#077// How are you feeling about these times we're living in? Could you use some good news?  In this episode of the Positioned to Prosper podcast, I'm sharing a word I felt the Lord drop into my spirit a few weeks ago around a new season that He's walking His Church into right now. It's such a breath of fresh air, friend. I can't wait to share! But to get to the fullness of the word, I've got to share some things with you from a few encounters I've had with Him over the past two years. And these things involve some talk of the "last days," and end-times prophecy. Are you good to dig in with me on this topic?

And while we're talking end-times, can I ask you . . . Are you a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation believer when it comes to the timing of the rapture? Have you ever thought about this for yourself? In this episode we're going to begin to touch on this debate, and I'm planning to unpack this discussion a little more with you over the coming weeks here on the podcast. But for this week, I'm laying a bit of a scriptural foundation for our future discussion, and then releasing this word of absolute hope that the Lord gave to me to share with you. It's going to be so good!

So are you ready to jump in? If so, I want you to grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

To join the four-week study I mention in the episode intro called -- The Tenacious Girl's Guide to Breakthrough: A Map for Navigating the Journey of Audacious Faith with God, click here. We start April 18th, so get registered ASAP!

#076// Why do we resist the plan of God for our lives? Many times we'll say we haven't heard clearly or we just don't know what it is. But what if we do know, and we're really just saying, “But not like that”? In this episode of the Positioned to Prosper podcast I'm sharing a message that I recently shared at a REVIVE Woman Girls Night Out called, Vantage Point. Not all perspectives are the same. A vantage point is a higher, more comprehensive perspective, and it's the sort of sight line that God has for our lives. What if we could get to where He is and see it from His perspective?

The good news is, We Can! But it's a choice, and you'll have to push past some subpar perspectives to get there. So, why is it that we don't consistently choose to do this, choosing instead to stay married to lesser perspectives and strategies with lesser outcomes? That's what we're talking about in this week's episode. If you're ready to dig into what's been keeping you stuck in subpar outcomes while saying to the Lord, “Yes, I need help, but not like that,” then I want you to grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

To join the 4-week pre-conference study called — The Tenacious Girl's Guide to Breakthrough: A Map for Navigating the Journey of Audacious Faith with God, click here. Register for the 2022 REVIVE Woman Conference and you'll receive the study as an upgrade on either an in-person or online ticket. We start April 18th, so get registered ASAP!

#075// "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

When you are in need of something, is your first thought, "I need to pour out right now"? Why not? If Jesus' words as recorded in Luke 6:38 are true, then giving will put you in a position for receiving. Why, then, when a deep need is felt, do most people go directly to figuring and effort, striving and maybe even a little scheming? Why don't we take Jesus at His word?

There is power in pouring out, even when you think your cup is empty. If you're in Christ, you are always attached to a reservoir that never runs dry; a well that will always be ready to be drawn from and poured out. So, how do we override that knee-jerk reaction we have to conserve (and even to consume what may not be ours) when we sense a need or lack? How do we make the faith-filled choice to pour out in order to receive?

That's what we're getting into on this week's episode of the Positioned to Prosper podcast. So I want you to grab yourself a cozy cup of something soothing, and let's have a chat about how pouring out in the midst of need isn't just the most righteous choice you can make, it's also the most powerful. Don't forget your Bible, your journal and a pen, friend. Let's Go!

To join me inside The Jesus Girl Gang online women's discipleship group, go here: jesusgirlgang.com/membership.

#074// Hypervigilance and Hyper-Responsibility aren't gifts to be celebrated. They're curses to be broken.

“I've always had to take care of myself.” “If I want it done right, I have to do it myself.” “I learned from a very young age how to be self-sufficient. I don't need anyone.” “There's no one coming to help me, so I better figure this out on my own.” These are the sounds of a life tied to hypervigilance.

God designed us to be fully reliant on Him. But if we've had a life where it hasn't been easy (or maybe even possible) to rely on others for our provision, our protection or our nurturing, we may have picked up the coping mechanisms of hypervigilance and hyper-responsibility along the way. Over time, these strategies will betray us, and we'll wind up missing out on a lot of the good God has for us. It's time to find out what better things God has for us instead.

In this episode we'll be looking at how hypervigilance and hyper-responsibility take hold, why they really are detrimental to us in the long run, and the three things we can do to break the curse of hypervigilance to trust God and step into real freedom. Grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

#073//  We talk about the dos and don'ts of discipleship all the time, but what about the *heart* of discipleship? In this episode of the Positioned to Prosper podcast, Erica is sharing a message she preached recently at her home church, REVIVE Church of Tampa, about the heart we should have when we disciple people.

Many try to approach discipleship like corporate business training with a litany of 101, 201 and 301 classes designed to "qualify" a person for service in the house of God. But real discipleship requires real relationship. The best discipleship happens in a family context and looks like apprenticeship. Is this the sort of discipleship you are experiencing?

We'll be looking at six different qualities of the heart of God that we definitely must embrace as we seek to train up disciples to follow Christ and obey his commands. Are you ready to jump in? Then grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

#072// The process of deconstructing faith is not new, but it's seducing a new generation with its siren song. Over the past two years I've seen and heard a considerable uptick in conversations about deconstructing faith. Deconstruction of faith is the process of questioning, doubting and ultimately rejecting certain aspects of one's faith. In embracing the process of deconstruction, one is wooed into believing that the meanings of the ideas, beliefs and principles of the faith are subjective. That somehow the foundational tenets of faith are “up for debate.”

On this episode of the Positioned to Prosper podcast we're covering why the practice of deconstructing faith is so dangerous, what Biblical process deconstruction is actually counterfeiting, and why one might embrace the process of deconstruction without knowing the dangers. I'll also be giving five steps to follow to avoid falling into this deconstruction trap that will help you to preserve your faith the way God tells you to in His Word. Are you ready for this, my friend? Then grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

To join the conversation around this episode topic, join me here.

#071// There have been times when I've said I was content, but -- really -- I was apathetic. Have you ever been there? Someone asks you about a situation or a relationship, and you realize you aren't triggered or overly emotional about it anymore. Maybe you think to yourself, "Wow. I feel nothing about this. This is good." Perhaps, like I did, you conclude: "This is contentment." But deep down inside something isn't sitting right. And the more you think about it, those feelings start to back up bubble again, so you push them back down and keep on moving.

That's not contentment, friend. That's apathy -- a cerebral position of indifference born out of a desire to disconnect from the source of pain and/or discomfort. Apathy is a tricky coping mechanism; one that will keep you disconnected from real relationships and even from healing. Apathy will keep robbing from you as it keeps you unaware there is a better way to find joy in the midst of the most difficult of situations.

On this episode of The Positioned to Prosper podcast, we're digging into the difference between real contentment and its counterfeit -- apathy -- and discussing what it takes to turn down apathy in favor of learning how to be truly content in any circumstance. Are you ready? Then grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

To join us inside the REVIVE Woman Community for a deeper discussion on discipleship and authentic relationship, visit us here: revivewoman.org/community. We have a discipleship night event coming up on Monday, February 21st at 7pm ET that will be streaming inside our community. Join the conversation and let's get real about discipleship. *replay available after the original air date

#070// Discipleship is NOT Mentorship. The primary function of discipleship is not to be trained up in your specific calling or gifting. Discipleship, in its simplest sense, is training in how to follow Jesus with clean hands and a pure heart, no matter your gifting or calling. Discipleship is about developing heart and character.

Think of a parent and a child. Even though the parent may not have the same giftings and talents as the child, the parent is still responsible to teach that child how to live life before God, properly and effectively. Consider if that child decided to think that the parent was trying to rob them of something, or if they thought the parent wasn’t *sufficient enough* in certain skill sets to train them up. What a mess, right?

We have an opportunity to pioneer real discipleship within the Church in this season. This kind of discipleship is not something new. It’s a return to what discipleship was always intended to be, according to Jesus' commissioning when he said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20) . Jesus commanded us to teach people to follow Him, without reference to their level of gifting, calling or skill sets. Following Jesus well comes first. Training in how to steward one's gifts, talents and skill sets comes second.

You need solid discipleship before you need a mentor. You don’t want to confuse getting fat on mentorship with being discipled well. So if you're ready to press into this discussion around why you want discipleship first -- and what you really need next instead of mentorship -- grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

You can find the show notes at ericapyle.com/70. Hop into the REVIVE Woman Community I mention in the episode by heading to revivewoman.org/community.

#069// What do you think about the holistic approach to health?  How about when you compare it to the modern, "western" approach to health care we've become standardized to these days? And let me ask you this . . .

If you're a Christian -- a follower of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit -- which do you believe is more aligned with Scripture and the will of God as an approach to healing and stewarding health well?

Uh-oh! Did I press a button? For many, I know that I'm most certainly pressing a button. I've spent the last seven years as a certified, holistic health coach and teacher of God's word really digging into this conflict between the two approaches as I've observed the conversation (or the lack of conversation) inside the Church. I've also spent lots of time digging into the Bible to see what God's word has to say about how to approach the practical aspects of healing and stewarding health. So where did I come out on this question myself?

That's exactly what we're getting into on this episode of The Positioned to Prosper podcast. If you're willing to wade into these waters with me, let's start lining up these options with what the Bible says as we endeavor to see if we can find the Holy in the midst of the holistic health approach. So, go grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

You can find the show notes for this episode where scripture references are listed here: ericapyle.com/69.

#068// Do you see yourself as a Reformer? Do you have in your heart the desire to revive, to rebuild and/or to restore culture -- both inside the Church and without -- to the Standard that God gave to us from the beginning? Do you want to be a part of bringing the Kingdom to earth in a real way? If so, you've got the heart of a Reformer.

Over the past few decades it's been all about revival in the Church. Now, don't get me wrong, revival is very important to the Church, and to reformation. Without revival -- the stoking and the keeping of the fire of God on the altar of our hearts as we share this with others along the way -- reformation, or a return to the holy and righteous Standard of God for his people, wouldn't be possible. You need the firm Foundation of Jesus and the Holy Spirit fire on the altar of your heart in order to pioneer with the plan of reformation for the Church in this generation. But now is the time of the Reformer.

In this episode I'll be sharing with you the stages of revival that lead to reformation and I'll show you the pattern as displayed in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah. I'll also outline the three things you *must* do as a Reformer if you're going to carry out this mission of bringing powerful reformation to the Church (and beyond) in this season. Are you ready? If so, I want you to grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

p.s. -- If you'd like to join me inside The Jesus Girl Gang where you'll find a company of spirit-filled, pioneering reformer women making their sounds for Jesus and His Kingdom, head over to jesusgirlgang.com/membership.