.
00:39:16.845 --> 00:39:18.780
To me, god's timing, because i've had times with doors open
00:39:18.780 --> 00:39:22.250
In front of me that i didn't expect and doors closed that i
00:39:22.250 --> 00:39:26.154
Did expect to be open.
00:39:26.154 --> 00:39:27.689
And and i'm learning to celebrate in the hallways of
00:39:27.689 --> 00:39:30.859
Life because god's timing is
00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:33.595
Perfect and the fragrance is different.
00:39:33.595 --> 00:39:36.064
I've been praying a prayer in this season that says, god,
00:39:36.064 --> 00:39:41.169
Give me the discernment to know when you need me to sit and the
00:39:41.169 --> 00:39:45.373
Discernment to know when i should pursue.
00:39:45.373 --> 00:39:47.342
I've been in a season for a long time where these
00:39:47.342 --> 00:39:50.345
Opportunities just kind of come.
00:39:50.345 --> 00:39:51.913
It's like, oh, tony, can you do this show?
00:39:51.913 --> 00:39:53.648
Tony, can you record this thing?
00:39:53.648 --> 00:39:55.283
Do you want to be a part of this?
00:39:55.283 --> 00:39:56.485
And i'm just like, oh my gosh, this is so cool.
00:39:56.485 --> 00:39:58.987
I just really haven't had to pursue anything.
00:39:58.987 --> 00:40:03.291
And now i'm in a season where i kind of feel like i should be
00:40:03.291 --> 00:40:07.295
Asking for help, asking for opportunities, and i kind of
00:40:07.295 --> 00:40:11.132
Hate it because it's
00:40:11.132 --> 00:40:13.401
Embarrassing a little bit, honestly.
00:40:13.401 --> 00:40:15.570
Like, i just i've been in a season where i've just been
00:40:15.570 --> 00:40:17.939
Sitting and receiving from the lord whatever opportunity you
00:40:17.939 --> 00:40:20.475
Would have for me.
00:40:20.475 --> 00:40:21.142
Lord, just open the door.
00:40:21.142 --> 00:40:22.143
I will walk my behind right on through it.
00:40:22.143 --> 00:40:23.912
And in this season i feel the lord like asking me to knock.
00:40:23.912 --> 00:40:27.516
And i do not like it.
00:40:27.516 --> 00:40:29.584
And yet surrender sometimes looks like resting and
00:40:29.584 --> 00:40:33.288
Sometimes surrender looks like co-laboring with the lord and
00:40:33.288 --> 00:40:36.157
Getting up and going to pursue the things that he has for you.
00:40:36.157 --> 00:40:38.860
Because maybe there's a different capacity he has for
00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:41.796
You in a different season.
00:40:41.796 --> 00:40:43.431
And so, yes, sheila, like timing is so important and i
00:40:43.431 --> 00:40:48.236
Just don't love the time that i'm in right now.
00:40:48.236 --> 00:40:49.804
But i know that it's producing something in me, a bravery in
00:40:49.804 --> 00:40:53.074
Me that asks for help, something divine.
00:40:53.074 --> 00:40:56.077
But i only know that because i'm walking
00:40:56.077 --> 00:40:58.346
Step in, step with the lord.
00:40:58.346 --> 00:40:59.814
I started feeling a conviction to do the very things i don't
00:40:59.814 --> 00:41:02.384
Want to do.
00:41:02.384 --> 00:41:03.685
But if the lord says, hey, it's time to get up and start asking
00:41:03.685 --> 00:41:06.888
And contending, here we are.
00:41:06.888 --> 00:41:09.190
Yeah, well, that leads me to joshua 1:8 and it says,
00:41:09.190 --> 00:41:12.561
Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth.
00:41:12.561 --> 00:41:14.930
Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to
00:41:14.930 --> 00:41:18.199
Do everything written in it,
00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:19.401
Then you will be prosperous and successful.
00:41:19.401 --> 00:41:22.837
So when you're, when you're talking about, you know, the
00:41:22.837 --> 00:41:26.508
Idea, the question is why sometimes am i resting and
00:41:26.508 --> 00:41:30.312
Sitting back?
00:41:30.312 --> 00:41:31.212
And that's how we describe success.
00:41:31.212 --> 00:41:33.782
But then what about the times when god says, go and we, you
00:41:33.782 --> 00:41:37.652
Know, describe that as success?
00:41:37.652 --> 00:41:40.155
And it all depends on because we know, he says, meditate
00:41:40.155 --> 00:41:42.791
On the word.
00:41:42.791 --> 00:41:44.025
When we get into the word, which is really the instruction
00:41:44.025 --> 00:41:48.029
Manual for our life--
00:41:48.029 --> 00:41:49.197
But it's not just that. that's so minimizing it to me.
00:41:49.197 --> 00:41:52.067
I mean, this is the living, breathing word of god.
00:41:52.067 --> 00:41:55.303
He begins to put, i believe, desires, ideas, creativity,
00:41:55.303 --> 00:42:00.909
Thought that is personal to you because it's alive and active.
00:42:00.909 --> 00:42:04.546
So when we each have our time with the lord, we're
00:42:04.546 --> 00:42:07.716
Meditating on it,
00:42:07.716 --> 00:42:09.017
What he's going to bring out in scripture to me for my season
00:42:09.017 --> 00:42:11.820
Is going to be different than for you, but that's why it has
00:42:11.820 --> 00:42:14.289
To be so personal.
00:42:14.289 --> 00:42:15.123
That's why it has to be so daily.
00:42:15.123 --> 00:42:16.358
That's why it has to be.
00:42:16.358 --> 00:42:17.659
Because he says the way to be prosperous and successful means
00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:21.196
I will define your success.
00:42:21.196 --> 00:42:23.031
And the way i'll define it is by giving you the instructions
00:42:23.031 --> 00:42:25.133
And you obey. whatever that looks like.
00:42:25.133 --> 00:42:28.269
So if in the obedience it's stop and rest, then i'll
00:42:28.269 --> 00:42:31.673
Make you prosperous and successful.
00:42:31.673 --> 00:42:33.541
If in the obedience it's go and knock, then i will make you
00:42:33.541 --> 00:42:36.277
Prosperous and successful.
00:42:36.277 --> 00:42:37.679
It's his to make prosperous and successful.
00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:39.781
It's ours to obey.
00:42:39.781 --> 00:42:41.850
There's an interesting kind of
00:42:41.850 --> 00:42:43.151
Dichotomy between this idea of we've been called to rest,
00:42:43.151 --> 00:42:46.521
To sabbath rest.
00:42:46.521 --> 00:42:48.056
And yet, proverbs 31 is upholding a woman who has from--
00:42:48.056 --> 00:42:52.694
If you just read, it looks like a ridiculous schedule.
00:42:52.694 --> 00:42:55.864
But i think it's all about balance.
00:42:55.864 --> 00:42:58.233
You know, that was one of the words that was hard for me to
00:42:58.233 --> 00:43:00.535
Figure out when i was a younger woman, because i felt like i
00:43:00.535 --> 00:43:03.805
Could say yes to everything. but you know what?
00:43:03.805 --> 00:43:05.907
I have learned
00:43:05.907 --> 00:43:07.142
Something very simple.
00:43:07.142 --> 00:43:08.610
No is a complete sentence, and sometimes saying no to
00:43:08.610 --> 00:43:12.380
Something is the holiest thing we can do
00:43:12.380 --> 00:43:14.816
Because it means then we can give an unconditional yes to
00:43:14.816 --> 00:43:18.520
Everything else that god is asking us
00:43:18.520 --> 00:43:20.188
To do.
00:43:20.188 --> 00:43:21.623
What helped you find your worth in christ alone and not
00:43:21.623 --> 00:43:24.259
What you did?
00:43:24.259 --> 00:43:25.393
I think like seeing the peace that came from losing
00:43:25.393 --> 00:43:29.998
Everything i thought gave me value.
00:43:29.998 --> 00:43:33.468
Like i was the girl that thought, once i get married,
00:43:33.468 --> 00:43:35.203
I'll have the spiritual clout that i need.
00:43:35.203 --> 00:43:37.639
And then i get married and my husband leaves.
00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:39.507
And i realized through a very long journey, but like, realize
00:43:39.507 --> 00:43:43.378
God loved me before.
00:43:43.378 --> 00:43:44.779
God was never closer than in.
00:43:44.779 --> 00:43:46.948
And god is walking me out.
00:43:46.948 --> 00:43:49.317
He had all of this for me then, and this hasn't gone anywhere.
00:43:49.317 --> 00:43:53.054
And for me, i think seeing the moments of the most
00:43:53.054 --> 00:43:57.225
Heartbreaking surrender be followed by the moments not
00:43:57.225 --> 00:44:00.729
Just of feeling so close to him and him being so close to me,
00:44:00.729 --> 00:44:05.500
But realizing, truly like honestly realizing that the
00:44:05.500 --> 00:44:09.270
Fruit that was born from that season tasted sweeter, was more
00:44:09.270 --> 00:44:14.075
Nourishing, didn't require cutting people off or going
00:44:14.075 --> 00:44:20.281
Around people, or short circuiting a process.
00:44:20.281 --> 00:44:23.284
The actual process of producing fruit in my life has been the
00:44:23.284 --> 00:44:28.389
Thing that has reminded me that god loved me before the fruit,
00:44:28.389 --> 00:44:33.294
And he's actually the one that created the fruit that i'm
00:44:33.294 --> 00:44:36.264
Asking for.
00:44:36.264 --> 00:44:37.532
I mean, but it wasn't until i think it was all taken away
00:44:37.532 --> 00:44:39.667
That-- it reminds me of in isaiah when he said, the year
00:44:39.667 --> 00:44:43.671
That king uzziah died, i saw the lord.
00:44:43.671 --> 00:44:46.674
And i wonder if it is in those taking away of those things,
00:44:46.674 --> 00:44:51.045
And sometimes those people that
00:44:51.045 --> 00:44:53.047
We think are the roadmap to success.
00:44:53.047 --> 00:44:57.152
It is in that season that you realize
00:44:57.152 --> 00:45:01.055
But i see god so much
00:45:01.055 --> 00:45:02.524
Clearer now than i ever did before.
00:45:02.524 --> 00:45:05.727
Yeah.
00:45:05.727 --> 00:45:06.895
There's a quote, and i'm sure i don't know who said it
00:45:06.895 --> 00:45:08.630
Originally, but it's when god is all you have, that you
00:45:08.630 --> 00:45:12.100
Realize that he's all you need.
00:45:12.100 --> 00:45:14.269
And i think when you can
00:45:14.269 --> 00:45:19.240
Find yourself alone with nothing and if you can in that
00:45:19.240 --> 00:45:26.281
Place, receive the love of god, which sometimes is not easy to
00:45:26.281 --> 00:45:31.820
Receive because of our earthly experiences experiencing god's
00:45:31.820 --> 00:45:36.191
Love and acceptance, it's framed by how we've received or
00:45:36.191 --> 00:45:39.894
Not received that from other people.
00:45:39.894 --> 00:45:41.262
That's true.
00:45:41.262 --> 00:45:42.564
But there is a if you walk with me long enough, if you're with
00:45:42.564 --> 00:45:46.201
Me long enough, then he's a gentle shepherd.
00:45:46.201 --> 00:45:48.937
I think about all the things that we're told in ephesians
00:45:48.937 --> 00:45:51.105
Chapter one, that we are loved and we're chosen and we're
00:45:51.105 --> 00:45:54.209
Forgiven and we're redeemed.
00:45:54.209 --> 00:45:56.411
It's like you hear people talk about healing relationships.
00:45:56.411 --> 00:45:59.013
And it's not until they had this experience that they
00:45:59.013 --> 00:46:01.716
Realized, well, once god is all you have, and if you walk with
00:46:01.716 --> 00:46:07.155
Him long enough and just rehearse taking your thoughts
00:46:07.155 --> 00:46:10.425
Captive as romans 12 says, what he says about you,
00:46:10.425 --> 00:46:13.528
And realize that without anything and not being in the
00:46:13.528 --> 00:46:16.965
Place you thought you'd be, that he's still there, loving
00:46:16.965 --> 00:46:20.168
And caring and providing and covering,
00:46:20.168 --> 00:46:24.539
Then you can take that with you anywhere.
00:46:24.539 --> 00:46:27.175
Yep.
00:46:27.175 --> 00:46:28.443
Everything else is faux and false, and the enemy is really
00:46:28.443 --> 00:46:32.647
Good at giving us other things as options to put our sense of
00:46:32.647 --> 00:46:37.819
Success and well-being and fullness in.
00:46:37.819 --> 00:46:41.756
Yeah. but when you take all of that energy, and instead of
00:46:41.756 --> 00:46:45.360
Giving it to the easy places that the enemy presents, and
00:46:45.360 --> 00:46:48.496
You offer it to the lord, and you realize without my
00:46:48.496 --> 00:46:51.399
Productivity, without my stance or my level, you still are
00:46:51.399 --> 00:46:57.205
Calling great things out of me.
00:46:57.205 --> 00:46:58.573
You're still loving me,
00:46:58.573 --> 00:46:59.474
Protecting me, providing for me,
00:46:59.474 --> 00:47:01.209
Then you can take that with you anywhere.
00:47:01.209 --> 00:47:05.313
At the end of proverbs 31,
00:47:05.313 --> 00:47:07.448
It talks about how charm can be
00:47:07.448 --> 00:47:09.684
Deceitful and beauty is fleeting.
00:47:09.684 --> 00:47:12.887
But the woman who fears the lord is a woman to be praised.
00:47:12.887 --> 00:47:16.090
And when we look at success, when we look at the accolades,
00:47:16.090 --> 00:47:19.727
When we look at the climb to the top that we can so often
00:47:19.727 --> 00:47:23.164
Get caught up in, in this rat race of life.
00:47:23.164 --> 00:47:25.433
Right? even christians trying to become this proverbs 31
00:47:25.433 --> 00:47:29.470
Woman, it's competition and trying to be
00:47:29.470 --> 00:47:32.507
And in trying to collect all of these merits and trophies,
00:47:32.507 --> 00:47:36.110
Whether literal or physical in life, we all get caught up in
00:47:36.110 --> 00:47:39.914
It, whether you know the lord or not.
00:47:39.914 --> 00:47:43.551
For me, i've found that coming back to a verse like that is
00:47:43.551 --> 00:47:46.387
The reminder is the anchor for me,
00:47:46.387 --> 00:47:49.824
That beauty is fleeting, whether that's beauty in what
00:47:49.824 --> 00:47:53.661
You look at or beauty in what you put out into the world,
00:47:53.661 --> 00:47:58.866
It doesn't last.
00:47:58.866 --> 00:48:00.768
Doesn't mean we don't put beauty out in the world.
00:48:00.768 --> 00:48:03.705
It just means we root our hope and our identity
00:48:03.705 --> 00:48:06.941
Not in beauty, not in charm,
00:48:06.941 --> 00:48:10.511
But in the thing that is worthy to be praised, which is the
00:48:10.511 --> 00:48:13.614
Fear of the lord, which is just a fancy way to say
00:48:13.614 --> 00:48:17.585
In coming to him, being with him, truly finding our
00:48:17.585 --> 00:48:20.221
Identity, our reverence, our admiration, our worship, not in
00:48:20.221 --> 00:48:23.591
What we've created or who we can be or how fast we can
00:48:23.591 --> 00:48:26.861
Run this race,
00:48:26.861 --> 00:48:28.463
But our worship is found in who he is.
00:48:28.463 --> 00:48:30.865
And by worshiping him, realizing that we find our own
00:48:30.865 --> 00:48:33.968
Identity when we get our affirmation from him, we don't
00:48:33.968 --> 00:48:37.505
Need it as much from other people.
00:48:37.505 --> 00:48:39.741
And i have just found in my life that though i still get
00:48:39.741 --> 00:48:42.443
Caught up in in it from time to time, don't we all?
00:48:42.443 --> 00:48:46.280
I'm at my most authentic self
00:48:46.280 --> 00:48:48.983
And at my highest level of peace. when
00:48:48.983 --> 00:48:51.753
I come back to that truth again, that all of this is
00:48:51.753 --> 00:48:55.023
Fleeting and that doesn't mean it's not worthy of celebration
00:48:55.023 --> 00:48:57.759
Or to be enjoyed, but really,
00:48:57.759 --> 00:49:01.329
Me and him,
00:49:01.329 --> 00:49:04.065
That's what matters most.
00:49:04.065 --> 00:49:06.768
I think i'm going to pray for the woman who feels like god
00:49:06.768 --> 00:49:11.706
Has taken everything away. yeah.
00:49:11.706 --> 00:49:13.674
To maybe reframe that into maybe he just moved some
00:49:13.674 --> 00:49:16.944
Things so that he can be a little bit more present.
00:49:16.944 --> 00:49:18.980
He could get closer.
00:49:18.980 --> 00:49:20.448
Mhm. i love that.
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Lord jesus, i pray for the doers.
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I pray for the women and even the men that are watching this,
00:49:25.787 --> 00:49:29.624
That just really have this belief that what they do is
00:49:29.624 --> 00:49:34.462
Worth more than who they are.
00:49:34.462 --> 00:49:36.998
Lord, whether it came from a word spoken over them as
00:49:36.998 --> 00:49:40.168
Children, whether it came from success looking like a certain
00:49:40.168 --> 00:49:46.541
Speed, a certain checklist, a certain stature.
00:49:46.541 --> 00:49:52.346
Lord, i just pray that he would just absolutely, radically
00:49:52.346 --> 00:49:55.883
Change their minds.
00:49:55.883 --> 00:49:58.252
God, i pray for the spirit of
00:49:58.252 --> 00:50:00.655
Comfort and peace and steadiness.
00:50:00.655 --> 00:50:03.558
I pray for sweet shalom with you.
00:50:03.558 --> 00:50:07.995
God, i pray it over myself and my own life.
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I pray god that you would just every day wake me up and draw
00:50:10.698 --> 00:50:13.935
Me just a little bit closer to you so that as i get to gaze at
00:50:13.935 --> 00:50:18.539
You, like the psalmist says, i will be reminded that you're
00:50:18.539 --> 00:50:21.809
Gazing right back at me.
00:50:21.809 --> 00:50:23.911
You are a god that never leaves, and that's patiently
00:50:23.911 --> 00:50:26.848
Waiting on our surrender.
00:50:26.848 --> 00:50:29.584
Lord, please let our successes look like surrender.
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We love you in jesus' name, amen.
00:50:34.589 --> 00:50:37.558
Amen.
00:50:37.558 --> 00:50:39.594
Connect with us on social media and let us know how our team
00:50:39.594 --> 00:50:42.430
Can pray for you.
00:50:42.430 --> 00:50:45.333
Join our conversations anytime, anywhere.
00:50:45.333 --> 00:50:48.136
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God's Definition of Success - Episode 1092

September 9, 2025 | S7 E1092 | 52:34

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