In this season, God is inviting us to take steps of faith that will bring powerful breakthroughs and reevaluate what we spend our time thinking about. There is an invitation for us to cultivate habits of faithfulness. Show up even when it seems like nothing is happening. Take time to dream and imagine the promises God has given you instead of fears and doubts. Right now, it's time to take steps of faith towards what God has called you to do.
Physical Obedience Brings Spiritual Breakthrough
"On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times... When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city." (Joshua 6:15, 20)
We are triune beings—body, soul, and spirit. Our physical bodies are deeply connected to our spiritual lives. Often, God will ask us to do something in the natural realm that has an effect in the spiritual realm.
This could look like giving away something when you're experiencing lack or a financial setback. Or even doing something that doesn't make much sense, but you feel a prompting from the Lord to do it. The Israelites marched around Jericho seven times. On the outside, it looked like they were being foolish. However, things were shifting in the spirit that then had powerful ramifications in the natural, so much so that the walls of Jericho collapsed to the ground.
How can you take physical steps that have powerful ramifications in the spirit? At one point when I (Katelyn) was in ministry school, God asked me to outlandishly praise Him and dance before Him as if I'd already received my rent money (which was late). A day later, a check showed up in the mail for the amount I needed.
Right now, God is showing people what He wants to do in the spiritual realm. Partnering with Him may look like doing something silly, foolish looking, or seemingly disconnected. However, physical obedience brings spiritual breakthroughs. God may ask you to do a "prophetic act," which is a physical act that represents what you believe God is doing/what you're needing breakthrough in (e.g., my dancing and praising God as if my rent was already paid).
More important than your reputation or being understood by those around you is following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. So ask God how you can partner with Him to experience a powerful breakthrough. (Photo via Pixabay)
Cultivating Habits of Faithfulness
"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin..." (Zechariah 4:10)
Months ago, I started doing Pilates immediately after waking up—simply fifteen minutes in the morning of a stretch and mini workout session. If that was the only movement I could get in, I told myself it was enough. However, this decision deeply impacted my mornings. I was in the final few months of acting school, and taking time to do the mini workout session first thing in the morning helped me to emotionally regulate throughout the day and have the endurance to finish well.
This also gave me a sense of consistency and routine in a highly demanding season. No one was forcing me to do this; rather, it was a beautiful gift of gentle movement that I gave to myself. As I stretched, I would just thank the Lord for the morning, for movement, and for the day. A few months into this, I had a dance instructor comment on my movement. She asked if I had been taking other dance classes. The only thing I'd changed was that I started doing morning Pilates.
What I realized is that small habits lead to powerful change. You may feel like you don't have much to bring to the table, like you can't invest in your relationship with God because you don't have enough time. However, small habits lead to powerful outcomes. Ask God which habits of faithfulness He wants to cultivate in your life. The Lord isn't looking for perfection. Rather, He's searching for faithfulness and the hearts that will turn toward Him.
Sanctified Imagination
"Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Did you know that God gave you an extraordinarily powerful gift when He gave you an imagination? Children are incredibly imaginative. However, as adults we often don't value "imagination." Nevertheless, whether we realize it or not, we use our imaginations all the time.
We use our imaginations when we envision every worst-case scenario that could happen. We use our imaginations when we come up with every possible reason why our dreams won't work out. We use our imaginations when we plan a vacation and imagine what we'll do on it. Likewise, we use our imaginations when we dream about God's promises and possibilities for our lives.
Our imaginations either help us cultivate a life of hope and faith or a life of worry and despair. This is why we need a sanctified imagination. When we invite God into our imaginations, our minds become powerful resources to live a life of faith. If you're someone who's prone to worry, try imagining the "best case scenario." If you're someone who's always talking to yourself negatively, imagine some kind words you could say to yourself.
God often speaks to us through our imaginations. The imagination is where dreams are birthed. God will plant a seed or an idea that is the beginning of a dream, a catalyst for creativity, and a launching pad for what He wants to do... and it starts in the imagination.
If you've been battling negativity in your mind, I encourage you to start meditating on the goodness of God and engage your imagination. When you're tempted to worry, imagine good things happening instead. Imagine the best possible outcomes. Imagine God turning your situation around for good. Use your imagination to cultivate faith and hope. Your imagination can be a powerful tool for renewing your mind.
Authentic Faith
"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." (James 1:6–8)
Have you ever struggled to believe what God says about you? Have you found yourself grappling with disillusionment and self-doubt? Maybe you've heard from God... but the things He says about you are more than you can imagine for yourself. Perhaps God has given you a dream that's far too big for you, and you think, "He couldn't possibly mean me." (Photo via Flickr)
God is inviting you to pick up His perspective of you. Many of us are living "half in" and "half out" over what God says about who we are. We say one thing, but do another. We attempt to believe God's word over our lives, but we don't take steps of courage or faith because we're riddled with doubt. When we do this, we're living in a space of double-mindedness, which is confusing for our hearts and souls.
Right now, there's an invitation to go "all in" in believing God.
Exactly three years ago, I (Katelyn) was debating taking a big leap and committing to three years at acting conservatory. God had been speaking to me about acting for over ten years, yet I was still riddled with fear, doubt, and double-mindedness. Could I really commit three years of my life to studying acting in my thirties?
I spent a lot of time in prayer, yet still felt so afraid. I knew that if I said "yes" there would be no turning back. I took the leap of faith and I showed up to class on the first day of school. When I did, I received a powerful download of faith from the Lord about acting. Even though God had been speaking to me about acting for over ten years, this was the first time I fully believed Him without doubt. And this faith has never left me since.
Faith is a gift from God, and He is giving His people the gift of faith. However, faith requires action. For me, the download of faith came after I showed up to acting school. It was an act of faith for me to apply and audition and even consider the possibility that I could do it. Likewise, it's an act of faith to take the first step, and that includes surrendering our doubts to God and picking up His promises and His word over our lives.
If you're struggling with doubt and double-mindedness, ask God for keys and strategies to help you line up your words with His words and your thoughts with His thoughts. Many of you are waiting for the feeling of faith to show up before you take action, but it doesn't usually work that way. Often, faith shows up after you take the first step. I truly believe that my testimony is yours: when you take a step of faith, God will give you the gift of faith.
Declarations:
• I am generous even when I lack.
• I keep promises to myself and others.
• God has given me a powerful and sanctified imagination.
• I am taking action steps of faith.
• My mind and heart are in alignment with God's heart.
Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Anne Jackson
The Crowning Jewels
Website:Â www.thecrowningjewels.com
Email:Â hello@thecrowningjewels.com
Texas-born Anne Jackson worked as a nurse for seventeen years before fully embracing her creative nature. Having grown up believing that God only spoke through the Bible, her life was transformed with the personal knowledge that He still speaks today. As she experienced a revelation of God's love for her and the power of words to transform and heal, she began designing jewelry, partnering with the Holy Spirit to create a tangible way to bring Heaven to Earth. This is where her prophetic jewelry company, The Crowning Jewels, was birthed. Many people recognize her company as a business-ministry hybrid. She is known as a prophetic visionary with the drive to accomplish her dreams. Her mandate is to champion others as they discover their God given identity and fulfill their divine purpose. After living in Redding, CA for ten years, she recently moved back home and currently resides in Texas.
Â
Katelyn Alexander
The Crowning Jewels
Website:Â www.thecrowningjewels.com
Email:Â hello@thecrowningjewels.com
Katelyn Alexander is a masterful teacher and coach with a passion for seeing people walk in the wholeness of who God created them to be. An actor, writer, and storyteller, Katelyn blends creativity and charisma with a solid foundation on the Word of God. Katelyn first worked with Anne and The Crowning Jewels in 2015 and now blogs, writes, and teaches for TCJ.
To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Thank you for making the always-free "ElijahStreams" possible. To partner with us, click here.
Your donations truly help us keep these emails free for you. Donate at:
Find us on:
* Facebook click here
* XAPiT click here
