Tag: faith

Estoy Aprendiendo

Estoy Aprendiendo

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Estoy aprendiendo Spanish.

I am learning Spanish. Though still a new journey, it has already proven itself to be incredibly exciting and frustratingly difficult. Though I desired to learn in order to one day become bilingual, God, as always, added His own purpose and lessons for my journey as well. I wanted to share some of these lessons in order to make you more aware of God’s voice, even in the mundane things. I hope my experiences push you to tackle strongholds, maximize opportunities, and find comfort in His presence.

Estoy aprendiendo that my gifts aren’t meant to be neglected, no matter how disqualified I feel.

In Spanish, I have a difficult time rolling Rs.  Arroz. Perro. It’s too much! No matter how hard I try, my attempts are often met with correction. As a result, there were times when I simply wanted to give up and accept my gringo defeat. Despite that, however, I kept trying and failing, determined to pronounce the words correctly. Though still not a pro, I definitely have improved, by way of continual practice. It is in this practice that God revealed His first lesson: there is provision where God is. It’s true, both in Spanish and in the various dreams I have for my life, that I’m not a native speaker. I may not have the degree. I may not have the connections. I may not have the finances. I may not even have a complete handle on the skill yet. It doesn’t matter, however, because as long as I continue to put in the work, growth and improvement will inevitably come. It is in this intentional practice that I seek God for help and direction as I would a Spanish speaking friend for help with my pronunciation. I don’t have every skill on my own but God always provides and makes room so that His will gets done. Seek God, don’t neglect the gifts He gave you, and He will honor you like you’ve honored Him.

Estoy aprendiendo that a scared voice is better than no voice at all.

When I first started learning Spanish, the idea of speaking out loud terrified me. Though I knew that I wanted to prioritize conversation, I was afraid. I was afraid that my pronunciation would be horrible. I was afraid that mid-sentence, I’d completely blank and not remember any vocabulary I learned. I was afraid of failing. Though the fear was strong, I knew that I had to be bold enough to open my mouth in order to progress. I decided to tell my Spanish speaking friends and family that I was learning, in hopes that they could help. I found a Spanish conversation group at my local library to get more practice. Though simple to others, I was proud of myself for making the effort. The more I opened my mouth in these spaces, slowly but surely, my understanding, vocabulary, and speaking improved. I was reminded, in this, that our voice for God works the same way. It is often scary for us, as Christians, to speak up on behalf of Christ or break away from the world’s standards. We tend not to like being uncomfortable. We are often fearful of how we will be perceived. God reminded me that impact is made, even if we’re scared while doing it. When I open my mouth, for Spanish, dialogue is exchanged, things are explained, and community is built. Opening your mouth for God, in whatever way that means for you, has the same effect. It is better to make the attempt than to not try at all. You never know who you’re affecting. You never know who could affect you.

Estoy aprendiendo that everything is not translatable.

There are certain phrases in Spanish that make no sense to me. Though I ask friends for explanations, I’m not always guaranteed an easy and clear answer. They are often quick to remind me that not everything in Spanish mirrors English sentence construction. There are instances where certain words or phrases are to simply be accepted as they are. Though frustrating, if I want to be proficient, I need to simply fall in line and let the Spanish language lead me. Doesn’t God work in a similar fashion? We all have plans and ideas of how things should go. We pray and fast and assume that God will green light anything we do. When He doesn’t, we are often left upset, confused, and feeling deceived. Just as in Spanish, not everything God does or doesn’t do in a certain season is translatable. God could make a promise that requires us to step out in faith and our desired end doesn’t automatically materialize. Is God, then, a liar? Is He not to be trusted? I challenge you to think about whether your plans and expectations are in line with His? I’m confident that many of you will realize that it isn’t God who is unfair, but rather our own refusal to submit to His will and His timing that leaves us unsatisfied. It is only when we adjust our focus and way of thinking that we begin to see the growth and results God intended for us. Despite my confusion, I’m comforted, in Spanish, by knowing that these concepts and rules have been applied in practice and are valid, as evidenced by the millions of people who speak the language everyday. I simply have to adapt. Similarly, it is important that you are comforted in God’s track record. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts.* His intentions, thankfully, are always pure.** He doesn’t want to hurt me and He doesn’t want to hurt you. Get in alignment and master the language!

Keep learning, twentysomethings.

* Isaiah 55:8-9

** Jeremiah 29:11

Success Through the Storm

Success Through the Storm

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

BE GRATEFUL.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

“Say thank you” is a phrase we’ve heard since childhood. Though gratitude should be ingrained in our psyche and apart of everything we do, oftentimes, it is the first thing that jumps ship during a trial. The storms of life can often produce stress and strain so intense that we’re too preoccupied with staying afloat to even consider our blessings. No matter the severity of the storm, it has the potential to throw us completely off track, if we allow it to overtake us. How then do we stay strong and keep focused? How do we cope when we’re fed up, stressed out, and worn down? I challenge you to look up long enough to say thank you to the One keeping you above water. Your gut reaction may be to roll your eyes or sigh in frustration. You may question if you’re even above water or rather drowning deeper into despair. Looking up, however, quickly determines your placement. Coming to Him with thanksgiving, even over the many small blessings we take for granted, reinforces the truth that you really aren’t alone. Your gratitude points to God’s hand in your life, especially when it feels like everything is falling apart. God promised that He wouldn’t leave or forsake you.* When you begin to tell Him thank you, you realize that the promise is true. You may be fighting for your life, peace, and purpose, but you definitely aren’t fighting by yourself. Spend some time saying thank You and allow yourself to be comforted by His presence.

STAY FAITHFUL.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. – James 1:12

Faithfulness, mastered beautifully by Christ, is often a struggle for many of us. Jesus remained faithful to the will for His life, even in the midst of persecution, rejection, and death. How can we emulate Jesus in this way? The answer is in our tenacity. During the most difficult parts of your storm, it is easy to succumb to the hopelessness of it. You may push away from the persecution and dissatisfaction in hopes of finding peace elsewhere. What if the breakthrough, however, is in planting your feet into the ground and holding on for dear life? God rewards those who hold on. Staying planted, even when difficult, is what builds the determination and focus necessary in preparing you for what God has next. Faithfulness not only prepares, it refines. Character is refined in faithfulness because there is no choice but to cling to God when everything in you wants to run. The clinging produces dependence. Dependence produces expectation. Expectation produces strength. Strength produces greater faith. No longer is it you fighting to stay alive but rather God working, through you, to put the storm under your feet. It all starts with simply sticking with God, no matter what y’all go through together. The reward is coming. Keep those heels dug in.

YOU’RE OKAY.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? – Luke 12:22-26

Believing you’re okay, even when life tells you different, has been the hardest truth to grasp, personally. It sounds cute, simplistic, carefree, and even kind. I’ve found, however, that this truth is extremely deep. So deep, in fact, that it can only be accepted as fact once you’ve harnessed the power of gratitude and faithfulness. Life’s storms have a way of making you feel like it’s the end of the world. No matter how many trials God has brought you through, each new one still feels like a major crisis (at least for me!). You feel like you can’t do this anymore. You want to quit. You want to cry. You’re tired and restless. You’re confused and misunderstood. Everything is in shambles yet God continues to whisper “you’re okay”. How is it even possible to believe Him? Jesus made it plain and simple when He told us not to worry about our life. You’re okay because God calls you valuable. If you are valuable to Him, He promises to meet every need. Your value is shown in your gratitude, reminding you that God has never left your side. Your value is shown in your faithfulness, seeing God’s sustaining power hold you steady even during the heavy winds. If God says everything is fine, trust that simplicity. He’s handling the hard stuff. All you need to do is hold onto His hand and His word. You’re okay.

Be grateful. Stay faithful. You’re okay.

This has been my anchor for months now, as God has held me through many of life’s storms and transitions. I pray that you will take some time to meditate on these words and find your strength to keep fighting. God’s got it. God understands. God is taking care of you. Don’t let your hope go. The storms can’t defeat you.

Keep holding on, twentysomethings!

 

* Deuteronomy 31:6

 

Grace to Grow

Grace to Grow

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

As we enter into 2019, full of hopes, aspirations, and plans, remember that our success has less to do with our personal effort and more to do with our alignment with God’s will. We often joke about those failed New Year’s resolutions to go to the gym or finally pursue a business venture, but at some point, we must tighten up and reach the goals ahead of us. Goals that push us closer to God and into the fullness of our purpose should be of utmost importance. From personal experience as well as hearing the testimonies of others, the main obstacles to taking those steps forward tend to be pride in our abilities or the magnification of our sin, causing those debilitating feelings of unworthiness. In both of these cases, God has a way of making the wrong right, if we’re willing to let Him lead. There’s probably no better example of this than Saul, later renamed Paul, a murderer turned apostle, and the writer of some of your favorite scriptures in the Bible.

Saul, for those who may not know, was a persecutor of those who believed in Jesus as our Savior. Saul led the orders to kill men and women who called on the name of Jesus and taught others about the healing powers of the Lord. On his way to Damascus, with the mission of arresting even more believers, Jesus stopped him in his tracks and confronted Saul about why he continued to persecute His Church (the believers). Telling Saul to continue onto Damascus, Saul got up only to find that he was blind. It was in Damascus that Jesus would perform the miracle that would forever turn Saul, the murderer and persecutor, into Paul, the apostle, the teacher, and the writer of the majority of the Bible. Jesus used Ananias, a disciple, to be the hands of this miracle.

““Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.””- Acts‬ ‭9:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When Jesus came to Ananias in a vision to tell him to meet Saul in Damascus and remove the blindness from his eyes, Ananias responded like most of us would. We often cannot see what God does and as a result, we focus on the faults in front of us, rather than the potential for growth that God graces us for. While Ananias knew Saul’s history of violence and hate for the followers of Christ, he humbled himself and took the step to be obedient and meet Saul for the miracle that would take place.

“But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” – Acts‬ ‭9:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As beautiful as it is to see Ananias display not only obedience but also faith in the Word of God, it still doesn’t touch the beauty that was the Lord’s perspective of Saul. Despite his history, the same background that initially concerned Ananias to the point of questioning God’s command, Jesus saw Saul as a mighty man who would be perfect to preach to the Gentiles and show them the saving grace of God. This moment highlights the way God sees us. Even in our faults, our sins, and our hurts, we can still be used for God’s glory. It isn’t that we are perfect or need to be before God comes to us, but rather it’s about us recognizing that God has given us grace to grow up and get back in line. Will we accept the grace and make the change?

“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” – Acts‬ ‭9:19-22‬ ‭NIV

As Saul demonstrates, once he humbled himself and let God lead his life, God was able to not only change Saul’s life around for the better but completely use his abilities, that were once for evil, to now be an example and proof for others that Jesus is Lord. Similarly, the same talent, ability, and personality that you possess can still be used to make you great for the Lord as well as be an example for those whose lives are attached to you. It is in your testimony, in your walk, and in your character that others will come to believe in the power and love of God (Matthew 5:16).

Moving forward, I pray that you all don’t count yourself out and settle for less than God’s best for you. When things get hard or you feel like you’re unworthy, remember that God can and will use anyone who is willing. I urge you to stay available and allow God’s grace to do its work in you. As you continue to grow and seek out His path for your life, remember to also reach out your hand and extended your grace to others, in obedience to God. It doesn’t matter if others seem unworthy or “bad”, continue to be a light and encourage others so that God can do His perfect work in them too. We all need to be our best this 2019!

floweroncross

Let’s reach a new level together, twenty somethings ❤️

Who You Looking At?

Who You Looking At?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I’m not sure when we all began to believe that our twenties would bring about some sort of perfection, but unfortunately, a lot of us are still on the struggle bus. If you’re on social media, I’m sure you’ve seen the constant tweets, captions, and rants about our apparent failures: no marriage, no house, our student loan debt, and the jobs we take to meet needs but not passions, to name a few. While we’re good at making jokes about it or even blaming the baby boomers who came before us, there is this sense of failure or inadequacy that we all tend to feel, at least at one point of time in our twenty-something journey. This belief challenges our power, our confidence, and our self-esteem. It’s no surprise then that when we want to make big moves, we find ourselves stuck and unable to move forward.

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’” – Exodus 4:10-12 NIV

In my last post, I spoke about the paralyzing effects of fear and how inadequacy plays into it. I wanted to dig a little deeper into inadequacy this time because, at least for me, it haunts me even more than the fear of failure or disapproval. Despite the possibility of failing, I may still make an attempt at something simply because I believe I can do it. If I feel inadequate, however, I won’t even try because from the beginning, I don’t believe I have the tools or skills necessary to succeed. If I don’t try, I will inevitably become stagnant. My stagnation, as a result, will lead to my purpose not being fulfilled. That’s the real problem!

A few weeks ago I came across this story of Moses with fresh eyes. If you don’t know, Moses was called by God to rescue the Israelites from the oppressive rule of Pharaoh and take them to the Promised Land. When God called him for this task, Moses immediately began to coward away. Though a believer, someone who revered God, when it was time to test God’s promises in his own life, there was a sense of hesitancy. Moses, quick with the comeback, thought it smart to inform God about his stuttering issues, as if, by chance, God wasn’t aware. Doesn’t this sound like us? We say we are believers. We know the scriptures. We are moved by the testimonies of others. Despite this, when the light shines on us, suddenly those things don’t apply. We are suddenly so different. Our struggle isn’t like their struggle. We aren’t faithful like they are. We push the call away immediately, not even wanting to waste God’s time. We aren’t fit. We can’t do it.

The beauty of this scripture is in God’s response. I can envision God rolling His eyes at Moses’ rebuttal. “Do you know who I am?! Do you know what I can do? What I’ve already done?! I’m not worried about how you speak, son!” In fact, God responds almost exactly in that way. He reminds Moses of who He is. The power He has. The foresight He possesses. Then like a loving father, He brings comfort, letting Moses know that He will be with him and will give him the words to speak. If only it were that simple for us. Why can’t we believe God’s word for what it is?

“But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country.’” – Exodus 6:30, 7:1-2 NIV

Like Moses, who still had the same tired excuses chapters later, no matter what God promises us or tells us, we can’t trust Him because we’re busy focusing on us. We want control. We want assurance in our own capabilities. We want to only have wins in our records. Because we don’t see what God sees, we refuse to move forward. God called Moses to be like God to Pharaoh, full of power and authority. He called Aaron, Moses’ brother, to be a prophet on Moses’ behalf, already considering Moses’ stuttering. God already had the plan ready to go. If Moses never humbled himself and submitted (thank God!), he would have missed the opportunity to let God use him for something mighty. Will we let our own flaws and shortcomings stop us from doing the great things God planned for us?

This is just a reminder that God is fully aware of your humanity. We will never be perfect. We will always have feelings of fear, of inadequacy, and failure. If God isn’t concerned about it, or better yet, can use it for His glory, we need to humble ourselves and simply say yes. Our job is to be obedient and to trust our source. If God is calling us to do something we can’t do, that’s more of a reason to go for it. God, clearly, has a plan for the victory. If it is for God, He won’t leave you. Trust Him and watch Him use you in ways you wouldn’t believe.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:10

Stop looking at yourself and start looking up! Even if you can’t do it, in your own strength, He’s got it. Chill out and get to work, twenty somethings!

You Scared or Nah?

You Scared or Nah?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 4 Comments

Fear is one of the primary emotions that us twenty-somethings feel, at one time or another. We may be afraid to start a career (or switch careers). We may be afraid to step into adulthood, leaving our parents/support systems behind. We may even be afraid to put ourselves first, going against the requests and requirements of others. No matter the situation, operating in fear is immobilizing at worst and a short-lived thrill at best. It is no surprise then that God urges us, constantly, not to operate in fear. The problem is, unfortunately, we tend not to listen.

Fear has been a mainstay in my life since the beginning. As someone who would often be labeled as a shy perfectionist, I constantly over analyzed everything and never spoke up for fear of rejection or disapproval. While God has challenged me, in the past few months, to see fear and move pass it, I can see it manifesting once again as I enter a transitional period in my life. During this period so far, I have seen many constant and secure people, opportunities, and beliefs change and evolve. Though these changes are good, the fear of the unknown or the “how to” is often paralyzing. As I’ve prayed about it, God has begun to open my eyes regarding this fear. I hope that as you read on, you can see yourself in me and use the revelation I have found to guide you into greater strength and renewed courage.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:31-33

This is one of my favorite scriptures for various reasons. When I think about having fear as a result of being uncertain, this scripture succinctly explains how foolish that fear is. Jesus, immediately, equates asking questions about your basic necessities with being a pagan or an unbeliever. If you’re honest, initially, Jesus sounds dramatic. We are humans with needs. Of course we would be concerned about our next meal or the clothes we need. Maybe, more personally, it could be questions about how you should approach your boss about an injustice or how you can start the business without any money and/or investors. You may have questions about where you’re getting your money from to pay your tuition for the next semester. You may even ask how you will be able to help others with your limited resources. No matter the question that comes to mind, it is real and valid. Even still, Jesus let’s us know that these questions show unbelief.

The purpose of His statement was to put forth a challenge for us to consider. If we claim we are believers, what exactly are we believing for? Who exactly are we believing in? Jesus goes on to tell us that we need not worry because the heavenly Father already knows that we need these things. Do you trust that God knows what you need and will provide for you? If you did, what would be your reasoning for fear? Wouldn’t you feel confident, knowing that God already handled it?

Jesus ends by urging us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all those things we need will be added to us. This is critical to the Christian faith, as a whole, but more intimately, for our level of peace in times of fear, difficulty, or transition. To seek His kingdom and righteousness is to seek Him. It is us desiring to know His word, to know His promises, and to test Him in the things He has said. It is submitting our will to His and allowing Him to have reign over our lives, from decisions to actions. It is desiring and making actionable steps, with His help, to grow our faith, to carry His character, and to be a light and example to others. God isn’t a genie. He doesn’t just do at our command. On the contrary, He is moved to act by our faith. He is moved by our love for Him. If we love Him, we seek Him. If we seek Him, we love Him even more. The more we love, the more we trust. The more we trust, the more that fear dissipates. God has us. Period. He will always take care of His children.

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” – 1 Chronicles 28:20

Fear also, often, resembles feelings of inadequacy. We are often scared to try or scared of change because we believe we can’t do it. Not only did Paul say that we could do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), but King David reminded his son Solomon, in this scripture, that God won’t leave Solomon by himself to complete the work set before him. Not only would God not leave him (forsake), God would also not fail him. David, in essence, reminds Solomon that God is constant, steady, and dependable. God won’t suddenly change His mind and no longer support us. We can trust in Him because He promised (and He doesn’t lie) that He’d stay right with us. This brings comfort because it brings forth confidence. Because we’re not alone and because we’re supported for the long run, we can step forward with assurance and take the leaps of faith God has called us to take.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains -where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip– He who watches over you will not slumber.” – Psalm 121: 1-3

I wrote this as encouragement to continue on in the pursuit of your dreams and passions. As life changes and things become uncertain, stand on this solid foundation. God knows exactly what you need. God provides. God doesn’t fail. God doesn’t forsake. God helps. God sees you. God understands. God will be with you wherever you go. I pray that you all sit in those truths and begin to believe them. I challenge you to repeat them in times of fear. I urge you to seek Him and grow your faith in Him. Ask Him. Challenge Him. Let Him know that you’re down for the ride.

Fear not for the Lord is with you*, twentysomethings.

*Isaiah 41:10

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 4 Comments

Last month I wrote about the importance of submitting your will to God. I wrote about the growth in your confidence once you realize that God is not here to harm you. I wrote my plea for you to give God a chance and allow Him to lead you, in His timing, to all your destiny has to offer. There were a few things I didn’t write, however. These things were principles that I learned this past month, after failing a few tests He gave me. These were things, that now I see, prove crucial to keeping your faith steady and strong during life’s shakiness. Let’s dive in.

Not too long after I wrote my last post, I found myself in a position to pursue some of the things God revealed about my destiny. Full of faith and expectant, I took a leap, believing that God gave me His “ok”. I made a connection here. A friend helped me there. My heart was overjoyed with the thought that I was finally focusing on something I really wanted. I felt like I was on the up and up until suddenly, I wasn’t. Out of nowhere, it seemed, a wave of “no” crashed into me so distinctly that I had to stop, feeling unsure of why or what to do about it. Instantly I looked at God for an explanation but I didn’t receive one. “Did He not give me the go ahead? Why would He do this?” I thought, upset and dejected. I let the disappointment settle on me until it turned into despair. I went from bad to worse, allowing my sadness to isolate me from others, to stifle my creativity, and to keep me in an ugly mood. Doesn’t this sound contrary to what I wrote about last month? God knew I had more learning to do.

“I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word.” – Psalm 119:15-16

Though in my feelings, I never stopped talking to God. While, admittedly, I went through some days of whining and complaining (I’m not perfect y’all), I did continue to seek Him out for understanding. I wanted to know how I could get a “yes” in my spirit and then suddenly, as my joy grew, get kicked back down with a “no”. Without answering my questions, He brought me back to a notebook I had laying on my table. If you’ve been reading for a while, you would know that I wrote a post about that notebook and how I used it to battle my insecurities. He reminded me of how I used that notebook to grow in my faith and to learn His promises. He also reminded me that I hadn’t written in that notebook in weeks and perhaps my answer might lie there. Sighing, wishing He could just explain Himself to me instead, I grabbed that notebook and my Bible, and went on a hunt for some answers.

Searching for scriptures that addressed disappointment, I found myself in the book of Psalm, reading how David encouraged himself in the Lord. No matter how difficult things got, how much David messed up, or how many struggles David faced, His eyes still focused on God. Though he might complain in the beginning of a chapter, by its end, David would be magnifying the Lord’s name, confident that God loved him and had a plan for his life. As I began to write these various verses down, the light bulb went off. Did I not know about God’s faithfulness before? Did I not know that God promised to bless me?  Was it that I didn’t know these things or was it, perhaps, that I allowed myself to temporarily forget? This revelation made me realize why God brought me back to the notebook in the first place. To avoid even the temptation of thinking God had an ounce of malice towards me, I needed to keep my focus on His word and His promises. If I wasn’t meditating on them daily, reading them, and writing them down, life’s highs and lows would definitely weaken my faith. This was a reminder to focus on Him, not just in theory but in practice, daily, so that I would be assured, no matter the circumstances, of who He said He was and who I was in Him.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.” – Hebrews 12:11-12

When I was able to recall the goodness of God and His care, love, and faithfulness in the lives of His children, I was able to humble myself enough to apologize and start the process of wiping away the ugliness I had in my heart.  Digging deeper into what the Bible had to say about God, that wave of “no” soon began to retreat. I realized then that the “no” had less to do with stifling plans and more to do with checking my heart. How could I say that God’s will came before mine but get mad when He exercised said will? How could I pray to be a light yet still operate in darkness? How could I say that I had faith in God yet crumble at opposition? It’s not that God expects perfection, but He does expect me to trust His word and stand firm. He doesn’t want me to be a baby in Christ forever. It’s time that I start eating solids.

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

I wrote this to remind and challenge you to make this Jesus journey a forever thing. While we may be motivated and uplifted in one season, there will always be opposition and trouble to threaten our peace in the next. We must constantly check in with God. We must faithfully study His word and seek Him for clarity and guidance. We must recall His attributes and allow them to encourage us always, especially in our low times. God loves us, even when we tend to forget. While it’s normal to have these moments, it’s imperative that we don’t stay there. Let’s level up.

We aren’t babies anymore, twenty somethings ❤️

You or Him?

You or Him?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 5 Comments

I’ve been feeling uneasy. Fearing complacency and desiring a higher calling, I’ve come to God boldly with prayers for change, opportunities, and influence. I’ve asked God for financial increase, for mentors and coaches, and for new placements to make the most impact. Though I knew God was happy that I started to practice praying boldly, He didn’t want me to stop there. He challenged me with the simple question: What’s your motive?

The question took me aback. Was it necessary to have a motive? Weren’t my desires automatically going to be aligned to His will, because I sought after Him? As an example, let’s take my prayer for financial increase. I asked God to remove my student loan debt and to increase my salary so that I could pursue and acquire more than I was currently able to.  This wasn’t a malicious request. I had no desire to flex for Instagram or put others down for not having the finances I had (hoped to have). I simply wanted a relief from the weight of debt and bills on me. “That’s great and everything, but what do you need the money  for specifically?” He responded. As I thought about it, the only things that popped into my head were vacations, lack of stress, and more freedom. With God nowhere on the list,  I knew that my answer wasn’t enough.

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” – James 4:3

The ‘flex’ is one of our biggest enemies, today. Everybody posts their highlight reels. We’re flooded with pictures and stories about people traveling across the world. We’re informed about the latest person who quit their job to start a successful business. What we don’t see, at least not often, is the person who went out for a dream prematurely and fell flat on their face. We also rarely see the insecurity and fear that many people who post these highlights actually have. As it relates to motive, many of us find ourselves asking for or pursuing things for our own gain, for our own ego, to fulfill a drought in our life emotionally, or to follow the trends. How often do we, if ever, ask God what He wants us to do? Does God want you to start the business this year or does He want you to wait another year? Does God want you to spend your savings on vacations or does He want you to use it for a different purpose? Is flexing what God wants you to do or is He trying to mature you in the areas of humility and responsibility before bringing you a great opportunity? These are the things that we need to stop and think about. These are the things that matter most. Are we seeking alignment with God or are we here to run our own life?

After a few weeks, praying specifically about how God wanted to use my desires, I received the beginning of a breakthrough. I found myself in a situation where my gift of encouragement really shined through. As I helped someone I loved with their sadness and confusion about life, I suddenly began to receive visions about who I was and what I was supposed to be doing. After I got off the phone, I immediately took out a notebook and wrote down everything that came to me. The more I wrote, the more revelation I had. I began to see how other people around me played a role in my vision and how my desires for opportunity, mentoring, and finances fit in the puzzle. When I finally put the pen down, I smiled with excitement. Was this it?! Was I ready?! Was it time?! I knew God had answered my prayer and gave me His perspective on what it was I desired. Full of joy, my desire to reach that vision strengthened.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may lift you up in due time.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

There was a major problem, however. Though I received a glimpse of what would come from my life, I had no indication that it was time to pursue it. I couldn’t tell if I was ready for it or not. I wasn’t sure if things would line up as I stepped out on faith or if I had to have more preparation first? This standstill became extremely frustrating. While I don’t doubt God’s plan to give me a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11), the waiting required to see that plan is what’s difficult. How can I stay where I am when I’m fired up for the next thing? How does the puzzle come together when I don’t see any of the pieces on the table yet? These are the types of questions that feed the temptation to walk in front of God. These are the types of questions that bring motive back to the forefront. A wrong motive will have us ready to show out, ready to quit, or ready to tell everyone before it’s time. We may want to boast or brag or we may want to get out of the pressures that we are facing. If God tells us to trust Him through the process, no matter how difficult, murky, or time consuming it is, will we obey and wait for Him?

“Everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” – Mark 14:36

Jesus spoke these words before His impending crucifixion. No matter what He felt like doing, He still submitted to the will of God the Father and died for our salvation. While, thank God, nothing we have to wait for or endure is this difficult, the concept is still the same. Will we let God reign over our ideas of time, opportunity, and ability or will we overstep Him? Don’t let your rush to escape, flex, or even to do great work supersede the timing and instruction of God. He doesn’t make mistakes. Submission is difficult, painful, and frustrating but it builds character, strength, and faith. Hold on and stay in alignment.

It’s not always about you, twentysomethings.

Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed

Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Making bold requests to God has always been an area of struggle for me. While I have no problem asking for help in my attitude or that He protect me in my travels, asking for life altering things causes me anxiety. I feel both conflicted and stressed when I desire to ask Him to make an impactful shift in my life, such as in finances or creating opportunities to grow in my passions, because it feels disrespectful. Not only does it feel disrespectful to seemingly order God around, it also feels like I have no trust in His plan. Because these were my views of asking boldly, I simply never prayed those prayers. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that a pressing to open my mouth and ask really hit me. The beliefs of distrust and disrespect held me back before, but now, beginning to explore the truth about bold requests, I wanted to share this with you. My hope is that you get the confidence to ask God soon! Blessings and breakthroughs are waiting for you to open your mouth.

“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in My name, I will do it.” – John 14:13-14

This particular scripture was placed on my heart a few weeks ago when the initial pressing to ask came over me. Without forcing itself on me, the scripture laid there waiting for me to interact with it. I heard it. I read it. I smiled at it. I didn’t, however, act upon it. While the scripture was beautiful, full of Jesus’ promise to glorify the Father through our requests, it sounded too good to be true.  Jesus starting with “whatever you ask” immediately made me cringe. How could Jesus say “whatever” as if we actually know what’s best for our lives? If I asked for something crazy, I thought, would God still honor it? Were there rules and guidelines to this? Were there any limits I needed to know about? It felt like a trick or a scam. Jesus wasn’t specific enough. Besides, who was I to even approach God like that? Wasn’t I, as a Christian, supposed to just trust Him and let Him do His thing?

Believing I had a right to approach God with requests was my biggest hurdle. It wasn’t that I thought I wasn’t His child. It wasn’t that I was afraid of God. To me, it went back to respect. As a mere human, it felt rude and extremely cocky to think I could just tell God what I needed Him to do. Again, why would He even listen to me? I wasn’t on His level and I definitely didn’t know myself or my life course better than He did. Sit down and shut up, I thought. God had it covered just fine without my two cents.

“In Christ and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” – Ephesians 3:12

“Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” – John 16:24

These two scriptures above serve as rebuttals to my thought process. Ephesians 3:12 speaks directly to the belief of inadequacy and lack of rights. It is true that I am a flawed human whose sin makes me unworthy to stand face to face with God. It’s also true, however, that I have a new status because of Jesus. Having faith in Christ and the debt He paid for us on the Cross, I do have the right to approach God freely and confidently. I don’t have to be scared or feel unworthy. I no longer need to shy away from asking Him because I don’t know everything like He does. He told me to come boldly before Him. As His child, His job is to take care of me and lead me.

John 16:24 speaks to what we gain when we use our right to ask. Not only do we have a promise to receive what we are requesting, we also have a promise that our joy will be full. The promise of joy particularly touched me because joy can get pushed aside by life’s lows. Specifically, when we feel like our lives aren’t everything they could be, our joy tends to diminish. Joy grows as the feeling of His constant presence grows.  Asking allows us to be in fellowship with God, to grow in our knowledge of Him, and to see His faithfulness at work. That’s what He’s desiring for us.

“If you remain in Me and My words in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:7-8

Remember when I told you that the “whatever you ask” in John 14:13-14 stressed me out? God provided a response to that as well. Requests do indeed have guidelines. Jesus precedes “ask whatever you wish” with “if you remain in Me and My words in you”. What I learned from this is that as you continue to grow in God and seek to do His will, your desires naturally begin to line up with His. You won’t be asking for outlandish things when your heart is set on glorifying Him. Everything that you begin to ask will be for His glory and His purpose. He will be delighted to give you your heart’s desires because it was His plan for you all along.

I share all of this with you simply to encourage you to open your mouth and boldly start making your requests known. The devil is set on making us think we’re too shy or too unworthy. On the contrary, God is excited for you to approach Him and He tells us to do so with freedom and confidence, no matter our history. We are redeemed because of Christ and we need to start acting like it, in every area of our lives. Let’s start today by boldly approaching His throne and receiving the promises He has been waiting to give us.

Be bold about it, twentysomethings! ❤️

Learning & Refining

Learning & Refining

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 2 Comments

Sit. Breathe. Listen.

I ask myself often why I can’t take a seat?! My mind constantly races and I never allow myself to be at ease. I’ll catch myself stumbling over , striding towards or striving for something instead of resting. As you can imagine, this has messed with both my endurance and my emotions. There are moments when, at the height of my stride, I can feel on top of the world, handling responsibilities and feeling like I’m really plugged into God. Conversely, I can feel beat up and out of breath when all of my personal effort seemingly leads me nowhere or puts me in an unwanted position I didn’t foresee previously. I’ve learned, or rather have been reminded, that sometimes I disregard the voice of God in the entire matter. While I may have Godly people and Godly influences around me, God Himself will be on the back burner. That positioning often leads to issues like what I’ve described above. A more real example of this just occurred recently. Hopefully my story will be helpful to some of you.

For the past two or three months, I’ve been watching a church on YouTube that preached primarily to young adults. Grabbing my attention by preaching in fun but very insightful ways, I grew excited. As I know myself to do (I’m still a work in progress, y’all), I became obsessed. I listened to sermons night and day and didn’t think anything was wrong because, of course, it was the Word of God. The more time I spent listening to these sermons, as well as a few more from other pastors I loved, I began to feel heavy. They were all telling me to do so many things. I needed to evangelize more. I needed to write my vision down. I needed to have greater faith. I needed to rest more. I needed to put my faith into action. It was information overload. While all these sermons were all valid and all great in their contexts, that didn’t make them all valid and great for me to hear simultaneously. At the time however, I didn’t understand that.

Fast forward to a week or so ago when the heaviness, particularly to evangelize, weighed on me. The idea of evangelizing freaked me out because I’m quiet and introverted, especially around strangers (all prayers are appreciated, y’all). I was fearful honestly. The various sermons told me about the lives that needed to be saved. They told me how people can’t call on Jesus if they never heard of Him (John 10: 14-15). I felt that responsibility. I felt the compassion. I did actually care. I was so scared though. I had fears such as: “What will they say?”, “Will I even make sense?”,  “Will they reject me?”,  and “Will it matter?”.  Regardless of how “weak” those fears may seem to other people, they felt intensely real and strong to me. As real as they felt, the guilt was even more intense. I knew I didn’t need to be fearful. I knew I wasn’t supposed to shy away. No matter how many people told me to breathe and pray for opportunity, I always felt like there was always opportunity that I was cowardly avoiding. I kept holding this guilt and disappointment in myself, not even realizing the true severity of it, until I got a migraine.

My history of migraines runs deep. It’s too deep to get into now but trust me. Long story short, I’ve had chronic migraines since I was thirteen, filled with hospitalizations and prescription medications. By God’s grace, however, I haven’t had a migraine in about two years! As you can imagine then, when I got one, I instantly freaked out and was confused. I didn’t understand where it came from or what triggered it. Though I didn’t connect the dots right away, the following day, God let me know exactly what caused my migraine. He told me, and I paraphrase, “the devil is setting you up. He wants you to believe that you’re not worthy. He wants you to think that I’m upset with you. He’s trying to get you to believe that I’m disappointed in you. You’re believing him. I’m not mad at you. Let’s try again. Focus on Me.” When I heard that, the light bulb went off and everything clicked. The devil knew the right button to push. I’m very type A (again, prayers please!). I always want to do it right, be perfect, and do the best job. It seems to be heightened when it relates to pleasing God with my life. While that’s all great and wonderful, it’s also dangerous because I’m not a perfect person nor will I ever be. God understands our humanity (Psalm 103: 13-18). He knew we weren’t perfect from the beginning. That’s why He sent Jesus in the first place! He gets it. I am the one that so desperately needs to understand that truth! To accept that we aren’t perfect but that we are in God’s grace, is the biggest first step. To sit under Him, submitted, dependent, and obedient is how we win. He wants to help. He cares for us. (Isaiah 30:18)

So for me, focusing on His voice looks like fasting from listening to the zillions of sermons on YouTube everyday and just reading the Bible. I come to Him with questions or thoughts and I let Him lead me to answers and further understanding about who He is and who He says I am in Him. Am I, today, still fearful? Yes! Do I feel like a disappointment and a bad Christian? No! That’s progress in my book. It will only go up from here. That I definitely believe.

I write all of this to say that the devil is busy and working his hardest to defeat you. He will use any and every trick in the book to break you down and pull you away from Christ. Don’t believe his lies, no matter how true they feel. Even at your lowest, God loves you, wants you and is longing to take care of you. Remove the noise and listen for His voice. There’s always more learning and refining to do in us. When you get confronted with something, don’t shy away out of fear, shame, or disappointment. God loves all of you and will continue to work, correct, and shape you into who He’s called you to be. Let Him do it. God is preparing you for greater.

There’s more for you, twenty somethings ❤️

A Punch In My Pride

A Punch In My Pride

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. – Galatians 6:3

I have never before identified myself as prideful. Pride and I never seemed to go together. Prideful people couldn’t be told right from wrong. Prideful people had stuck up attitudes 24/7. Prideful people were rude and inconsiderate of others who were “less than them”. That wasn’t me, until it was. Imagine then, my amazement, when I found myself  turning up my nose at someone, reducing their existence to the words of gossip, and deeming them unworthy of my help. Immediately, God shined a bright light on my heart. I was faced with the question: was this the true me?

Without going into full detail,  I caught myself being extremely stuck up. I felt that I had the power to pick and choose what I’d do for others. I felt like I had the authority to choose who and how I wanted to forgive others. Even as I write this now, I find myself cringing at how bad this sounds and how bad it makes me look. Despite this, I realize just how real and ridiculously common this problem is for both myself and many of you. This revelation required me to ask: Why is pride so easy to fall into and so easy to not notice, especially in ourselves?

In my opinion, a lot of it has to do with worldly validation. All of us seek to be appreciated, to be looked at with admiration, and to feel like we are worth something in this world. We tend to look at our financial status, the people we know, the education we received, and the physical looks we have (this is a short list), to make the case on why we should be appreciated. Compared to the next guy on the street, or working at our job, or the crazy family member we all have, we are doing good. So good, in fact, we now have some elitist mentality that highlights our strengths and forgets the flaws. Further, it makes us forget where we got the “better than” from in the first place. We lose sight of the truth that it’s not anything we did to be so great, but instead, God’s grace working in our lives.

Culture teaches us to think this way. It was our accomplishments, our hard work , and our looks that made us slay the way we do. The highlight reels on Instagram and Snapchat only push us to outdo the next person and prove that there’s something about us that the next person could never do or have. This faulty perception only further builds our pride, as we now have to keep outdoing and outslaying the next person to stay on top and keep our pride happy.

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening–it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. – Hebrews 12:11

I found myself, the day God really brought my ugliness to light, both in the depths of gossip and the stubborn unwillingness to be of service to others. I could feel God say to me, “bruh, what are you doing?!”. As you all know, the pruning process I’m in is ever evolving. Here again, was another lesson primed and ready to go. The lesson, this time, was without God I was no one. Better put, I had no rights, no authority, and no nerve to sit there and exalt myself. Without God constantly forgiving me, gracing me, teaching me, and growing me, I’d be the same mess (if not worse) than the person I was gossiping about. Without God, I wouldn’t even have the resources that I was now being stingy with! Who, then, gave me the right to act this way?

As God began to read my entire life, I began to sober up. I was still messy, even with God’s healing, and I had no right at all to dream up the concept that I was better than another person. I felt down on myself and extremely ashamed that I acted that way when God had shown me nothing but kindness, grace, and patience. It should have been common knowledge to extend that grace to others around me. That would be the least I could do. The process of being disciplined, as you can imagine, hurt. Not just from the actual reprimand, but from the self awareness I experienced. I remember asking for forgiveness and help. I wanted to let go of whatever spurred that in me. I wanted it removed and I wanted to be healed.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2

The process of healing is eye opening. Within it, I found unchecked self esteem issues, doubt issues, and comparison problems. I found that a lot of that behavior was taught and passed down from family. I realized how worldly I still was. The desire to overcome that became consuming. Gossiping may seem simple and harmless, but it’s not. You’re allowing negative and hurtful energy into your life. It’s blatant disregard to the grace God has given you. It’s bad stewardship of your gifts and blessings. It’s dimming your light to gain the world but lose your soul. It’s a major problem, twentysomethings. I pray that you check yourself the next time you find yourself waist deep in the sea of pride. Run from it as quickly as you can. Ask for help to overcome it.  Here’s your chance to break the cycle. Go for it!

 

Win God’s way, twentysomethings.