The Village with B. DeShae

Good morning,

Throughout our journey through Proverbs, we have talked extensively about the importance of obeying God, seeking His wisdom, and listening to/following The Holy Spirit inside of us. I do not want to make the assumption that everyone feels comfortable and confident in their ability to hear and discern the voice of God, so I am sharing a method that has consistently worked for me. If you ARE comfortable and confident in your communication with God, but you feel like there has been some interference lately and you’re not hearing Him as clearly, this method can also help you quiet the outside noise and remove those barriers that are preventing you from hearing clearly what God is speaking to you.

While God can and does speak to us in many different ways, I chose to share this approach specifically because it is one that can help regardless of where you are in your relationship with God.

For this encounter, you will need:

* Candle(s) of choice

* Notebook, journal, or whatever you want to write on

* Something to write with

* (Optional, but encouraged) Physical bible. God may give you something that He wants you to go and read in His word that will help you to understand or that will give you some further context to what He is speaking.

From Purging to Listening

* Set aside some time that you are not in a rush — that you do not have to rush God — and where you don’t have anything time sensitive on the agenda to do soon afterwards.

* Set the atmosphere with some low candlelight in a dark room and worship music. Invite the presence and the Spirit of God to come, sit, and flow with you.

* My personal recommendation for worship is Fill the Room By Maverick City while you are praying and inviting in The Holy Spirit, followed by a low volume worship instrumental playlist for the rest of the time (here is the link to mine on Apple Music).

* Fill The Room on Apple Music

* Fill the Room on Youtube

* If you’re using your phone to play the music, I encourage you to have it on do not disturb and to have it away from you in the room so you cannot easily grab it. This is to help you remain focused and intentional in this time with God and so that you do not have any interference in hearing what He is speaking to you in the moment.

* Purge Write. Write everything that’s on your mind, everything you’ve been worrying about, all of the questions that you have for God, concerns, celebrations, dismays, feelings, ideas, desires — literally everything that comes to mind, write it until you have completely emptied yourself of everything that’s been running laps in your mind like it’s training for the Olympics.

* Give the floor to God. Pass the mic and let God speak and say what He wants and needs to say to you.

* Stay in this space, postured at the feet of God until He is done speaking.

This is just a guide to help you get started. Feel free to modify the plan and instructions as needed to best fit your current circumstances. As you continue to grow in intimacy with God, He will reveal to you the ways that He wants to communicate with you in every season and what that looks like in your personal relationship with Him, so don’t be startled when He switches things up on you. That’s a part of the process and a sign of growth.

Lastly, I highly recommend Priscilla Shirer’s book Discerning the Voice of God. It is a great tool and asset for believer’s to have in their arsenal and to revisit time and time again. I am about to read it again for the 4th time.

If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to talk out your experience, you can do so in the comments, by joining The Village Chat, or by emailing me directly at [email protected]. I will see y’all live tomorrow at 6:30a.m. CST.

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

Good morning y’all,

In this message, we are taking a pause from the book of Proverbs to take a look into the life and history of King Solomon — the author of Proverbs and the recipient of God’s greatest gift of wisdom. Through his story, we learn the importance of not just having wisdom, but applying it and allowing it to be our guide for sound judgment and decision-making in life.

More songs have been added to our worship playlist that align with the lessons we have learned over the last week. If you haven’t had a chance, give it a listen on Apple Music or Youtube. As a reminder, new songs will be added weekly as a reflection of our journey.

As we are taking a bit of a sacred pause today, I pray that you take some time to reflect on the lessons of the first 9 chapters and allow The Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you through the text.

I hope that your day is sunny side up…

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

Foundational Texts

Proverbs 3:13-18 (NKJV)

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬

“Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter.

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they s figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.”

Key Takeaways

* In order to receive the blessings and promises of God, we need to know what they are — they can be found in His word. What Peter gave this man was greater than money, and he was able to give it through the power and wisdom of The Holy Spirit. We have access to that some power inside of us, and when we use it, world’s change, atmospheres shift, and lives are altered for eternity.

* Spending intimate time with Jesus over the course of 3 years prepared Peter — and the other disciples — for a time such as this.

Intimate (Merriam-Webster)

1 a : marked by a warm friendship developing through long association

b : suggesting informal warmth or privacy

3 : marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity

4 a: INTRINSIC, ESSENTIAL

b : belonging to or characterizing one’s deepest nature

We can learn from the way the disciples spent time with Jesus: asking questions, seeking understanding, watching how He moved, how He handled situations, learning how He prayed, how He processed and navigated emotional moments — the list goes on. By employing these same tactics when we approach Him, we too can build an intimate relationship with Jesus and our Father in heaven, and become better equipped to wield the weapons of the Spirit and the power of The Holy Spirit within us.

While attending local church, watching sermons, and being in community is an essential part of the journey and relationship building, it’s not the only part. One on One time is vital as well, because we also learn from Judas that proximity alone does not lead to transformation and renewal. Spend your time wisely so that you can unleash the version of you that most resembles Christ.

* Intimacy with God will give you access to foresight. He will show you things ahead of time so that you can have a well-rounded perspective of people’s actions against you. God’s foresight will grant you the power to immediately pinpoint how the very thing they meant to harm you or go against you, He is already using for your good. They thought they were about to hurt, derail, and/or stop you — Judas and Pharisees — but little do they know, their actions/words are the very thing that’s activating the manifestation of God’s promise in your life. Having this perspective will help to guard you against bitterness and having to contend with a hardened heart. With that said, be discerning & wise about where they fit into your life based on their actions, but also move forward with a foundational knowing that God had you the entire time and you are right where you’re supposed to be.

* The only way to know and discern Jesus’ voice is by spending intimate time with Him. The same way that you can pinpoint the voice of a parent, spouse, child, or anyone else that you have a close, intimate relationship with, you’ll be able to pick Jesus’ voice out in a crowd regardless of who is speaking and what type of chaos is taking place. You will find that the more time you spend in His presence, the easier it becomes to discern which voice is advising you in any given moment so that you can move forward wisely and not be ensnared by temptations or false lights. Time needs to be set aside intentionally in which you are not rushing God or putting Him on a time clock, but simply dwelling and abiding in His presence. Remember, it’s HIS time, not yours — don’t try to control the flow of the conversation or govern how the time is spent. Just be still and receive.

* There will be moments in time along your journey in which you get to recognize the growth and transformation within yourself that you have experienced through your relationship with God and consistently dwelling in His presence. You may notice that a particular trigger is no longer generating the same response as before, you’re slower to react to things and you now take a sacred pause to consult The Holy Spirit before you respond, you have peace in places that used to give you nothing but turmoil, good habits that you had to work/think hard to maintain now come with ease, old habits that you had to struggle to avoid you now hardly think about, once again…the list is endless. Those moments are BEAUTIFUL and should not be skipped over without receiving the proper acknowledgment and praise first. Celebrate the wins as often as they come, for that will provide some of the fuel you need to keep moving forward.

* God will provide for you exceedingly and abundantly more than what you can fathom. Don’t be dismayed if His answers aren’t aligning exactly with what you asked for, because what He ultimately gives will be even better. Also, don’t look at the blessings and gifts of others and feel as though you’re missing out on something because yours doesn’t look like the same standard issue that everyone else got. God will never forsake you, so if yours is different, it’s for a reason that goes far beyond what you can see right now. But as God reveals the plan, you will be grateful and see just how much love and care went into what you received.

* Don’t measure your worth by your bank account or the money you have available to give to others. God wants you to use you as a blessing far beyond what money can give. By the same token, don’t disregard people based on their bank account for the same reasons. Discernment and wisdom are key, also, your character should be such that you treat everyone well regardless of status and money.

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭(WEBUS‬‬)

“My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality. For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in, and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool” haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts? Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?”

* In addition to your yes, God requires your participation.

Thank you for visiting The Village, and I hope that you continue to commune with us as we journey through the book of Proverbs. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, there’s a worship playlist that aligns with the lessons we have learned thus far on our journey, with more songs being added weekly.

Apple Music Youtube

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

Foundational Texts

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.””

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭5‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,”

Key Takeaways

* The wisdom of God entails letting go of your perfectly laid plans and visions to follow the path that He is laying out before you. It may be messy, it won’t be as carefully curated as you hoped for, but it will be intentional and provide you with everything that you didn’t realize you needed.

* New wine into new wine skins— this is a metaphor that portrays the fact that The Holy Spirit (new wine) cannot be poured into and contained in your old body, mind, heart, and flesh (old wineskins). You have to allow God to transform you into the version of you that is more like Christ. When we embark on this journey of obtaining biblical wisdom, knowledge, understanding, etc., that is part of the transformation process.

* God doesn’t just give us the thing/blessing/promise, we have to go through the process of refinement to ensure that we are capable of and ready to properly hold, steward, and sustain the blessings, promises, and anointing of God. He will not set you up for failure, meaning, He will not give you what you have not allowed Him to prepare you to hold.

* The word of God — the entire bible— is not to be read out of context of itself. God is not contradictory and He does not lie. If He said it, then it’s true now as it was then. So if you feel confused about something in the text or you feel as though one scripture is contradicting another, seek the counsel of The Holy Spirit and bring your questions to Him — He will lead you to the answers and revelation you need to better understand how these two truths exist simultaneously. The answer can come by way of conversation with someone else, a sermon, a video or message, a book, a dream, a memory, etc. The point is, when you ask, stay diligent in looking for the answer. You may receive a seemingly random instruction or direction from The Holy Spirit that will lead you to where you need to be to receive the answer.

* Beware of misguided teachings that tell the truth, but not the FULL truth of God, often leading to frustration and disappointment with God that is rooted in the words of man.

* God is the blueprint of parenting. God is love and love is God. So we should have that foundational truth when we evaluate what God is doing in our lives and how He is moving, we should remember that everything our Father does is rooted in His love for us, His desire to commune and be in relationship with us. He wants to protect us, He wants to give us everything that we need, He wants to fulfill our desires, He wants to be the one that we turn to for everything because He can literally give us everything. He wants to be a place of refuge for us, He wants to be the place that we reside and call home, He wants us to feel the love that He has for us regardless of what we are going through. To know God is to know that He loves you, so we should approach life KNOWING this and allowing our actions and words to reflect it.

* God cares about our feelings, but not more than our lives. Feel what you feel, but do it in His presence. Bare your full truth before your Father. He can handle your hurt, your anger, your disappointment, your frustration, your heartbreak [“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)] so bring it all to Him and allow Him to help you process it. We should not be lead and controlled by our emotions. Do not allow the enemy to use them as a gateway to move you further away from God. Be completely open and vulnerable with Him so that He can provide you with everything that you need to get through the moment.

* Biblical Context of Chastening/Discipline — this is also another reminder to look into the original Hebrew and Greek words used in the bible and to also look up the definitions of the english words as you study.

Chasten (Merriam-Webster’s)

2

a : to prune (something, such as a work or style of art) of excess, pretense, or falsity : REFINE

b : to cause to be more humble or restrained : SUBDUE

He was chastened by his team’s defeat.

* Don’t mistake familiarity for wisdom (v. 5-8). Even when circumstances or situations feel familiar, don’t think you know exactly what to do and how to navigate this, because God is doing a new thing. Seek His counsel and wisdom before you move or make a decision so that you do not cause unnecessary delay. Also, don’t allow the fear or trauma of what you’ve experienced before to produce stagnancy because you’re afraid of being hurt again.

* “When it’s God’s will, it’s His bill. When it’s your way, you pay!” -Bishop Samuel Blakes

Thank you for watching/reading, I hope this lesson was able to touch you right where you need it. Below are links to the multi-translation parallel bible that I mentioned as well as the Blue Letter Bible App that provides access to the original Greek and Hebrew words & their definitions for better context when studying the bible.

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

Four Translation Parallel Bible

The Blue Letter Bible App

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

Sorry Guys, I’m not sure what happened, but there is a 10-15 second window in the middle in which no audio recorded, not even on my backup copy. I was talking about kingdom community and intentionally asking God to bring you the right people for you to commune and do life with.

Foundational Texts

Proverbs 1 (NKJV)

The Beginning of Knowledge ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭(‬:‭1‬-‭7‬)

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Shun Evil Counsel (‬:‭8‬-‭19)

“My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”— My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.”

The Call of Wisdom (:‭20‬-‭33‬)

“Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.””

Key Takeaways

* Community matters. Do not allow yourself to be led and fueled by the crowd — you must have your own moral compass and that compass should be calibrated by Jesus. Peer pressure and guilt by association can lead you away from what is right and just in God’s eyes. “Show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are”. When you are consistently with and around people who are not rooted in God, you will eventually be influenced by them and start to look and act like who you are around. This doesn’t mean that God will not use you in places that don’t yet know Him; however, that should not be your inner circle and primary community. The goal is to make sure that you are rooted, grounded, and abiding in the right place.

Recovering addicts are encouraged to hang out around different people and different environments, not the same people they got high with nor the same places they used to get high. The same principle is at work here, willpower alone is not enough. Eventually, they will be influenced and enticed by those people/places and end up right back where they started.

* In each season, we are simultaneously learning, relating, and teaching. Reach up, reach laterally, and reach back.

* As you are seeking God’s wisdom and being transformed by Him, your habits and your relationships will be transformed as well. There will be people who try to shame you for your growth, make it seem as though you’re acting like you’re better than them, etc. — you have to ignore the outside noise and continue forward on the path that God has set forth before you. People who are upset by you working to better your life are not meant to grow and go with you into the next level. If you lose friendships, family ties, or connections because you have chosen relationship, intimacy with, and obedience to God, He will not let you go without. He will fill that void and bring you people who help you grow closer to Him instead of away from Him. He will bring you people that pray both with and for you, people whose love for you is not conditional nor based on what you can do for them — just trust in Him, continue walking it out, and watch how every aspect of your life evolves and develops beyond your imagination.

* God’s wisdom is readily available to us, we simply have to seek and receive it. Ignorance is not bliss in the kingdom of God.

* What you build without the wisdom and guidance of God, you are responsible for sustaining on your own. That means, when calamity comes, you will have to bear the consequences of your actions & decisions. That doesn’t mean that God is not ready to provide you with grace, mercy, and forgiveness if you turn to Him with a repentant heart, because those things He gives willingly — not because of who we are but because of who HE is. However, there are some storms that you will have to weather in order for what you built without Him to be dismantled so that you can begin to rebuild anew under the instruction of His care.

* God does not expect perfection, He expects obedience. When you are walking with Him, earnestly and consistently seeking Him, He will let you know if you misunderstood something, made a mistake, or turned in a wrong direction. God will help you to reroute and you will catch these things swiftly because you are constantly abiding in His presence. The path with God still has it’s obstacles, difficulties, pains, and hardships; however, the difference is that these battles are not yours to fight, you don’t bear the brunt of the responsibility, you don’t have to figure things out on your own, and your victory was declared long before the battle revealed itself. You just have to keep the faith and keep your eyes on God, allowing Him to work everything out for your good just as He said He would.

* When obstacles come your way, trust in the word that God gave you, instead of giving all of your attention to the problem. The solution, the provision, and everything else you need lies in your obedience.

* Those who intentionally operate with the motives to cause harm to others are blatantly laying a trap for themselves that they cannot see. What they have laid in wait for someone else will turn back to them — we see this in 2 notable incidents in the bible, Haman & Mordecai and Daniel & the governors/satraps:

‭‭Esther‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ (‭NKJV)‬‬

“Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬-‭28‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

“Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

* Be careful who you endorse and who you put your name behind — operate with Godly wisdom in this and allow God to lead and guide you when it comes to who to do business with, who to promote, etc. Allow God to guide you based on what He knows about the heart of people so that you are not deceived by outward appearances.

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬

“When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

* Be still and wait. Keep being obedient to what God has instructed you for this season. There may be some things you need to experience, people you need to meet/talk to, etc. in order for the answer God has released to make sense, so just continue to walk it out with Him until you are properly positioned to receive the answer that God has for you. Don’t be dismayed by not yets or perceived delays.

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

Good morning y’all.

Honestly, the key takeaway of this message is in the title — there is wisdom in worship because worship is powerful enough to shift atmospheres, rewire your mind, dispel negative thoughts.

I don’t want to write too much here, because I want you to spend sometime in the presence of God simply worshipping. As promised, I have created a playlist with worship songs that align with what we have been exposed to in these first few chapters of Proverbs. Each week, I will add more songs to the playlists so that we can continue to build as we journey.

The Apple Music & Youtube playlists are the same, I just wanted to provide options for those who may not have Apple Music.

Apple Music Youtube

If you would like for me to include Spotify in the list of options as well, please let me know and I will do so.

Happy Listening, and I pray that the Spirit of God continues to wash over you and move through you as you endeavor to grow closer in intimacy with your Father.

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

See y’all tomorrow morning at 6:30a.m. CST.

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Foundational Texts

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths; To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words, Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead; None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life— So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness. For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.”

Key Takeaways

* We should be earnestly seeking the kingdom of God. Some of those things include wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding. This requires consistent time dwelling in the presence of God. When you follow this blueprint, God will provide for you everything that you need — even things you don’t realize you need. Place Him first and foremost as the priority in your life and watch how everything around you not only transforms, but elevates.

* The principles of praying without ceasing. Spend time with God in your secret place, but then take Him with you out of this space. Invite God into the mundane, routine tasks of your day, and you will increase your awareness of His presence and ability to discern and sense Him around you at all times. Praying without ceasing leads to protection. Literally, abide in God’s presence at all times. Start off with small, simple things — God can do a lot with your little.

* When you build up your faith and trust in God through the small things, it makes it that much easier to trust in Him for the big thing(s) because you have this long and solid precedence of how He has showed up for you previously [See David & Goliath | 1 Samuel 17]. Where you are now is training ground for the future, even when it looks nothing like the promise, vision, and/or anointing that God has revealed to you about your life. One of the greatest and most transformative experiences of your life will be when you come to the realization for yourself that there is absolutely no aspect of your life that God does not care about and that He doesn’t want to be a part of.

* Even with words that are familiar, look up the definition — this will unlock key understanding and revelation in the text. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in this endeavor, otherwise it can become counterproductive. If there’s a particular word that stands out to you, a word that is repeated multiple times within the passage you’re studying, and/or you have this urge that you just can’t get past, that is The Holy Spirit urging you to go deeper. Reading the AMP version can help with this as well, which leads me to my next point:

* Read God’s word in multiple translations. Reading the same text in multiple translations can help to reveal key context, insight, and understanding. A slight difference in phrasing and/or word usage can be just the thing you need to ignite that lightbulb in a text that had you stumped. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask God, ask your community, but don’t stay stuck on an island by yourself.

* God created us to be in community, but make sure you allow Him to provide said community. Also, seek God FIRST before you talk to others. He will help you stop the outside noise from coming in the first place so you don’t have to worry about trying to turn it down. When you allow God to guide you on who to talk to about what, you will receive answers to things that you haven’t even voiced out loud to that person yet — that is a sign that they are being led by the Spirit to be a messenger on God’s behalf. I feel like this is a great space and opportunity to suggest Priscilla Shirer’s Book Discerning the Voice of God. It was a great aid for me early in my journey and I have reread it twice since then to refresh and see how my communication with God has evolved.

* Let God be your blueprint, not people. If you rely on your own understanding, it will be too late by the time you recognize that they are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. God’s wisdom and discernment will help you to identify when you are in the presence of people who are willfully choosing to disobey and walk in opposition of Him.

* Consistent heart checks will keep you in alignment. I sometimes ask God to do a “root-cause-analysis” on me or to give me a “full body tune-up” just to check-in and make sure there’s nothing lurking that I’ve missed, check for any wounds that need tending to, ensure that my heart is still postured towards Him, and that I am in alignment with His will. I ask Him to completely dispel my taste/appetite for any desires that did not come from Him. I ask God to reroute me if I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere and I’m no longer on the path that He paved. Don’t assume that no opposition means alignment and don’t think that obstacles mean you heard God wrong. To be fair, it’s usually the opposite. Satan doesn’t oppose what he has no reason to feel threatened by. But it’s always good to check-in with God and be sure because the opposition you’re facing could also be Him getting your attention so you can pivot and reroute — hence the root-cause-analysis.

* Don’t put a comma where God put a period. When God is done speaking, don’t continue the conversation to yourself unilaterally. He does not need you to add on to His plan, problem solve, or work things out. All God asks for is your obedience and your faith in Him to do exactly what He said He would do.

As the text begins to ramp up and we grow deeper into biblical wisdom and the practicality of applying it to everyday life, we will slow down a bit and I will break the chapters down into more than one session as led by The Holy Spirit. Once again, the main objective of this journey is true transformation and renewal, not just reaching the finish line.

If you have any questions, insights, or personal accounts that you want to add, do not hesitate to join the discussion. I look forward to continued communion with y’all as we grow together, while growing deeper.

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

Foundational Text

Proverbs 1:1-7 (NKJV)

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ (Solomon’s Request for Wisdom)

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.”

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ (Solomon’s heart turns from God)

“But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.” Now the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom.”

Series Objectives

Before we deep dive into the chapters and verses of Proverbs, we want to understand the writer, the times, and the historical context surrounding the book so that we have a solid foundation, preparing us to better understand and receive the wisdom within.

Also, approaching the start of the series this way:

* Teaches us to slow down and truly ingest the word when studying the bible instead of subconsciously just trying to check something off the bible reading to do list, reach a goal, or complete a challenge.

* Teaches us how to study the bible & retain the lessons.

* Opens up the door to receive new revelation, understanding, and closeness with God.

* Creates the pathway for not just “knowing” the word of God but being able to apply it practically, daily.

Our overarching goal as we journey through the book of Proverbs is transformation and renewing of the mind. I want to help you answer the questions — according to God— “What is Wisdom?” and “What is foolishness/folly?”. By the end of this journey, the word of God will begin to imprint on our hearts and minds. Lastly, I want everyone to know more concretely how God & The Holy Spirit speaks back to them and deepen their ability to discern the voice of God and distinguish it from others.

Key Takeaways

* Receiving/having wisdom is not enough — it has to be utilized and applied. Wisdom requires acceptance of the fact that you are being called higher to reflect Christ and must relinquish desires, thoughts, and ways that reflect the world. This is not always easy, but it is necessary to ensure you are not ensnared by the false light of folly. We can see from the life of King Solomon that having wisdom alone is not enough, one must also have the discipline and discernment to apply it — to trust in God and know that His plan is best regardless of what is happening around us. Only with the guidance of The Holy Spirit are we able to navigate life applying these principles.

* Approach this study of wisdom with the correct heart posture — fear and reverence of God with the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We can only get to the Father (God) through the Son (Jesus) and His Spirit is our advocate and guide. Wisdom comes from God, Jesus embodies wisdom, and the Spirit helps us to discern, navigate, and apply the lessons.

* Ask more probing questions. The depth and quality of your questions to God on this journey will determine the depth of your revelation and the level of transformation you experience. When you don’t know what to ask or what to say, ask God — literally — what questions you need to ask Him to receive the wisdom, answers, and understanding He wants to give you. He WILL respond. Your journal will be one of your best friends in this season — whether you choose to write, type, voice memo, video record, or all of the above — be sure to write down the revelation [Habakkuk 2:2]. Keep record of your questions, your prayers, your experiences, your dreams, your perceived answers from God, etc. They will serve as a blueprint and tool not only for the season that you’re in now, but for a time yet to come. God is going to give you everything that you need and you won’t realize the true depth of those words until years from now, but this is the beginning of something new and I’m grateful to be a part of this journey with you 🫶🏾.

* As we go through these verses, remember to read with the context that wisdom and folly are personified as women. This will make more sense as we go along, and I will reiterate this point several times in the chapters to come.

* Take every thought captive — “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we takive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” [‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬]. Don’t let any thoughts go unchecked in this season.

God is love and love is God. Allow the love of your Father to wash over you in this season and shine through you as you learn to recalibrate your life and live with Him as the firm foundation on which you stand. Invite God into your heart, and allow Him to lead in every aspect of your life. This isn’t just about your spiritual journey and relationship with God, it’s about breaking down the walls that have compartmentalized and kept a part every other aspect of your life from His control. Welcome to the journey of living life more abundantly.

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

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Foundational Texts

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.””

Key Takeaways

* Present your body as a living sacrifice to God. This requires death to self in order to gain Eternal Life in Christ. Surrender. The process, the fall, the letting go, it can seem scary and like you are literally falling to your death — that’s because in many ways you are. The old version of you has to die so that the version of you who God has always known can take precedence and you can exist in the fullness of your truth. . When you let go of the life, dreams, and goals that you’ve spent majority of your existence planning for, praying for, and cultivating, this too can feel like death — once again, it is. It is death to your flesh so that the Spirit of God in you can reign supreme and lead you to life more abundantly. You have to trust in God your Father enough to know that He is waiting for you at the other end of your release, ready to breathe new life into you. So yes, the letting go is scary, but what’s even more terrifying is building a life that is not rooted with God at the foundation and Jesus as your cornerstone.

* Conviction vs. Condemnation. When The Holy Spirit convicts you, He doesn’t just identify the problem and leave you to wallow in guilt and shame with no course of correction or road to redemption. God’s conviction is always rooted in love and it is framed by His desire to see all of His children transformed into Christlikeness. To call you guilty would be to contradict His word, and our God is not contradictory. To condemn you would mean that the sacrifice of Jesus is incomplete, and that’s not true. So when God convicts, He also provides you with the way to righteousness. He lovingly shows you the correct way to do things or to handle that situation so that you don’t make the same mistake again. Furthermore, He shines His light on the dark corners of your heart and mind where the root of the trauma, pain, or whatever is causing that response in you resides so that you can be healed, freed, and released from the stronghold that was keeping you in that cycle of sin.

Condemnation is Satan’s attempt to keep you from receiving God’s loving grace, mercy, forgiveness, and healing. If he can get you to persecute yourself and feel so guilty about your actions that you’re afraid to turn to God for help, then He can keep you from growing closer in relationship with God and learning to wield the powers inside of you that he can never defeat. Condemnation is just an onslaught attack of every wrong you’ve ever done. He’ll take this one mistake and use it to make you feel as though you’re the worse kind of person and that God is angry with you. There’s no path for redemption, just repetitive memories of your mistakes, low moments, regret, shame, etc. That is not God. Your Father does not speak to you that way and He does not keep a record of your wrong doings.

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)“It [love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Psalm 103:12“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Hebrews 8:12“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Isaiah 43:25“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions… and remembers your sins no more.”

* With that being said, be sure to always seek God’s help to get to the root of an action or problem. God helped me to see that root cause of my frenzy/frantic actions was control. When God reveals something to you, don’t just take that and move on, ask Him more probing questions so that He can help you work it out. By getting a handle on the issue of control and the past experiences that made it feel like the best option, I was able to heal another part of me and surrender even more to God. This is not a one-time process. As soon as I think I’ve surrendered everything there is to surrender, God reveals to me that there are still some parts of me that I’m holding hostage from Him. Together we work on my release so that I can bask in the freedom and peace that residing in Him provides. You will learn from experience that the free fall that looks scary is really surrender into Gods peace and protection. He will not let you fail. Perfectionism can also be at the root of control.

* Failure vs. The Process of Refinement. It’s always important to ask God for His perspective of the season or circumstance you’re in. One of the first times I did this, God revealed to me that what I kept calling failure was His process of refinement. My pathway to ministry is a perfect example of this. There were several periods of starting and stopping over the course of the last 3 years in which I would post consistently in obedience to God, and then obediently stop when He told me to as well. The long pauses in between made me feel as though I was failing — God’s perspective showed me that with each new start, my process became more refined based on what I’d experienced previously. I was becoming more aware of who He created me to be and getting more comfortable unleashing my voice. Experience allowed me to discern what works for me, what doesn’t work for me, what the resources/provisions are that I need, how to build a system that helps me sustain my calling, etc. God’s ways are not our ways, and His process is not always linear. So as you walk with Him, ask Him to show you things through His eyes so that you are not calling a season something completely different than what He is. This will help stave off frustration and disappointment, while keeping you aligned with God’s will instead of your own.

* Do not mistake God’s instruction to let go as spiritual warfare from the enemy. By no means am I implying that spiritual warfare is not real — in fact, my point is quite the opposite. BECAUSE spiritual warfare is something that we as Christians will encounter time and time again, it is easy to mistake every instance of friction, delay, and/or resistance as warfare. Sometimes, the answer is much more simple — God is telling you no. If not no, He is redirecting you or slowing you down. If you do not make it a practice to constantly seek God’s counsel and wisdom, then you will find yourself rebuking Satan for something God has sent to protect you. Don’t just pray about the issue and walk away, be still and wait to hear God’s response so that you can move in alignment with Him and not in opposition to Him.

Thank you for watching and reading. I look forward to growing with you on this journey of doing life with God in every moment of everyday.

I love you, I pray that you love you, & just know that God loves you right up to the moon and back ✨🤎

To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I do not put any of my writings or videos behind a paywall, so becoming a paid subscriber is simply a means of supporting my ministry that is always accessible to all.

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