Abide

Abide

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 6 Comments

No other passage has stuck out to me more, this past week, than John 15: 1 -17. At its core, John 15 highlights the importance of being in step with God, instead of  moving in our own time and own way. Jesus tells us that in order to bear fruit, we must abide in Him. If we are apart from Him, attempting to do life by ourselves, we might as well throw in the towel. There’s no hope! If we’re being honest, the message sounds a little harsh. It appears as though Jesus isn’t merciful and patient towards us. He, in fact, compares us to a branch burned in the fire, deemed useless (verse 6), if we operate in our own knowledge and strength. Doesn’t He understand that we are only human? We can’t always get it right. That truth about our humanity, however, is exactly what makes this passage beautiful.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Verse 8)

Jesus understands our humanity. He was flesh himself. This is exactly why He’s stressing the point of abiding. It isn’t that He is intolerant to our stubbornness and pride (the way His grace and mercy are set up!), but He knows what His father’s business is. He knows what His father purposed for us. Why waste time wandering through life when you can be a full fledged disciple? Why waste time flexing your flawed pride when you can walk in the power and glory of God? Why waste time trying to make things happen for yourself, by yourself, when you can ask for anything in His name and it will be done for you (verse 7)? This passage, then, is not meant to condemn you, but to empower you.

Jesus’ message on abiding is a call to stop playing games. We can only rule our own lives for so long before we crash. It serves us no benefit. In fact, it does nothing more than push us backwards, delaying the maturation of our fruit. We all want joy, peace, favor, and guidance. We all seek blessings, influence, and His endorsement. That’s exactly what our fruit is. That is what it should be. That’s what He is trying to produce in us.

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (verses 10 & 11).

Abiding isn’t easy, especially when you don’t want to let up on the reins of your life. The silver lining is that God is patient, kind, and loving. If He wasn’t, He would not have given us this warning. He wants us to be His disciples, growing, getting pruned, and growing some more. It’s hard work. It’s sacrifice. It’s  admitting your own defeat. It’s  dying to self. It’s  realizing that all the effort you put in, on your own, didn’t hold a candle up to what God could do. It’s release. It’s surrender. It’s  peace. It’s His love.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (verse 16)

Stop fighting Him. Surrender and let Him begin the pruning process in your life. Release your control and watch Him perform miracles that you could not have imagined. It starts with realizing that you can’t do it alone. It starts with realizing that you, indeed, are not God. It starts with understanding that God’s desire to have His hand over your life is not to control you and mess up your plans, but instead to transform your life, open your eyes to greater, and to have you become the disciple He destined for you to be.

 

Start abiding, twentysomethings!

Are You Willing?

Are You Willing?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 1 Comment

As I reflect over this year, one word that best encapsulates 2017 is stretch. As I’ve mentioned, countless times in this blog, this was definitely a season of pruning and self evaluation. I became more aware of my flaws, my fears, and my ego. More importantly however, I discovered the ultimate drive I had to find God’s best for me. God challenged me to stretch in order to find Him, to believe Him, to obey Him, and ultimately, to love Him. When I think about stretching, the word will automatically follows. There was definitely a battle between God’s will and my will this year. The test of 2017 was finding out whose will would come out on top.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

It amazes me, looking back, how this one scripture caused so much struggle for me. This scripture plainly highlights God’s love for us. God doesn’t beat around the bush in declaring that He wants the best for His children. He tells us that He will see us through life so that His promises will be proven true. Despite God’s bluntness, we (or just me lol) second guess Him. We are waiting for the trick, the gag, and the weariness hidden within the promise. We can’t take Him at His word because we are too busy looking for the “what if”. Though God never said everything would be easy and worry free, He did say we’d be prosperous and have peace. If we could just push our doubt and control issues out of the way, we could see the fullness of God’s work.

Think about when we try to prove that we’re smarter than our parents. Often, it doesn’t take very long before we hear that “I told you so” from them. Our relationship with God often follows that same model. Our parents tell us things because they’ve lived it already and don’t  want us to make the same mistakes. Similarly, God tells us to stay in line with Him because He is the beginning and the end. God knows it all, has seen it all, and isn’t surprised by anything. Standing on THAT means regardless of whether things are difficult or aren’t enjoyable, if God led us there, we’ll make it through just fine. (Deuteronomy 31:8). The question, therefore, isn’t whether or not God and His word are reliable, but rather if we are willing to put His word before our own logic?

As this new year inches closer, I challenge you to take concrete steps to trust God and His promises for You. If you’re led to do something, especially something difficult, push through and tackle it. There’s healing, blessing, and increased favor through the process and evermore. When your will wants to take charge and find reasons why you can’t do something, put your own will in check. Tell your will about what God said and what He promised to do for and through you. Actively choose God’s will everyday and watch how you continue to blossom into the fullness of who you really are. Remember that God’s foundation is solid and it can be trusted, no matter what. Are you willing to let Him work in His time and His way to see the fullness of His promises? Even if it’s hard? Even if it’s annoying? Even if it messes up your plans and timetable? I hope you’ll be willing to say yes!

New Year, New You, twenty somethings 💜

Nevertheless

Nevertheless

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 2 Comments

Nevertheless: in spite of that; all the same; notwithstanding (Oxford Dictionary)

 

As we began to push out from the gate, in route to see family for Thanksgiving, the pilot informed us that we were going to be delayed due to weather conditions. Instead of  letting us wait inside the airport, we had to sit on the airplane, for an hour, before being cleared to fly. As expected, many passengers became irritated as they complained about the inconvenience.  Just as the pilot promised however, after the hour passed, we began the preparation to take off once again. This time successful, a beautiful scene of mountains and bright sunshine welcomed us as we flew upwards towards the sky. Though the start of the journey was frustrating, we made it to our destination, nevertheless.

Reflecting on the situation, as I looked out of the window at the clouds above and the mountains below, I couldn’t help but smile. God wasted no time in providing another lesson on the power of nevertheless. This power, often easily accessible in certain areas of our lives (where we’ve got the most control over situations), is usually extremely  difficult to grasp in other areas (where we feel uncentered and uncertain). For me, I struggled and still struggle with it as it relates to my spirituality and relationship with God. If you think that that may sound like you, I encourage you to keep reading.

As has been well documented in this blog, I’ve been in a constant state of pruning for months now. Recently, I have felt led to let go of things that have meant a lot to me, have (at least in my opinion) shaped me, have comforted me, and have been synonymous with who I define myself as. When I felt led, I immediately wanted to resist. Who wants to let go of the things they love the most? None of us, obviously!  But God kept pushing me, kept talking to me, and kept encouraging me to try it out. I sighed, realizing that He wasn’t going to back down. If I said I wanted to honor Him and love Him, even a pinch of how He loves and takes care of me, I could at least get serious and take a chance on Him with this new assignment.

So I started all at once. I gave up the music I loved listening to, removed the social media I mindlessly checked,  I began to go to Him as my first resource for all matters, and started becoming more diligent and intentional in my prayer and devotional time. Almost instantly, I felt uncomfortable and annoyed. I began to cry out in distress: “Do I really have to do ALL OF THIS?!” “So what am I supposed to do with myself now?” “How long are we going to keep this on for, Lord?” Basically, it wasn’t your girl’s finest moment. As the days went by however, I started to adapt. I began to find myself actually enjoying this new level of relationship with God. I stopped whining and focused in on this new journey. I began to feel a closer connection to God as the things that so easily distracted me and honestly, took God’s place, weren’t readily accessible to me anymore. I thought I was good. I thought I could do it. I had in the bag…until I didn’t.

It’s always in the moments when you let your guard down, like when everybody’s seatbelt is fastened and we’re ready to takeoff, that you get knocked back down and your feelings get hurt. I was on fire for about a week, then suddenly I wasn’t. I became restless once again. “What’s one song?!” “How LONG Lord?!” “I’m going to get my stuff back, right?” Instead of getting me back in line on His own, God left it up to me to decide. “Is that one song more important than Me?” “Didn’t I promise you that I would be with you until the very end?” “Don’t you believe that I know you and know what you need?” “Do you want to keep playing the same games or do you want to get serious about My will for your life?” God countered. I sighed then smiled in response. He was looking out for me (like always). He wanted me to put away the distractions so that I could see His truth. His ultimate goal was to get me prepared and focused to do all that He put me on this earth to do. Who was I to fight back against what He was doing to prosper me? It was then that the power of nevertheless took its form for real.

⁃ I’m tired Lord but nevertheless will I follow Your commands. (Psalm 119:112)
⁃ I feel like I’m missing out Lord but nevertheless will I trust that You have prepared the proper time for me to do everything assigned to me. (Ecclesiastes 8:6)
⁃ It hurts Lord but nevertheless will I believe that You take on every burden. (Matthew 11:28-30)

I urge you to operate in your own nevertheless power. It’s not fun AT ALL (heads up lol). However, knowing that You are in His will and that His plans are beyond what you can currently fathom is truly worth it. You won’t be alone either as you have a fellow friend (me!) who struggles through it to. Always remember, where God is leading us will be much better than the places and plans we’ve laid out for ourselves.

His will, His way, and His time, twentysomethings!

Mind Your Business

Mind Your Business

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 4:4

There is nothing that defines adulthood quite like working. For me, just starting almost a year ago, adulting really began to settle in as soon as I started punching the clock. While working has been a great experience, with a lot of professional and personal growth, there’s one thing that really annoys me about it: its spirits of competition and envy.
As someone who has battled deeply with comparing myself to everyone else and feeling like I never measured up, I believe I’m sensitive to these spirits now. I can spot them a mile away in myself and in others around me. I’m hoping that this post can shed some light and help provide you with a new perspective on how to overcome this battle within yourself and how to ignore it from others. This is a how to guide on minding your business!

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – 1 John 2:16-17

I think one of the biggest lies we all accept is that we have to prove ourselves. It starts from childhood. We have to get the best grades and hang with the coolest kids. As we get older, that turns into having the best car, going to the best college, and making the most money. We are constantly trying to meet these standards to assert our importance and value. While there may be nothing inherently wrong with attaining these things, the problem lies in your motive behind it. What/who are you doing it for? Why are you striving for it? God didn’t tell you that you were worthy or shined bright because of what you did or attained. You shine and you slay because of Him and His spirit within you. The first step in minding your business is realizing that this life and its standards are problematic. I’m not telling you to be lazy and complacent. I hope that you continue to grow and prosper. That being said, please pay attention to your reasons why. The world is passing away and all that work and struggle to outshine someone else won’t matter in the end.

“Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?” – Isaiah 2:22

Other people can really shake you if you let them. Speaking for myself, when I was younger and heavily trapped in the spirits of comparison and envy, I was miserable and literally sick at times. It was hard for me to feel like I mattered and had value because I wasn’t like “them”, doing what “they” were doing. I thought that I would fall by the wayside, never seen, never heard, and never cared about. Even now, I feel those spirits try to creep back up in me. Thankfully, it doesn’t have the same effect on me anymore (shout out to the pruning process). Whereas before I was terrified that I would be forgotten and deemed unimportant, now I know that I matter regardless of whether or not someone affirms my value. I am God’s child and I’m here because He has found me valuable. He has given me a specific destiny to walk out. He has given me certain tasks to complete. I am in the mindset now that what’s happening in the world can’t and shouldn’t affect me. God’s hand is on me so what am I tripping for? Whether it is you dealing with envy or someone else is envious of you, remind yourself that we are all on our own paths. God’s purpose for us is unique. You can never be them and they can never be you. The sooner you release the fear associated with not measuring up, the easier it’ll be to mind your business and stay in peace.

“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.” – Deuteronomy 28:1

My hope for this post is to have you begin to see yourself as already of greatest importance and value. The spirits of competition and envy, rooted in our feelings of inadequacy, have no place in you as a child of God. If you didn’t have purpose and power, you wouldn’t still be here. I encourage you, in the workplace, at school, or wherever else, to shine on. Continue to operate in the gifts that God has given you, constantly learning and growing along the way. Do this for God. Honor Him with your knowledge, your skills, and your attitude. In the middle of all the competition for the promotion, accolades, praises, or anything else, don’t be bothered. Be still and know that God already has you in His hands and will elevate you in ways that baffle others around you. Stay the course and God will show out on your behalf. Watch Him work!

Mind your business, twentysomethings.

Great Is Your Mercy, Great Is Your Grace

Great Is Your Mercy, Great Is Your Grace

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 1 Comment

I recently received the biggest and most important revelation of my life thus far: God loves me. I know that this revelation, at first read, may seem dull, but please hear me out. While it IS basic, it’s also something many of us don’t fully take in and accept. It’s the foundation that everyone of us should stand on. I realized that before now, I wasn’t standing on it at all. I was, at best, using it as a churchy thing to say. It wasn’t that I didn’t know God loved me, it was that I didn’t believe it. It’s only in this past week that God really brought it to the forefront and made me examine myself and Him. It is only now that I’m seeing that revelation as something more than just knowledge, but as power.

Let’s take it back to our favorite twenty-something topic: adulting. In the fullness of our adulting experiences, we are all extremely stretched. We have classes to pass and we have bills to pay. We have bosses to impress and we have children to keep alive. Simply, adulting is stressful. It seems to be full of work with minimal play. We are constantly performing and constantly working towards perfection. As adults, we are marked, many times, by our ability to excel, to get it all right. If we possibly fall short, in any area, we risk eviction, getting fired, even losing the beauty of our Instagram highlight reel (that’s another topic for another day lol). The point I’m trying to make is that we are conditioned to perform. Very rarely are we graced to stumble, let alone fall. For me, that mentality was applied not only to adulting but to God. I was a class act performer. I went to church. I read my scriptures. I encouraged others. I prayed to be used by Him. While all these things were done with sincerity and good intention, I wasn’t doing it out of pure love. My desire was to get the gold star. I wanted to win the Oscar, I wanted His approval.

This realization was the latest lesson of my pruning process. I pretty much got slapped in the face when God let me know that I was doing everything under the sun except seeing Him. He told me, simply, that He wasn’t like the people on this earth. I didn’t have to impress Him. I didn’t have to perform. He already knew me. He already loved me unconditionally. Even at my worst, He wanted me.
As a performer, this sounded good but was quite the challenge to accept ( it’s still a challenge at times, honestly). It sounds awesome for God to love me just as I am, to purpose me for greater, and to have nothing separate me from His love. I couldn’t understand how exactly that worked in real life though. I wanted to perform, badly. I had many questions such as: “How can I show you that I love you? What fast do I need to do? What scriptures do I need to read to prove that I’m serious about You?” My questions were met with silence, unsurprisingly. To be honest, even now it strikes a nerve. I don’t like not knowing. I don’t like not having an action plan.

Funny enough, He wants me (and all of us) to get to that point. He wants me not knowing what to do or how to act, in my own strength. Being in that state leaves us dependent, seeking Him out for everything. Experience has shown me, time and time again, that when I depend on my performance, my will, and my logic, I fall short every time. While that may work beautifully in the “real world”, God has no time for my games. As well intentioned as my performance was, it wasn’t His way. I needed to surrender to Him. I needed to listen and to obey, pushing my own feelings aside. I couldn’t play church or just say the right kind of prayer hoping all would be okay. I had to drop it all, get real, and let Him in everywhere and in everything.

I’m not writing this as someone who has now figured it out. I am writing as someone still perched in the process. I’m still confused at times and still fighting my flesh all the time. I have not been given all the answers during this process. In fact, this is a step by step, day by day sort of situation. But step by step, God is revealing. He is assuring me that He loves me, right here. He is sending me scriptures that show me how he views me, how he uses people like me. He is putting revelation in my heart about His purpose for me. He is letting me know that with Him, I’m unstoppable. Having to now walk this out, I find myself completely shook. I’m constantly wondering why He loves me so much, to the point that He’s willing to take it back to this basic but fundamental promise. The answer, I’m getting time and time again is because, simply, I’m His child and we have destiny to do. The same is true for you.

I just encourage you to relax. We have so many demands and opportunities to perform both in the natural and the spiritual. I pray that you wait to see what God says and where He tells you to go. Our own will is fruitless, but His will leads to abundance, opportunity, healing, and freedom. Sit in the revelation that He loves you. Not only does He love you, but He wants the best for you. Because you’re His child, He will hold you up, keep you from falling, and remind you of all His promises for your life. Grace and mercy follow us because He loves us.

Surrender your thoughts, your plans, and your desire to perform. Let Him complete His perfect work in you. You will not fail. You will not fall. His power will be all over you. For when you are weak, then you are strong! (2 Corinthians 12:10)

He loves you, twentysomethings!

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Check out this skit to drive the message home:

 

 

Open My Heart

Open My Heart

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 2 Comments

“Show me how to do things Your way. Don’t let me make the same mistakes over and over again. Your will be done and I’ll be the one to make sure that it’s carried out, and in me, I don’t want any doubt.”
– (Auntie) Yolanda Adams “Open My Heart”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-minqtGHV3g

I mentioned, in my last post, that I was going through heavy pruning and reconstruction. While the pruning still isn’t complete, there have been some beautifully trimmed branches worth mentioning. The most beautiful, at least so far, has been the branch concerning my heart posture. I was asked two questions regarding my heart: “Do you really want to look like Me (Christ)?” and “To whom does your heart belong?”.

These questions can lead in many different directions and in your own lives, I hope that you think about them in whatever makes the most sense for you. For me, the questions took me down two different but specific paths: stewardship and surrender.

Stewardship, to me, is simply giving of yourself as God does. Now I’m not sure if I have ‘only child syndrome’, but I am guilty of not always being open and sharing with those who may need it the most. God really began to convict me, reminding me that I am not my own. He let me know plainly that my gifts, my blessings, and even myself was not mine to claim. He reminded me in scripture (1 John 2:6; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 3: 13-14) that our goal on earth was to look like Jesus, in every area. Just as God gives and provides for us, regardless of whether we do everything right or not, we need to be the same way. This simple revelation was quite eye opening because it revealed something in me that was seemingly unrelated: fear. That fear brings me to the topic of surrender.

If you would have asked me, prior to the start of this pruning, if I had completely surrendered myself and my will to God, I would have said yes without a doubt. As I’ve talked about, from the very beginning of this blog, I was and still am set on living out God’s will for my life and not my own. While that was successful in some areas of my life, there were other areas that still needed work. Shout out to God and His pruning skills (sigh). I say that because pruning isn’t fun, even if the outcome is perfect. I was confronted with the realization that I hadn’t submitted and to be honest, my feelings were hurt. What hurt worse, however, was my hesitation when God asked me to make certain steps forward in stewardship. I found myself frustrated because as much as I said I wanted Him, I also wanted to stay where I felt most comfortable. I was worried about what I looked like to the outside world instead of staying focused on what God had told me to do. This battle between obedience and resistance lasted for a couple of weeks. Thankfully, God is faithful and precious (lol) and stayed with me, waiting it out. I cracked, eventually, and God did what He does best: offer strength in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). To admit and claim my fears was what it took to start the necessary work and let Him encourage me to keep our destiny walk going.

So here I am, with a better looking branch. It’s not perfectly prim and proper yet but it’s being prepared for good fruit to grow from it. It’s such a great feeling to know that God cares about your maturation and preparation. His goal is to push us towards greater, towards the fullness of His destiny in our lives. All of this is to simply say, let God do His work. Open your heart. Address your fears and hesitations. Talk through your thoughts. Make a commitment to stick it out no matter how ugly and uncomfortable the process of surrendering gets. The result is worth it. You’ll be one step closer to being all that God called for you to be. You’ll be one step closer to looking more like the GOAT. Don’t worry. God will be there the whole time. You’re not in this alone.

Auntie Yolanda finishes with this:

“Sometimes His word for you is stay. Stay there in the center of My will. While you’re there, pray. Pray until you get answer. Pray until your situation changes. Then let it turn into praise.”

Fight for your destiny, twenty somethings!

Greatest Of All Time (GOAT)

Greatest Of All Time (GOAT)

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I’m amazed by how epic God is. Despite our doubts, despite our weaknesses, and despite our failings, He is still there, ever-present and forever faithful. From the most simple things, like making sure you caught the bus just as it was about to pull off (my frequent testimony lol) to the most significant, like having life, it’s always Him. Why does He bother to care so much? For little ol’ us?

We, alone, are nothing more than basic individuals living life day to day, waiting and wondering about what comes next. With Him however, the experience becomes powerful. He comes in, chilling so beautifully by our sides, giving context, providing instruction, and granting peace. Wow.

As I’m sure you can probably tell, this isn’t a post as usual. To be honest, I didn’t really have some deep lesson to impart. In fact, I’m currently being wrecked by God so there’s a lot of stillness, learning, and evaluation going on right now (pray for your girl lol). Since I’m under construction, this post came more from reflection of where I currently am and from honor and reverence for the One who got me here. I promise I don’t mean to sound so churchy but it’s just something about Jesus. When you are walking out life with Him, you start using words like reverence and honor (who am I?!). You start walking with intention, wanting to be just like Him. You start growing and maturing and the things of old no longer fit you. More times than not, at least for me, it’s so gradual that you don’t realize it’s happening until confronted once again with something you struggled with. When you realize that you’re stronger than what is confronting you, that the temptation no longer has power over you, or that calling on His name is comfort enough, it’s out of this world! Bruh! What a feeling that is?!

Like I said, this isn’t a post as    usual, but rather a written worship. I’m just grateful man, to be honest. You can trust me when I say that this Jesus journey is not easy. It’s also not always fun. It IS for you, though. God is ALWAYS for you! It’s difficult to take steps forward to where God is calling you when the world has the easy or more comfortable route, but forget that and keep making steps. The most beautiful thing about God, to me, is His patience. It’s like He has all the time in the world to wait for us to get it together. He’ll repeat lessons a zillion times until we get it (also a testimony of mine lol). He will send people to us for encouragement. He will even bless us on credit while we are still acting up. He has so much purpose and so many plans for our lives and we just need to take the step.

That revelation makes me hungrier for Him. I want to know more about Him and why He is the way He is. Not only that, but I want to figure out how I can be more of who He says I am. This hunger leaves you in a constant state of evolution. The glo up can’t stop and it won’t stop. It’s ridiculous, in the greatest way. Why won’t it stop, you may ask? Because God honors Your honor for Him and wants to see you win in the way He destined even before you were born. He wants you to succeed.

Let Him in so you can be all that He has called for you to be. Allow Him to use you to be a blessing to others. Go pass the surface with Him. Stop trying to win at life all alone. Even the strongest people among us are too weak to keep that going for long. Rest. Surrender. Be filled up. Let Jesus in. It feels good. It feels right. His presence is where you want to be, where you’ll want to stay, and what you will crave. Watch Him slay your entire life. I’m a witness.

 

Get with the GOAT, twentysomethings!

 

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
-Zephaniah 3:17

Blessed Assurance

Blessed Assurance

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 2 Comments

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” -Psalm 23:4

 

I traveled back home to Atlanta this past weekend to attend the wedding of one of my closest childhood friends. About a week before I left, I began my official countdown, marking the days until I’d be back to my familiar life. I told everyone I could, with beaming excitement, that I was going home. When I landed at Hartsfield-Jackson, I was thrilled to see everything I once held so dear.

I noticed, fairly quickly however, that what I hyped up didn’t necessarily prove true. Though overjoyed to finally see my family and friends, something wasn’t quite right. I looked onto this trip as a moment to feel most like myself, the familiar me, but it didn’t happen that way. There had been a shift, one I welcomed, but one I wasn’t expecting.

This realization was strengthened while I was alongside the bride before her wedding. Her bridal party and I constantly pointed out how calm she was. I think we all had the idea that brides were nervous wrecks on their wedding day, stressing and thinking about every little thing. My friend, however, was confident, excited, thrilled, and most significantly, assured. She knew that this marriage was something God had orchestrated and because of that, there was nothing to be worried about. This next step was simply apart of her divine destiny and as a result, she could walk towards it with power. Seeing her like that really touched me as I reflected on my own experience.

Looking at it now, there was a part of me looking for peace in Atlanta. I was hoping, at least slightly, that I would feel steady and steadfast, instead of in flux, as I’ve been feeling in Los Angeles. The reality however is that my “in flux” feeling is crucial for my destiny. What’s the point of finding comfort in sameness when there is growth knocking at my door?

I knew that moving away from home was God led. God had told me, in many ways, that He wanted me in California. Despite not always feeling sure, I knew deep down I was suppose to be here. For me, seeing my friend was a powerful reminder that it is okay to walk into uncharted territory. It is okay to not always feel like you have it together. It is okay to not know what’s going on. It is okay! Every transitional period can be conquered because of the blessed assurance that God is for me. His hand is guiding me and His words are leading me right into my destiny. I know now to embrace the unfamiliar with renewed confidence. That’s what God wants out of me. There’s so much growth, opportunity, and favor to be had.

I hope that as you point out your transitional periods, you’ll tackle them head on. With God on your side, you’re going to prosper, no matter how murky and unfamiliar it seems. Allow yourself to be available for all that God has planned for you. Don’t let the comfort of sameness keep you stagnant.

We grow up so we can glo’ up! Let’s get it, twentysomethings!

Won’t He Do It?!

Won’t He Do It?!

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 2 Comments

“Even when things don’t go your way, you’ve got to hold onto your faith. Just remember that you’re not made to be defeated.”
“Don’t Quit” by Smokie Norful

 

The year of 2017 has already been chock-full of transitional periods. While I’ve walked through some seamlessly, I’ve crawled and cried through many more. What has always helped me get through those periods, easy or difficult, has been my personal faith and the faith of others pushing me forward. If you’ve been reading my posts for a while, you’d know that faith can be a tricky thing with me. While in my heart of hearts I KNOW that God is for me, that doesn’t always stop me from doubting and worrying. While it’s natural for us to stress and worry, it’s in those moments that the opportunity for growth comes. When we choose to fight with faith instead, we will always come out on top.

I’ve been in a lot of prayer lately regarding God’s path and purpose for me. I’ve been reflecting on His promises and trying to speak them over my life. The devil is a hater though. As soon as I begin to believe what God has said about me, the devil comes in ready to shoot those words down. While I’m thanking God in advance for the next opportunity or relationship, I’m also battling stress from work, from family, from adulting, from life! While I’m trying to pray the hurt and disappointment away, another issue pops up in my life. It’s so tempting, in those moments, for me to give in and give up. It’s almost easier to sulk than it is to keep the faith. I’ve learned and am still learning, however, to look for and appreciate the miracles in the mess.

In the midst of struggle, if you look for Him, God will show Himself. He will show you miracles to inspire you, uplift you, and comfort you. Though it may seem like you’re down on your luck, that you’ve failed more than you’ve succeeded, or that others may have given up on you, God still has your back. You’ve got to remember that God already destined your victory.

Look up! Look around!

What miracles, big or small, have you witnessed today? What things clearly point to God regardless of how simple they may be? Whatever the miracles are, they serve to remind you that God is at work. The same way God can bless someone around you, He can do that and more for you. The same way God can shower someone with favor is the same way He is and will continue to shower you, even if you think you’re struggling right now. The challenge: keep faithing even when it feels the hardest to do so. God honors your prayers, your faithfulness, and your trust. All you have to do is believe and rest. Let God blow your mind. Don’t let life’s troubles keep you down. Your miracle is already in transit!

Smokie ends the song like this :

“You’re one hallelujah away from your breakthrough! Don’t quit!

You’re one thank you Jesus away from your promotion! Don’t quit!

You’re one glory to God away from your next level! Don’t quit!”

I challenge you to walk in expectation for that miracle and to hold on tightly to your faith, regardless of your current situation.

Don’t quit, twentysomethings!

And The Beat Goes On

And The Beat Goes On

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 2 Comments

FYI: Shout out to The Whispers for inspiring this post title. Enjoy their song and their awesome footwork!

One thing I constantly have to work on is how I view myself. It feels like, since the beginning of time, I have been super critical about any and everything I have done. It’s almost second nature, for me, to want to compare myself to everyone and highlight all of my flaws. Over the years, I have made many attempts to fix this problem. While I can confidently say I’ve gotten better with it, I can also say that I’m still struggling.

That struggle was made afresh just recently at work. I’ve been working now for just over two months and really enjoying it. Despite that success, I couldn’t help but feel like I was still slacking. I didn’t know enough. I wasn’t asking the right questions. I didn’t know what to say to that higher up when they walked in the office. The list could go on. Not only was this a work problem, I was also dealing with it in my personal life. Where was my posse of friends that I assumed would surround me the second I moved out here? Was I budgeting correctly/saving enough? Did I eat well today? Why didn’t I exercise like I said I would? All of these thoughts, questions, and worries flooded my head, leaving me in a state of both sadness and frustration. I was frustrated that I was being hard on myself while at the same time frustrated that I seemingly wasn’t living up to this standard I had set for myself.

As I mentioned previously, this has been a struggle of mine for a long time. Throughout the struggle, I have gotten a plethora of advice from family, friends, and strangers. Though not always receptive to everything people said, one piece of advice really hit home. The advice (summed up eloquently by The Whispers): AND THE BEAT GOES ON.

I think we have to be open to receive words that truly impact us. Though I had heard this advice before (one way or another), hearing it just recently from my mom and then again from the sermon at church, made me realize I needed to pay attention to what was being said. The beat goes on means, to me, that life keeps going. We often get so caught up in our little bubble of disappointment that we don’t realize or don’t acknowledge that life doesn’t stop at that moment. We become so paralyzed in that one moment that we miss the opportunity to grow.

What’s really important, in times like these, is what we decide to do next. After we feel that disappointment, frustration, or lack of confidence, what steps are we taking to improve both our situation and our perspective? This is the growth part. It’s not an easy task and trust me, I don’t have all the answers for this one. I do, however, think a major key in all of this is to take an inventory of yourself, your feelings, and what steps you’re capable of making towards change. From there, act on those steps and go to God with the situation and your outlook on it. The combination of God’s help (His view of you and His vision for you), your prayers,  and your personal effort for change/improvement/peace with yourself, should lead to beautiful results. As are many things in life, this is an ongoing process that takes patience and faith to the work though. I’m continually in this process myself, but I know that in time comes victory. I pray that you’ll believe that and walk in that as well.

I hope this, if nothing else, let’s you know that you’re not alone. Adulting is REAL LIFE and it’s hard out here. Despite our numerable adulting woes, you are still doing great. We are all going to be okay. Remember that.

Stay gentle with yourself, twentysomethings!

 

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
-Psalm 42:11