Tag: God

Is It Reliable?

Is It Reliable?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Even though I have a few years left, there’s no denying that my twenty something journey is coming to a close. With thirty on the horizon, my mind can’t help but think about who I’ll become as a thirty something. For many, thirty announces true adulthood. No longer struggling (as much) to figure things out, thirty somethings seem to have a greater handle on crises with much more wisdom and responsibility. I can’t forget about the stereotypical thirty something events either. Marriage, babies, owning homes, finding that stable job, and finally starting your life (as if it’s been on standby all this time). These are all wonderful and exciting things to anticipate. As I reflect on these upcoming events however, there’s something about them that seem a little sketchy. They look like a lot of pushing, pressure, expectation, and comparison. For me, to a degree, they raise a red flag. Is this the marker of success for me? Is this who I must become? What if I don’t achieve everything in time? What will that mean for me?

When I ask those questions, what I’m truly getting at is purpose. We’re told to build the family, climb the corporate ladder and secure wealth to pass down. We’re told to look for stability, to do better than our parents, and never settle for less. These are great things, honorable aspirations. What happens, however, when those things fail? What happens when that stable job lays you off? What happens when you’re 35 and aren’t married with kids yet? What happens when you do your very best and still don’t get promoted? Do you crash and burn and settle in defeat? Who even told you that you had to follow that specific path on that specific timeline anyway? If you veer off and take some back streets to the final destination, are you any less than? I hope you already know the right answer.

What frustrates me most is that these expectations don’t put God in the equation at all. We are told to hustle. To network. To date. To pursue. To fight. Did God tell us to do that though? Moreover, did God finish developing the character necessary for us to handle such things responsibly? It all feels like pressure to perform without the wisdom to discern. As the world makes these cultural rules for us to follow, have we ever considered how shaky the world and its ways are? Have we ever considered how shaky and unreliable even we can be? We believe something one day then prove it wrong by next week. We have mood swings and make hasty decisions that prove detrimental. How can we follow a guideline put forth by people and institutions that can barely hold themselves above water? What’s the solution?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

One of the things I love about God is that He is all knowing. Even with the best education and life experiences, sometimes our plans and ventures fall flat. Our understanding is faulty. Our foresight is nearsighted. On our own, we can’t always be sure our decisions are their absolute best. When we take the pressure off of ourselves however, and let God lead us, we gain confidence. God is now on the line for the plans and steps He tells us to follow. We are assured that even if things seem to be going left, God is not a liar. If He promised that all things work together for the good of those who love Him (aka us), then good they will be. No unnecessary pressure. No worldly standards. No burden. God has it under control.

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” – Proverbs 3:9–10

Put notice on the promise of overflow in this scripture. Have you realized that in order to fill to overflow, you must be the source of the abundance. Once again, it’s a promise from God that releases the pressure from us. You’re honoring God with the firstfruits because He was the one who supplied it in the first place. If He’s the ultimate provider then our only job is to work well and trust Him for the provision. His provision may be a job you weren’t qualified for or an extra check you weren’t expecting. His provision may be that job layoff, which protected you from scandal at the corporation, or even just enough to pay the bills another month. Whether it seems grand or simple, the source is solid. It’s reliable. It’s generous. It’s trustworthy. It’s God. Let the characteristics of God bring about the peace you need in this world of striving.

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” – James 4:10

I realize that what I’m suggesting is a tall order for some. We aren’t necessarily wired to just trust God. We’ve been taught to do our best, be responsible, plan for the future, and strive to live our best lives. I’m not suggesting we stop having goals and aspirations. I’m only asking us to assess the source whenever we’re motivated to move in a certain direction or desire something that the world told us was necessary. Will you actually let God lead instead of you? Will you accept His sovereignty even if it comes at the hand of changing your perfectly decorated vision board? Will you stop just hearing what God has said and finally test Him in it? I challenge you to simply stay open and available to whatever God is wanting to do in you. He promises that it’ll be far more than you can imagine! (Ephesians 3:20-21)

We’re not stable enough to run our own lives. Let God take the reins, twentysomethings ❤️

Who Do You Look Like?

Who Do You Look Like?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Think back to your high school years. Do you remember when everyone wanted to be a part of the popular crew? Many, maybe even you, changed their fashion style, taste in music, or even moral convictions in hope of being deemed worthy of befriending. Fortunately, once many of us left school, the power of blending in lost its strength and we committed to being our true selves. Though some have remained uniquely themselves, it seems as though many of us have fallen back into the toxic trait of conformity over the years. What on earth happened to us? Why do we crave, so badly, to be like the majority? Why do we hate the confrontation or isolation that being different can bring? Why is the sacrifice of morals and faith a common casualty in this battle? Why aren’t we glad to be set apart?

“And so those whom God set apart, He called; and those He called, He put right with Himself, and He shared His glory with them.” – Romans 8:30

When I think about being set apart, this verse immediately pops into my head. It’s simple, isn’t it? Those who have been set apart are the ones called by God to do His will. They are the ones justified by grace and deemed righteous. They are the ones thrilled to have their lives point back to Him. Despite how beautiful this promise from God sounds, many of us push it away easily. It saddens me deeply, to be honest, to see how much we blend in. We put glory on the back burner for quick thrills. We disregard reverence of God for the sake of not offending people. We placate unbelievers with half truths in hopes of maintaining the peace. I too am guilty of this. We never want to look like the bad guy. We never want to cause pain to someone. We never want to be disrespectful. As a Christian, we shouldn’t want to be those things. In the same way Jesus operated out of love and respect towards others, so should we. The question, however, still remains. If we all follow the ways of the world, how can the distinct beauty and truth of God be shown through us?

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 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.” – 1 John 2:15-16

Showing the distinctive beauty and truth of God goes much deeper than simply not participating in acts such as premarital sex and getting drunk. It goes beyond checking off some “good Christian” checklist.  The glory of God is shown most often through our love and self-discipline, even in the simple things. In a culture of lying, do you attempt the stay truthful and walk in integrity? In a culture of “doing me,” do you choose to submit your will to God’s? In a culture of spilling the tea, do you walk away from gossip or even discourage others from doing it? In a culture of “God forgives but I don’t,” do you take the initiative to forgive someone simply because you know how often God forgives you? It’s crucial, especially in a time where God is deemed unnecessary at best and nonexistent at worst, that we stop hiding the glory displayed through us. If we blend in, there’s nothing about us that draws someone to Him. If people don’t see the help, power, and purpose of God shown through us, then what’s the point of even doing this Christian walk?

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

This post, simply, is a call to action. It is time for all of us, myself included, to be more intentional about pointing back to Him. The allure of the world can easily draw us in because it speaks to our flesh. As flawed people, all we want is for our flesh to be satisfied. God’s love, however, is greater than our fleshly desires. The deep love He has for us, to the point of fighting for our salvation (John 3:16), is not something we should be taking lightly. In the same way that God fought for our love, He is fighting for those who still don’t see His value. We, as His children, need to be living and breathing examples of that value. We need to be willing to share how God saved us. We need to be brave enough to break from the trend and honor God. It isn’t about following a rule book and not having fun. It’s about reverence and gratitude. Its about submitting the power of your flesh to the righteousness of God. Let your life showcase His power. Let His truth speak louder than the world’s voice. Let the beauty of God shine through you. Be proud of the victor God called you to be. There are countless lives depending on it, whether they realize it or not.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16

 

Stay lit, twenty somethings 💕

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

 

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 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! ❤️

Growing Pains

Growing Pains

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 4 Comments

growing pains = temporary difficulties and problems at the beginning of a particular stage of development. (Collins Dictionary)

Adulting seems to be all about making gains. Most of our goals include making more money, having greater influence and pull in our social groups, becoming more mature and responsible, and of course, loosening the dependence we have on our parents. While those are all great accomplishments in the adulting journey, truth be told, the process in getting there is extremely difficult. We may succeed for a while, thriving as “full grown” twentysomething adults, but inevitably, we always have that hiccup that pulls us back into the reality that we still have more growing up to do.

Growing up, spiritually, works the same way. It reminds me a lot of God’s pruning process, which I’ve touched on previously. Pruning is designed to get rid of those characteristics and habits that are less than who you truly are. It is also designed to stretch you, building a new and improved version of yourself. As I thought more about pruning, I couldn’t help but relate it to the term “growing pains”. Most of us know that growing pains occur when children are getting bigger, often growing in height. The Collins Dictionary definition really touched me specifically, as I could directly see the ties between growing pains in the natural and in the spiritual. Read over the definition again. For me, the two words that stuck out most were “temporary” and “development”. Let’s dive into each of these for a second.

The word temporary feels comforting. We can look at our most difficult experiences, both spiritually and naturally, and recognize that it didn’t last forever. Even in particular situations that still have lasting effects on our present day, there has been some relief, some healthier alternative, or at least, a growing mental capacity to handle the situation better than you once did. Similarly, pruning is temporary. The varying levels of discomfort that pruning brings never lasts forever. You may struggle through it, you may be annoyed by it, and it may stress you out in the moment, but always, relief does come and growth does occur. The second word, development, ties right in. Our goal, no matter what we are doing, is to be better than we were the day before. We can’t do that, however, unless we submit to the process of development: the stretching, pulling, and evolving it takes to become a better us. This process is one God specializes in. The question is, as always, will we take a backseat and let God do the work, even when we think we already have it together?

Thinking I already have it together is a problem I fall into, more times than I’d like to admit. Though I’ve touched on many of my insecurities and struggles, I do also have attributes and capabilities that I’m particularly proud of. Unsurprisingly, God recently decided it was time to test those capabilities out. Did I really have it together? Absolutely not. After I was put in multiple situations that tested my patience, my attitude, and my ability to “be like Christ”, it didn’t take long before the “absolutely not” was obvious. I could feel moments, at the peak of those difficult situations, when my temper rose, where my annoyance reigned, and where my desire to give up almost overtook me. The situations felt more like an attack than any standard and simple pruning. To be honest, I was highly annoyed at God for the unwanted turn of events. I wanted things to go back to how they were. I wanted to ease back into that comfortable space I once found myself in. I wanted my mom! (shout out to my awesome adulting skills!) Thank God for His love, patience, and comfort, however. Though He let me struggle and fight for a while, He soon enough came with a message. In my stillness, He let me know that this wasn’t about the painful attack, but rather, the opportunity for growth. Sitting on that word for a second, I immediately became frustrated. It felt like just another tick off my character. It was another fault or problematic issue that I had. God countered me quickly, assuring me that that wasn’t the problem either. This wasn’t about highlighting my faults so that I’d feel bad. This was about development. This was to prepare me so that I’d be ready for the next step in God’s Will for my life. Understanding this, I was left feeling humbled and grateful. Though the process was irritating and uncomfortable, knowing that this was for my future blessings and provision left me joyful.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. -James 1: 2-4

I share this with you in hopes that you’ll be encouraged when attacks come your way. Before you jump to conclusions and get full of anger, take a step back and reassess the situation. Is there anything you could learn from the attack? Is there anything you’re praying for that may need this sort of character building in order to be manifested? If so, consider it an opportunity for joy. This is not a disregard to the ill ways others may treat you. This is not a disregard to your feelings or emotions during difficult times. This is, however, an opportunity to switch your perspective, allowing the painful but powerful work of growing pains. The result will always be taller, stronger, and wiser you.

Let’s see that height, twentysomethings. ✨

How Do I Win?

How Do I Win?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 3 Comments

I’ve noticed that there’s a common thread tying many of my life problems together: insecurity. While insecurity is something we all go through, I believe many of us don’t discuss the work it takes to break free of it. Often, we don’t do the work at all, allowing it to be “just how I am.” As a way to break that belief, I want to share a journey I’ve been on in trying to overcome insecurity. While this may not be the solution for everyone, I hope that all of you who struggle with this can grasp something and apply it in your lives. We don’t have time to be jealous and insecure. More than ever, it’s time to fight back. Our destiny is on the line.

Insecurity is vicious. Starting seemingly from birth, we are surrounded by constant comparisons, competitions, beauty standards, and harsh words/ opinions from people. It can get so bad that no matter what you accomplish, you still can’t see your greatness. I was that person, someone so deep into feeling less than that I couldn’t see anything else. It wasn’t until I grew tired that things had the opportunity to change. We often cope with insecurity by shying away and lowering ourselves or by bringing others down to lift ourselves up. I definitely fell into the first category and while feeling sorry for myself “worked” for some years, I couldn’t let it continue to define me. I knew that if I stayed in that place, I would never get all that was meant for me. I would be too scared, too shy, and too blind to see my worth, my power, and my purpose.

Knowing that things had to shift, I began to pray about it and ask God how to overcome this struggle. After speaking with one of my friends (shout out to you Yung Claxton!), the solution became obvious: discover what God says about me, ask follow up questions to make sure the promises belonged to me, and be bold enough to accept it as true,  EVEN WHEN I  felt less than worthy of it.

This method may sound extremely cliche, but hear me out. For me, I always believed that I wasn’t pretty enough, I sinned too much to be worthy of God’s love, that I didn’t have talents or abilities that could hold a light up to my peers, and that my voice didn’t matter. I thought the lowest of lows about myself and it had been that way since I could remember. When I started this journey, I became extremely uncomfortable, as I had to face myself, discover why I felt the way I felt, and choose to believe God’s truth over the world’s truth that had been ingrained in my heart since the beginning of time. I used a journal to write exactly how I felt. It was sad but also therapeutic to confess how I perceived myself. There’s such freedom in being honest instead of giving the standard answers of “I’m fine” or “I’m not bothered.” As I read back what I wrote and got that sick feeling in my heart, knowing I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, I began searching for God’s responses to my feelings. I’ll give you a real example of one of my sessions, in hopes of bringing clarity and helping you start your journey towards victory.

Session 1

The Struggle: I feel unworthy of God because my flesh likes to rise up more times than I’d like. I have bouts of jealousy, doubt, and fear. I’m scared that I don’t measure up. I’m unsure about what I am even doing with my life. Is it enough? Am I doing too much?

God’s Response (1):

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” -Psalm 139:16

-This scripture hit me because simply, it told me that God gets it. He’s not surprised by my doubts and fears. He’s not amazed at how significantly I sinned. He’s not turned off by my weariness. He understands me better than I understand me. He knows me better than I know me. Despite all my perceived flaws, He’s still here loving me, growing me, pushing me forward, and favoring me. There’s nothing I can do that separates me from Him. If He knew all of that and still sent Jesus to die for me, I ought to calm down and breathe. All that self critique and condemnation isn’t necessary. He’s still at work in my life.

-Despite that realization, the stubborn part of me couldn’t let it go. I still felt like I couldn’t measure up and be all that God wanted me to be. God came through with the follow up.

God’s Response (2):

“For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” – Romans 8:29-30

-The beauty of this scripture was that while Psalm 139:16 told me that God already knew me, this scripture told me that because He knew me, I was predestined to be like Christ (the ultimate goal), that I was called by God and had a purpose in this earth, that I was justified or declared righteous by God, and that I was glorified and special.

-The understanding of Romans 8:29-30 gave me a rebuttal to the world’s truths that shaped me previously. How could I be unworthy, not talented enough, and not beautiful, when God JUST told me that I was righteous and had a purpose so great that He called me specifically for it?

At the end of this session, I was left with the final step of believing God’s truths. This is the hardest step because it’s a fight to actively agree with God over the lies you’ve accepted as fact for so long. This step takes time. The more you meditate on the promises over your life and talk back to the lies that flood your thoughts, the easier it gets.

I encourage you to stay in the fight for your destiny. There’s too much greatness over your life for you to continually play small and measure yourself against other people who are battling their own issues. Discover who you really are and walk in that power. You didn’t know before but now, there’s no excuse. Go ahead and live your best life, one truth at a time.

Keep winning, twentysomethings. ❤️

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.