Beloved Conference 2021 https://www.belovedconference.org Rest for your soul • Peace for your mind • Hope for your journey Sun, 04 Jun 2023 04:19:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://www.belovedconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cropped-2017-favicon-1-32x32.png Beloved Conference 2021 https://www.belovedconference.org 32 32 How to Boldly Answer God’s Call on Your Life https://www.belovedconference.org/how-to-boldly-answer-gods-call-on-your-life/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 04:19:48 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35510 Many people are not effectively answering God’s call on their life because they are in a position of push or a position of pull, but if we want to experience the benefits of boldly walking in God’s call on our lives, we must be in a position of . . . well, you’ll have to watch and see. Enjoy!

God calls different people to do different things. This also means we have different ways we answer those calls. So in today’s video, I want to share with you 3 common ways that people often answer God’s call and the one way that is the best way to answer. 

A POSITION OF PUSH

The first common way people answer God’s call on their lives is in what I call a position of push. This means that God has told you what He’s calling you to do, but you are hesitant to answer for any number of reasons (fear, doubt, complacency, you name it), and so you may frequently find yourself in a position where God is pushing you to where He wants you to go. 

Some signs that you are in a position of push are: 

  • You often overthink what God’s calling you to do
  • People keep asking when you’re going to do what it is you’re called to do (and often wonder why you haven’t don’t it yet)
  • You struggle with imposter syndrome and question if God made a mistake when calling you.
  • The moment you get excited about moving forward in your calling, you immediately are overcome with doubt and insecurity. 
  • The battle with doubt and anxiety that comes with answering the call makes you want to turn back.

The challenge for the pusher then is to trust God over your doubt and feelings of inadequacy. If you struggle to trust yourself with this calling, you’re going to have to trust God with yourself and what He can do through you, in spite of you. The hope I want to share with anyone in a position of push is Proverbs 3:5-6 which says:

“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 ‭ESV)‬‬

An example of someone in a position of push in the Bible is Moses. When God approached Moses in the wilderness in Genesis 3 to call him to go and free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, Moses hesitates. He does not go right away. In fact, he and God have a pretty lengthy conversation about it. Moses is fearful, doubtful, and he just doesn’t want to do it. But for every excuse Moses gives, God has a solution and although God does not take “no” as an answer, He really twists Moses’ hand and pushes him towards answering the call. 

Now if you are in a position of push, it’s often that your hesitation and indecisiveness are going to rob you of the peace and strength you need to move forward. The alternative is to trust God with your comfort zone and go where He tells you to go and do what He tells you to do. Now God is patient and gracious and He will take the time to process and wrestle with us, but hopefully, as we mature in our relationship with Him, that wrestling becomes less and less because we’ve experienced that if God is calling us to something, it’s for our good and His glory. 

A POSITION OF PULL

The next common way people answer God’s call on their lives is in what I call a position of pull. This is where God may or may not have revealed His call to you, but you are running full speed ahead to what you think it might be and so God has to pull you back to get you on track. You are a few steps ahead of God and although your ambition is praised by the world, it is more important to be in alignment with God. 

Signs you may be in a position of pull include:

  • You always feel in a hurry for God to tell you what’s next
  • You often leave projects unfinished because you’re excited to move on to the next thing
  • You start sometimes with much energy and excitement, but eventually find yourself burnt out
  • You feel like you’re always putting more into a matter than what you get out

Someone in a position of pull is often in a rush because they are passionate about this calling, but may find themselves out of step with God’s ultimate plan. It’s important then to trust God with the mission, no matter what that looks like, or how long it takes. Don’t become so focused on just getting it done or getting to the end destination, that you miss God in the journey. The hope I want to share with anyone in a position of pull is Proverbs 16:9 which says:

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NLT)

An example of someone in a position of pull in the Bible is David. David was passionate about building a temple for the Lord, and he was about to go all in on this project. But it was not God’s will for David to build the temple, but his son Solomon, instead. So God sent the prophet Nathan to David to pull him back and let him know the temple would be built, but not by him and not now. David could have moved forward full steam ahead and just did what he wanted, but instead, he praised God. He thanked God for the promise that the temple would be built, even if it wasn’t him building it, and then he ensured his son had all he needed when the time came to build the temple. If we’re too busy rushing what God has called us to do, we might miss when and how He called us to do it. Answering God’s call is not about just getting it done as fast as possible, even if we’re just genuinely excited, but about walking in step with God at His pace to His desired purpose. 

A POSITION OF FLOW

So the best way to answer God’s call is not to be in a position of push or pull, but to be in a position of flow. This is where you are walking in what God is calling you to do, but fear is not slowing you down, and anxiety is not moving you ahead of God by working in your own strength. Flow is where we surrender to God’s call, His way, and His timing. When we are in alignment with God like this, His Spirit becomes like wind beneath our wings and gives us the strength to do what we’re called to do. You will operate outside of your capacity because doubt is not slowing you down and you’re not relying on your strength, but God’s. This is where you become unstoppable. Isaiah 40:29-31 says:

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV)

God is fueling you as you surrender to Him. Often, we struggle with effectively answering God’s call on our lives because we’re in a position of push or a position of pull, but if we want to boldly answer God’s call on our lives, we need to be in a position of FLOW. If you are in a position of push, trust that God will give you the strength to fly. If you are in a position of pull, trust that God’s strength will take you higher than your own. When you find yourself in a position of flow, doing what you were made to do, no more and no less, that’s when you start to soar. 

To help you learn even more about how to confidently answer God’s call on your life, I invite you to join our next Bible study series titled “Crazy or Called” as we look at the lives of ten ordinary people in the Bible called to extraordinary purpose. If you’re ready to find the boldness to confidently answer God’s call on your life, join now for free and get the study guide to follow along by visiting the links in the description of this video.

If you enjoyed today’s video, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

For more Beloved encouragement, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google Play stores for unlimited and ad-free access to Beloved Bible study series, daily devotions, exclusive content, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved. 

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When You Don’t Want to Answer God’s Call on Your Life https://www.belovedconference.org/when-you-dont-want-to-answer-gods-call-on-your-life/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 04:05:33 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35508 God placed a specific call on your life because He trusts you. However, when we doubt God’s judgment in choosing us for the call, we’ll respond with hesitation and fear instead of boldness and faith. In today’s video, learn 3 ways you can trust God with His call on your life so you can effectively answer that call with confidence. Enjoy!

When you ask someone to do something, the last thing you want from them is an excuse. This, however, is exactly what Moses gives to God when God asked him to leave his life as a shepherd, go back to Egypt, and lead His people out of slavery. 

As we look at the excuses Moses gives in Exodus chapters 3 and 4, we’ll see that they are not that different from the excuses we often give when God calls us. Still, for every excuse Moses offered, God has an answer. 

1st Excuse: I’m Not Enough?

First, Moses asks God, “Who is he to lead the Israelites out of slavery?” Moses had lost his confidence in himself and felt he was unfit for the job. The reason Moses left Egypt in the first place was that he killed an Egyptian whom he saw harming an Israelite. He always wanted to help his people, He just went about it the wrong way. Now that he has an opportunity to do so in the power of God and not in his own strength, he is too ashamed of himself to accept the call. 

But God did not coddle Moses and tell him how great he was to encourage him to answer the call. God’s response was “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) Essentially, God is saying it doesn’t matter who you are, what matters more is that God is with Him. 

Often, we allow doubt to delay us from answering God’s call because we’re too focused on ourselves. As we remember our past mistakes, failures, and inadequacies, we talk ourselves out of our purposeful positions. But God knows what He gave you and what He didn’t give you. He knows what’s in your past and what’s not in your past. He knows what you’ve done and what you haven’t done and what’s been done to you, and He’s still calling you anyways, not because of who you are, but because of who He is. He can use any purpose, situation, or circumstance to do as He pleases. So if we want to answer God’s call with boldness, we need to take the focus off ourselves and place it back on God. 

2nd Excuse: Who Are You, God?

To answer Moses’ first excuse, God assures Moses He will be with him, so the second excuse Moses gives God is summarized in the question, “Who are You?” Moses is unsure how to let the Israelites know that it is God who sent him, because he’s like, well, who is this God? Moses asks, “what should I say when the people ask who sent me?”

To this, God responds, “I am who I am,” (Exodus 3:14 ESV) period. In short, this means the God Moses was talking to was not some other little “g” god, like the many other gods in Egypt. The God Moses was called by was the One and only God who created and ruled all. God explained to Moses that yes, He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the God of their ancestors, but He first introduces Himself as the “I Am.” The eternal, sovereign, omniscient, creator God of all. So it’s not a matter of determining which god sent Moses, but that God, the One and only God Almighty, sent him. 

Moses had to understand that the God sending him had the authority and power to back up his call. We, too, have to understand that whatever it is that God has called us to do, as our source, He has the authority and power to see it through. So we’re not answering in our own strength, we are walking in the authority that God has given us when we answer His call on our lives. Now how much more confidence and boldness would we walk in if we truly understood that we’re not doing this because we think it’s a good idea, or it just feels like the right thing to do, but that we are in alignment with the power and authority of God? 

3rd Excuse: What Will People Think?

The third excuse Moses gave God had nothing to do with himself or God, but his insecurity in how the people he was called to rescue would respond to him. He asks God, what if he goes back to Egypt to tell the Israelites that God called him to release them from slavery, and they don’t believe him? This excuse was rooted in the fear of people. Moses was afraid of how the people would respond to him. Once again, God graciously responds to Moses and gives him the ability to perform signs and wonders to get the people to believe him. The truth is that it was Moses’ job to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and he would need influence over them because he would need their cooperation. Still, God could move the hearts of the people to do what He needed them to do. Proverbs 16:7 says:

“When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7 ESV)

God can give you influence and favor with people, especially when it’s necessary for answering His call. God was not worried about how the Israelites would respond, Moses was. As long as we’re being obedient, we don’t need to fear man because God can handle that too. It’s more important for us to fear God. Proverbs 29:25 says:

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” (Proverbs 29:25 NLT)

And Galatians 1:10 asks:

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 ESV)

THE FINAL STRAW

So God has addressed all of Moses’ excuses, but Moses is not satisfied. So he goes back to excuse one about him being inadequate for the call, but he goes into more detail this time. He explains that he’s not an eloquent speaker and has a speech impediment, to which God responds that He is the One who gives us our mouths and that He will help Moses to speak. 

Still, not enough for Moses, he finally expresses how he really feels by saying:

“Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:12 ESV)

That’s what all Moses’ excuses were really about. He just didn’t want to do it. I’m sure Moses still wanted the Israelites to be free, he just didn’t want to be the one to do it. Now as patient as God had been in this entire conversation, He’s now angry with Moses because Moses was essentially saying, “God You made the wrong choice,” but God doesn’t do anything wrong. God was not wrong or mistaken to call Moses and He was not wrong or mistaken to call you. He made no mistake when He gave you your purpose. Our excuses reveal our shortcomings, not His.

His graciousness, even while angry, God accommodated Moses. He assigned Moses’ brother Aaron to speak to the people for Moses and serve as his mouth. Finally, Moses set out to answer God’s call and he does go on to lead God’s people to freedom. Are you having a similar conversation with God? Are you bringing more doubt than belief? More insecurity than boldness in the One who called you? More fear than faith? The only cure for your excuses is to stop looking at yourself and look to the all-powerful, sovereign, promise-keeping, gracious God that called you.

To help you learn even more about how to confidently answer God’s call on your life, I invite you to join our next Bible study series titled “Crazy or Called” as we look at the lives of ten ordinary people in the Bible called to extraordinary purposes. If you’re ready to find the boldness to confidently answer God’s call on your life, join now for free and get the study guide to follow along by visiting the links in the description of this video.

If you enjoyed today’s video, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

For more Beloved encouragement, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google Play stores for unlimited and ad-free access to Beloved Bible study series, daily devotions, exclusive content, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved. 

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7 Questions to Discover Your Purpose https://www.belovedconference.org/7-questions-to-discover-your-purpose/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 03:53:49 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35500 Our Creator God, is purposeful and intentional. That means He has a reason for everything He does, including why He created you. He gives us all purpose and places a specific call on our lives. In today’s video, I’m sharing 7 important questions to ask yourself to confidently discover God’s purpose in your life.

Today I’m sharing how to discover your God-given purpose. Now all believers have the same call to go and make disciples as Jesus commands in Matthew 28:19, but we also have specific purposes and assignments from God that are unique to each of us. 

Many people struggle with knowing what that purpose is for themselves. In our social media-driven society, we battle comparisons that distract us from doing the work to discover our own calling, because we’re looking at what everyone else is doing. 

However, we don’t find our purpose by looking out, and contrary to common belief, we don’t discover our purpose by looking in. Our purpose is revealed to us by looking up to God. The purpose of anything is found in the One who created it. Our purpose comes from God, and it’s for God.  Still, you may be wondering, ok, that’s great, Christina so when is God going to tell me my purpose? Well, unless you’re like Moses, He most likely won’t tell you with a burning bush. You may just have to do some searching and discovery. The Bible says:

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25:2‬ ‭NKJV‬)

Here’s the thing; we can’t search for our purpose without looking to God. This is not to frustrate us, but to take us on a journey to not only prepare us for our purpose, but to also help us learn about the God who has graciously given us that purpose in the first place. 

So in today’s video, I’m going to share with you 7 important questions to ask yourself to discover what specific purpose it is that God has entrusted to you so you can walk in that purpose with confidence and boldness. 

1. What is my POSITION? 

The first question to ask yourself to discover your purpose is: what is your position? Your position is where you are in life. Both your physical location and the season of life you are in reveal what God is calling you to do. By God’s sovereignty, He has placed us where we are in life at this moment for a reason. Pay attention and look around. Who has He put you around? These are the immediate people you are called to serve. Whether it’s your family, co-workers, or neighbors, God does not have you here by accident, so your position is connected to your purpose. 

Where are you in life right now? What do you believe this might reveal about God’s purpose for you? What season of life are you in? Why do you think God has called you to this season and what lessons are there for you to learn here?

2. What is my PASSION? 

Next, you want to ask yourself: what is my passion? What do you love to do? What do you do that makes you feel alive and closest to God? What would you do for free? Whatever that is, is your passion. This is what you want to do. Whatever it is you’re called to do, even if you feel like you don’t know what it is, in some capacity, is already revealed in the passions that are in your heart. Now you may be thinking the heart is deceptive, can my passion really dictate my purpose? When we place God first, and He has access to our hearts, the answer is yes, because He can move our hearts as He pleases. 

What are you passionate about and absolutely love doing? What is something you loved doing as a child? Do you see ways you can pursue or already are pursuing that passion as an adult?

3. What is my PROFICIENCY? 

The third question you want to ask yourself to discover your purpose is what is my proficiency? What are you good at doing? What are your gifts and talents? These are important questions to ask because they too, come from God and reveal His calling on your life.

I love that our talents are also called gifts. They are precious skills and capacities that God gives us that He doesn’t give to everyone. On top of that, when you mix your talents with your unique passions and experiences, it reveals a unique calling on your life that no one can answer but you. I think of Joseph, who was gifted at leadership, and whether he was a slave, imprisoned, or ruled Egypt, this gift went with Him. Proverbs 18:16 says:

“A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

What I love about purpose is that it can’t be contained by your situation. Wherever you are, there is a purpose for your life.

What are you good at doing? What is something people always ask you for help with because they know you are good at it? What comes easy to you that doesn’t come so easily to others? What gifts and talents do you believe God has entrusted to you?

4. What is in my POSSESSION? 

The next question to ask to discover God’s purpose for your life is what is in your possession? What do you have to work with?

In Genesis, God called man and woman to subdue the earth. We are charged to build and create and make earth a great place to live, but God doesn’t give us finished products, but He gives us the raw materials to use. So what are your raw materials? What do you have on hand because they are a great clue as to what you’re called to do?

When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, Moses gave God every excuse he could think of not to do it. God asks Him: “What’s in your hand?” Well, Moses just had a staff. But God used that staff to perform miracles and wonders as Moses answered his call to lead the Israelites out of slavery.

So ask yourself the same question: what’s in your hand? Do you have hair supplies to do hair? A notebook and pen to write? A smartphone to record video?

Now you might feel you don’t have much in your hand, or that you don’t possess a lot, and that’s ok because God does not need a lot to do a lot. Trust God with what you have. He is faithful to finish what you start. 

What resources do you have available to create, serve or lead with? What’s in your hand? What do you believe God wants you to do with these resources?

5. What is the PROBLEM? 

The next question that you want to ask when it comes to discovering your purpose is what is the problem? Often, we are really good at finding a problem and complaining and discovering how things can be better because we’re frustrated that they are not operating at their full potential. What we’re not good at however, is often realizing that we are the solution to the problems that frustrate us. Discovering your purpose isn’t only about what you like, but it’s also revealed in what you dislike.

We have to be careful with this because the Bible tells us that man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:20) So although that frustration may be a signal to what our purpose is, it cannot be our ultimate motivator. It is our job to look at the things that discourage us in this world and seek the Lord on how He wants us to be the solution. 

What problems in life and the world make you upset? What’s a topic that has always frustrated you? Why do you think this problem bothers you the way it does? How can you see God using you to be a solution to that problem?

6. What’s in my PAST? 

Your past does not define you, but it can propel you to your purpose.  

Your past tells a story. A question that you want to ask yourself when it comes to discovering your God-given purpose is what is in my past? Oftentimes, the things that we’ve been through and the experiences that we have lived give insight into the purpose that God has called us. This is because God never wastes anything. Whether our past was glorious or painful, God can turn it all into purpose.

We too often want to run from our past, when in actuality, our past holds a key to our purpose if we will give God the chance to heal us from our past, so we can then have the power and authority to help heal others. Often, purpose is birthed out of a painful past. Not that God wants us to experience pain, but He will use it to propel us to our purpose. 

How has your last affected who you have become? What have you overcome in your past, and how can you help others overcome as well?

7. What is my POTENTIAL?

The final question you want to ask to uncover your purpose is, what is my potential? There are certain things about you that reveal your purpose that have yet to be discovered, but God knows they are there. This is why He often calls us to do things that seem bigger to us or before we feel ready. We don’t know our potential, but God does. So when God leads you to do something you’re never done before or something you feel weak in, it’s because He knows your potential. As you walk in it, you will feel stretched, but that is God pulling out the potential He placed in you from the beginning.

When is a time God has called you to do something you didn’t feel capable of doing? Thinking back on your passions, past, possession, and more. How do they reveal that you may be more ready than you think? How can you see God growing and stretching you to be who He’s calling you to be?

To help you learn even more about discovering your purpose, I invite you to join our next Bible study series titled, “Crazy or Called” as we look at the lives of ten ordinary people in the Bible called to extraordinary purposes. If you’re ready to find the boldness to confidently answer God’s call on your life, join now for free and get the study guide to follow along by visiting the links in the description of this video.

If you enjoyed today’s video, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

For more Beloved encouragement, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google Play stores for unlimited and ad-free access to Beloved Bible study series, daily devotions, exclusive content, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved. 

*Amazon links are affiliate links.

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How to Hear God When You Pray https://www.belovedconference.org/how-to-hear-god-when-you-pray/ https://www.belovedconference.org/how-to-hear-god-when-you-pray/#comments Tue, 30 May 2023 20:40:18 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35494 There are many ways that God speaks to His people today. We can hear from God through His Word, through confirmation, through leading from the Holy Spirit, and more, but did you know that we can also hear from God through prayer? Often if we’re not aware, we could miss it. Remember, prayer is simply our conversation with God, and conversation is a two-way street. This means prayer is our talking to God and Him talking back to us. In today’s video, I will share with you 3 powerful ways God speaks to us when we pray.

I was chatting with a friend the other day about the character of God, and one thing she said about His character that really stuck with me was that God is a gentleman. He’s not going to deal with us harshly, but gently and with kindness. If we apply that truth to prayer, it means that if we speak to Him, He is not going to be rude and give us the cold shoulder. He will not ignore us or give us the silent treatment. 

If you feel that God has been silent to you, be sure to subscribe because I’m planning a video about how to keep praying when you feel God is silent. My ultimate goal is to encourage you to keep praying because it’s in prayer that we hear from God. As I said, God is not one who will ignore the prayers of His people. All throughout the Psalms, we hear the writers talk about praying to God and God responding back to them. Psalm 120:1 says:

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭120:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Psalm 34:4 says:

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Psalm 3:4 says:

“I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

So the question that I want to answer in this episode is what does it look like to hear God speak to you in prayer? How can you recognize His voice now that you know when we pray, He does answer?

God is speaking. The question is do we have the spiritual ears to hear Him and recognize His voice?

So here are a few ways God speaks to us when we pray.

  1. God speaks through answered prayers.

First, He answers your prayer. It might not be a vocal voice we hear like you hear me right now, but when we receive the answer to our requests to God through an answered prayer, that is God speaking to us and Him saying “yes,” He is saying I hear you, and I see you and I will provide your needs. Too often, we pray about something, receive what we prayed for, and then forget that God is the One who provided it. We must remain watchful of our answered prayers because that is God speaking to us and responding to our prayers.

  1. God speaks through thoughts and inspiration.

The second way God speaks to us is through a thought or idea inspiring us. There have been times when I’ve been in prayer or taking a prayer walk and I ask God to help me solve a problem or resolve an issue. Then, right there in prayer, an idea comes to mind that I didn’t think of before or an inspiration is sparked that makes my problem so much easier. I have a good friend, Kim Cash Tate and fellow Christian YouTuber who calls these downloads. Divine ideas and inspiration that God gives to us when we are close to Him in prayer. It’s no accident that these thoughts or ideas come right when we need them, and we know they are not thoughts we would think of on our own. They are divine downloads and a common way God speaks to us when we pray.

  1. God speaks through His peace.

The next way God speaks to us when we pray is through the unexplainable and comforting sense of peace we experience when we talk to Him. Have you ever been praying to God, or more like crying out to Him about something that distressed your soul? You were hurt, in pain, and wondered if you’d ever get over what happened to you. But after your prayer or while you were praying, this sense of calm came over you? Your situation didn’t change, but it was as if God placed His hand on your shoulder to steady your shaken emotions and your soul quieted. That’s God speaking to you. That’s Him answering your prayer with His peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:6-7 says:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭ESV)

This scripture is saying that when we pray, God answers with His peace. And not just any peace, but peace that surpasses our understanding.

Other versions say that God’s peace:

“transcends all understanding,” “exceeds anything we can understand,” or is “far beyond human understanding.”

Our human understanding thinks that peace is when everything is well in our lives. But God’s peace goes beyond that and says even if everything is falling apart, I can remain calm because God’s peace is not based on our circumstance. 

Hannah, in 1 Samuel, cried out to the Lord for a son. She prayed so fervently that the prophet Eli thought she was drunk when he saw her praying in the temple. She explained to him that she was not drunk but that she was crying out to God and after that prayer, the Bible tells us she went her way and “her face was no longer sad.” (1 Samuel 1:18)

She didn’t yet have what she prayed for, but she did have peace. God speaks to us through this same sense of peace as well. 

Unfortunately, we often think that if our lives aren’t perfect and all together, we can’t experience peace, or even worse, that God does not hear or will respond to our prayers. But Jesus already told us in John 16:33 that we would have trouble in this world. We hold no promise to perfection but we do hold the promise of God’s peace.  He often answers our cries with His overflowing peace when we come to Him in prayer.

James 5:16 tells us that the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective and we most experience that power when we realize that God speaks back to us when we pray.

The truth is, God is constantly speaking to us; we just don’t often recognize it’s Him. We expect God to speak to us in this loud thunderous voice when it’s more like His character to speak to us by moving on our behalf and answering our requests, by gently placing a thought or idea on our hearts or to give us His peace that surpasses understanding. These are some ways He speaks to us when we pray, and we’ll hear Him if we take the time to open our spiritual ears and listen.

Did you know God made us all beautifully different even in the way we pray? That’s right. Your prayer personality is the unique way you are most likely to communicate with God and knowing which of the 3  prayer personality types you have can equip you to hear from God more clearly and overcome any obstacles to your communication with Him. I invite you to take my Prayer Personality Quiz to learn how you best hear from God, how you most likely connect with Him in prayer, and to just have a little fun. Take the quiz now at prayquiz.com or find the link in the description of today’s video. Then be sure to come back and comment to let me know your results.

If you enjoyed today’s videos, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

And for more Beloved encouragement, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google play stores for unlimited access to Beloved Bible studies, daily devotions, inspiring interviews, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved. 

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How to Honor God in Your Harvest Season https://www.belovedconference.org/how-to-honor-god-in-your-harvest-season/ https://www.belovedconference.org/how-to-honor-god-in-your-harvest-season/#comments Tue, 30 May 2023 02:44:11 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35484 Everyone wants a blessed life, but we can’t overlook the truth that blessings come with a responsibility that can sometimes be heavy to maintain. In today’s video, learn how to honor God in your harvest season by keeping Him your priority no matter how blessed you are. Enjoy!

As I grew our email list for Beloved Women, I started an account that would manage all of our contacts for free. However, this service was only free until we got to a certain amount of contacts. 2000 to be exact, and I felt like that was just such a huge number of email subscribers that we had plenty of time before we had to worry about paying for their service. As we continued to consistently put out content and grow the ministry, we soon hit that 2000 email subscriber mark. I was so excited about this however I had to start thinking about how we would generate the income to support a growing email list because now, the more email subscribers we obtained, the more money we would have to pay. It was a lesson that taught me that oftentimes when we receive what we desire or prayed for, there is still a necessary level of work that has to be done to maintain it. This is what we have to realize when God has called us to a harvest season. 

When we reap the benefits and blessings of a harvest season, that’s a good thing, but it doesn’t come without work to maintain it. You finally got that marriage that you prayed for your entire life, but guess what? Now it’s time to put in the work to have a healthy relationship with your husband. You prayed and prepared for those kids, and now that you have them, it’s time to raise them. You desperately wanted to get your own home, but now is the time to make sure that you put in the work to upkeep and maintain your home. The harvest season is everyone’s favorite season. It’s what we’ve been working up to. In a harvest season, you are reaping the benefits and blessings from seeds that you planted in previous seasons. This also means that you’re in a very busy season that demands much of your time, energy, and strength. 

Fruit develops in a harvest season, but remember, fruit has to be harvested. It has to be picked and cleaned, and depending on how much you have, it can be heavy. We often forget that the blessing of a harvest season comes with real responsibility, but the growth we experience in the wilderness, growing and pruning seasons have prepared us for harvest. Still, we can’t forget that just because harvest is a blessing doesn’t mean it’s easy because it’s not.  As you may feel overwhelmed at times in a harvest season, it’s important to remember how blessed you are and that it’s time to be a good steward of what the Lord has given you. Remember, you prayed for these blessings, and now you may enjoy the fruit of those blessings. 

The work required to maintain a harvest season can lead many to think that to accomplish more, we need to do more, we need to work our fingers to the bones, or we need to hustle harder. But Jesus tells us, the only way to bear fruit is to remain in Him and He in us. He says: 

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV)

Praying, reading our bible, and going to church are not wastes of time, and they do not take away from our productivity. Quite the opposite. These are the ways we stay fruitful, otherwise, we find ourselves doing a lot of busy work. 

Didn’t you hate when you had a substitute teacher in school who only gave you busy work? But as we get older, we seem to like busy work, meaningless work for the sake of saying we are doing something. But we only have one life; we should use it wisely, we should make it count, make it fruitful, and that only happens when we remain in Christ. Remaining in Christ is the difference between busy work and meaningful fruit. 

If you’re feeling a little discouraged and stressed in your harvest season, take it one day at a time, knowing that God has given you much because He trusts you with much. The temptation in a harvest season is to get so caught up in our blessings that we forget to cling to God.

It is so important not to become complacent in this season simply because things are going well. We still need to seek God like we would in any other season. So remember where your blessings come from and continue to keep your eyes on Jesus no matter what season you are facing.

Today’s video is part of a series called “Growing Closer to God in Any Season,” where we’re leading about how to trust God in a wilderness, pruning, growing, or harvest seasons. Take my “Spiritual Seasons” quiz to learn which of the 4 spiritual seasons you are in, and be sure to comment on to this video and let me know your results. 

If you enjoyed today’s videos, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

And for more Beloved, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google play stores for unlimited access to beloved Bible studies, daily devotions, inspiring interviews, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved. 

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Calming Prayer to Start Your Day with Ease https://www.belovedconference.org/calming-prayer-to-start-your-day-with-ease/ https://www.belovedconference.org/calming-prayer-to-start-your-day-with-ease/#comments Tue, 30 May 2023 02:34:09 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35478 Waking up in the morning to anxious thoughts and an overwhelmed heart can follow you throughout your entire day, leaving your soul tired, exhausted, and burned out. Anxiety and overwhelm are heavy burdens to carry, like an overweight backpack that follows you wherever you go. If you’ve woken up with the weight of a worried soul, Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬

If the heaviness of the day ahead is pressing down on you, pray this prayer to release this weight, accept God’s grace, and enter this new day with ease.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for keeping me through the night and waking me up this morning. Although I have a lot weighing on my mind and heart, and although I’m still tired, I am grateful to see another day.

As I step out into this new day, I pray You guide my steps away from anything that is not of You and instead towards Your purpose for my life. Please forgive me for my missteps and lead me towards Your better way with the grace and mercy only You can provide.

Lord, I often feel like I’m not enough and that I need to strive and seek to do more and more, but this has only left me weary and tired. I pray for Your wisdom to guide my steps and Your strength to empower my soul for all that I am called to do today. Please keep me from becoming distracted by lesser things and help me stay focused on what matters most. May my priorities align with Your perfect will. 

I have lots of things to do and decisions to make today, but I pray for Your peace to cover my mind and heart. I pray for the wisdom to work for Your glory alone. Because of Your love and acceptance of me, I don’t have to work to prove myself to anyone. Because of Your helping hand, I do not have to worry about today.

I release my worry and anxieties to You and place them in Your gentle care. You care about all the issues overwhelming my heart today, and I trust You can do more with them than I can. So I give them over to You. 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

I enter today with a light heart because you carry my worries, and your burden is light. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds me to:

I can approach today with peace because I know You are with me in each step that I take. Holding my hand, I know You won’t let me fall. Psalm 46:5 reminds me:

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” (Psalm 46:5 ESV)

I can walk in today without the heavy burden of my past mistakes, the overwhelm of all that needs to get done, and what the future may hold because Your mercies are made new each morning.

Thank You, Lord, for entrusting me with this new day and for Your love that covers me. I have Your peace and protection. I trust You today and always. 

In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer with me, be sure to type Amen in the comments so we can see who is joining and agreeing with us in prayer.

I also want to offer you another resource to help you live a life of less worry and more peace, so be sure to visit belovedwomen.org to download my free video Bible study called “Worry-Free” to learn the 3 lies feeding your worry and the truth that can set you free.

For more guided prayers, daily devotions, and Bible study plans to help you grow closer to God, download the Beloved Women app today.

Thanks so much for praying with us and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and beloved.

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Why God is Cutting Things Off Your Life https://www.belovedconference.org/why-god-is-cutting-things-off-your-life/ Tue, 30 May 2023 01:34:53 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35474 Have you ever experienced seasons in life where you faced test after test and trial after trial? These are what I call pruning seasons, times when God is cutting things out of our life that prevents us from growing. As exhausting as these seasons are, they are necessary for our spiritual growth. So in today’s video, learn how to trust God when He calls you to a season of pruning.

During my freshman year in college, I was in prayer one evening, and I distinctly remember feeling God pressing on my spirit to break up with my boyfriend at the time. I originally thought; no, this can’t be from God, because that was the last thing that I wanted to do. However, I did know that I needed to break up with him because I knew that this relationship was not God-honoring. After a sequence of events that continue to show me that I needed to obey God and break up with this person, I finally did. It was a Saturday night, and I was staying the night at my friend’s dorm when I finally cut things off. Now, you have to understand I didn’t want to do it, but the relationship had got so toxic and crazy it was clear to me that I needed to let go. 

I woke up the next day on Sunday feeling heartbroken, but I walked to church with my friend, and as I was walking, I saw a tree that started to blossom these beautiful flowers. I pointed out the tree to my friend and said, “Look at these beautiful flowers I want to pick one.” My friend told me not to pick the flower, but I didn’t listen to her, and I went, and I picked one of the flowers off of the tree. We continued to church, but by the end of service, the beautiful flower had started to wither, and its petals were wrinkling and discoloring. It was no longer the beautiful flower that it originally was before I picked it off the tree. God used that experience to speak to me in that moment and teach me that sometimes when we try to hold on to things, we end up killing them and that in order for things to grow and flourish, we need to let certain things go in our lives. God reminded me after breaking up with my boyfriend that I needed to let It go because it was not going to lead to the abundant life that He had for me and that if I tried to hold on to it, it would just continue to die and probably take me along with it. This is true for much of our spiritual lives. There will come times when God will need to cut certain things and people out of our lives to sustain our growth. It’s then that God will allow us to experience a season of pruning. 

In a pruning season, God is allowing test after test in your life because He is preparing you for something greater. He’s allowing things to be cut off and people to leave because although it may seem to come out of left field for you, God knows that there are some attitudes, beliefs, and even people you need to let go of before you can enter your next season. After I broke up with my boyfriend, I soon met my now husband. God needed me to be single and available for what He was trying to bless me with. Had I not eventually obeyed God (because it did take me a minute) I would have missed out on one of the greatest blessings of my life. 

A pruning season may feel difficult and uncomfortable, but allow it to complete its work in you. Like fire is used to mold gold, God is using these tests and trials to strip you of your old ways and shape you into the believer that He’s calling you to be. In John 15:1-2, Jesus tells us:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Once a seed is planted, and its roots are established, a shoot starts to grow up. This vine, as Jesus calls Himself, produces branches, which are believers, you and me. These branches are then pruned. 

Pruning in gardening is the process where the gardener removes parts of a plant, like buds or leaves. Usually, these parts are removed because they cause more harm than good to the overall plant. A plant will continue to send water and nutrients to its dead parts depriving the living and growing parts of what it needs. So a gardener must frequently go out and take off any dead leaves from it’s plants because they are taking nutrients that could be going to produce more fruit. So pruning is simply where useless shoots from a plant are removed. As we grow and mature in Christ, we have to realize there are things that can stifle that continued growth in Him. These are the things that God removes from our lives so that we might grow more to look like Jesus. 

I want to propose to you that some of the challenges you are facing today are not because God is mad at you, but that He is pruning you. Not that He caused these challenges but that He’s using them for you to look more like His Son, which is our ultimate goal of spiritual maturity. Think of it this way. God is only pruning those who are abiding in Christ and growing in Him. Your season of pruning is evidence that you are in Christ in the first place. I want this to be encouragement to you as you face tests and trials, not to despise them but to look at them as opportunities to press more into Jesus and to continue to taste and see that He is good. There have been a lot of things God has pruned from my life, and at the time, it was very painful and uncomfortable, but He had more for me. Looking back, I can say boldly that it was worth it.

I also want to note that sometimes the things God prunes from your life may not even be something that is explicitly sinful. It might be an ambition or relationship or habit that just does not line up with God’s plan for your life right now.

Just a few years ago, God placed it on my heart to stop watching a particular television show that I was really into. I was not sure why, and I really didn’t want to stop because I really liked this show. I finally decided to stop watching the show and it was in that season that God placed my book “Daughters of Fire” heavy on my heart. So instead of watching the show, I started writing that book. Was watching the show a sin? I don’t think it was, but it was not fruitful for what God wanted me to do in that season. 

You’d think that if your goal is to grow, cutting back or pruning would be counterproductive, but it’s not. Pruning sets a plant up to flourish more by ensuring it receives as many nutrients as it can get without having to share with a part of itself that cannot grow.

Like a gardener prunes branches, God prunes our lives. Through trial or heartache or both, God removes the things in our lives that stop us from growing, and I understand,  it’s painful. We don’t like this part of spiritual growth. We want our growth in Christ to be all fruits and flowers, but we can’t get to the fruit and flowers without some pruning, and some cutting back so we can grow up. 1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us:

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV) 

When your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory, and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. So how do we pass these tests and make it through these trials in our pruning season? Endure, keep the faith, let go of what needs to be released but never give up on God. 

Today’s video is part of a series called “Growing Closer to God in Any Season,” where we’re learning about how to trust God in a wilderness, pruning, growing, or harvest seasons. Take my “Spiritual Seasons” quiz to learn which of the 4 spiritual seasons you are in, and be sure to comment on this video and let me know your results. 

If you enjoyed today’s videos, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

And for more Beloved, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google play stores for unlimited access to beloved Bible studies, daily devotions, inspiring interviews, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved.

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Signs You Are in a Growing Season https://www.belovedconference.org/signs-you-are-in-a-growing-season/ Mon, 27 Mar 2023 08:30:00 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35321 Spiritual growth doesn’t come without change and growing pains. When life becomes challenging, however, it’s difficult to see that your season of growth doesn’t mean to weaken you, but to strengthen and mature you. In today’s video, learn how to trust God when He calls you to a growing season. Enjoy!

As we were about to be released from the hospital after having my first child, I remember thinking, wow, they are really just going to let me go home with no instruction manual or anything. Like many first-time moms, I was thrown into motherhood with no idea as to what I was doing. Before having my daughter, I was a grant specialist at the Department of State in Washington DC, and I was very career oriented. So motherhood brought out a lot of my weaknesses, and that was discouraging. However, as challenging as early motherhood was, it was a breeding ground for spiritual growth. See, in my career, I could operate in my natural talents and abilities and still be successful, but motherhood required of me things I did not have, so I would have to cling to God for the supernatural strength to accomplish what He called me to do in that season. 

And that’s what growing seasons do. They are times of change that bring challenges to push you to a new level of strength and capacity. You may be stretched to do things you’ve never done or go places you’ve never gone. God is stretching you because He wants to enlarge your capacity to handle what it is that He has next for you. The discomfort that you feel in this season isn’t because you’re a failure. You’re simply experiencing growing pain. A growing season requires the right spiritual nutrition to sustain the growth God is providing in your soul and life. Because in a growing season, your natural ability will not be enough, you need supernatural power from God to make it through stronger on the other side. 

Now many of us understand that what you eat determines how you grow. In the same way, what we feed our spirit determines how we grow spiritually. If we feed our flesh, we can stunt our spiritual growth. If we feed our spirit, we can flourish. Romans 8 explains it like this:

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

It’s much like physical food. You have processed and highly fatty and sugary foods that only provide empty carbs. They taste great for a moment but don’t provide the long-lasting nutrition your body needs for health and vitality. If consumed too much, it can do more harm than good. This is like the things of this world that John tells us not to love in 1 John 2:16:  The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All empty carbs. They satisfy for a moment but don’t provide the spiritual nutrition our souls really need to sustain the fruit God wants to produce in our lives.

On the other hand, there is nutritious, rich food that feeds our cells and provides the energy our bodies need to function in a healthy way. This is like the things of God; His Word, His presence, and His Spirit. They nourish our souls for sustained growth.

When it comes to spiritual growth, we must ask ourselves: what are we hungry for? Do we thirst after God or the world? The Apostle Peter says we should crave spiritual milk if we want to grow. He says:

“Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” (‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Hebrews chapter 5 explains that after spiritual milk, we need meat to grow. The overall lesson here is growth takes nourishment. And as God stretches us in a growing season by calling us to new territory and to new experiences, we need the spiritual food of His Word and truth to sustain us. 

My encouragement for anyone in a growing season is to not shrink back. Try new things, take risks, and do not be afraid to fail. You may stumble as you navigate unfamiliar territory, but God will not let you fall. Psalm 37:23-24 tells us:

“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24 NLT)

God knows where you are and what difficulties a growing season can bring, but He provides the spiritual nourishment we need to make it through. So let go of doubt, keep growing, and trust Him.

Today’s video is part of a series called “Growing Closer to God in Any Season,” where we’re learning about how to trust God in a wilderness, pruning, growing, or harvest seasons. Take my “Spiritual Seasons” quiz to learn which of the 4 spiritual seasons you are in, and be sure to comment on this video and let me know your results. 

If you enjoyed today’s videos, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

And for more Beloved, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google play stores for unlimited access to beloved Bible studies, daily devotions, inspiring interviews, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved. 

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How to Start a Christian YouTube Channel https://www.belovedconference.org/how-to-start-a-christian-youtube-channel/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 21:09:05 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35317 If you’ve ever wondered if you should start a Christian YouTube channel, the answer is yes. But how do you do that?” In today’s video, I’m going to show you step-by-step how to start your YouTube channel to help you share your God-given message, increase your impact, and glorify God with your work, gifts, and creativity. Enjoy!

I started the Beloved Women YouTube channel with my webcam (which was not very good by the way) at my kitchen table in our apartment. I recorded quietly as not to wake my daughter who was asleep, because as many moms know, real work doesn’t always get done until the baby is asleep. I had no idea that years later, my channel would reach women all over the world. I truly believe that no matter where you are or what you have, you can start an impactful YouTube channel.  In today’s video, I’m going to give the steps for you to take to get started.

1. Define your purposeful mission. 

The first step to take when creating a Christian YouTube channel is to define your purpose. Some people call this your “why.” I call it your purposeful mission. Your mission is how you serve and who you serve. Your purpose is why this mission is significant to you and your audience. One of the first lessons I teach In my YouTube course is how to develop your clear, purposeful mission statement with an easy-to-follow formula because when you are clear on why you want to start a Christian YouTube channel, you obtain not only the direction you need but also the fuel you need as a creator to keep going when it’s not as easy to press record. And if you want a lasting impact, you can’t just post videos just to post them or to get views. You need to be clear on why you are doing what you’re doing. So ask yourself these 3 questions:

  1. Who do I want to help?
  2. How will my channel help them?
  3. Why is this important?

2. Create a Google account and set up your YouTube channel.

Your next step is to create a Google account and then set up your YouTube channel. Google owns YouTube, so you must have a Google account to create a YouTube channel. This may seem simple enough, but do you know how many people just think about starting a YouTube channel but don’t actually do it. They overthink and get so caught up in all the tech and details and stop even before they get started. This doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t have to have all the answers before you create your channel, but you do need an actual channel if you want to be a YouTuber. So create a Google account, and set up your YouTube channel with a clear profile picture of yourself, and cover art. Then fill out  the about section for your channel and add any necessary links to your website or social accounts if you want.

3. Choose Your Video equipment. 

Next, you want to choose the video equipment to record your videos. The most important being your camera. Fortunately, you do not and should not spend a lot of money on equipment, especially if you are just getting started. I personally suggest using your smartphone or webcam for new YouTubers and then work your way up to more equipment like a digital camera, professional microphone and more as you become more consistent in creating video. This way, you have time to learn your personal style and what works for you, and you’ll be better prepared to make a wise decision in what type of equipment to buy based on the video experience you’ve gained. Other equipment you might want to consider is a microphone, lighting, and a hard drive to store all your videos. Also, a case for your hard drive just in case you drop it. Ask me how I know. 

You can find the list of all the equipment I use here. I always need to note that although people wonder about equipment the most when it comes to starting a YouTube channel, it is not the most important part of your YouTube journey. The content you create and the value you add to your audience is way more important. Remember, God is the driving force of your mission. Do the work and trust Him with the results. Too often people trust the equipment, but it is God who will give you influence and help you to impact others no matter how much or how little equipment you have. Psalm 20:7 says:

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” ‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭20:7‬ ‭ESV)‬‬

Let me paraphrase this for the Christian YouTuber:

Some trust in camaras and some in perfect audio, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 

Don’t wait until you have a $500 or $1000 or $5000 camera to get started. What’s in your hand? A smartphone, a webcam, an old camera you haven’t used in years that still works? Use what you have and allow God to grow you from there.

4. Set up your studio.

Next, it’s time to set up your studio. Now this does not need to be an actual studio but a simple space for recording your videos. Wherever the location of your studio is, it should be quiet so you don’t have any distracting background noise, well lit so we can clearly see you in your videos, and functional so you can feel comfortable recording your videos. Maybe this is at your kitchen table, the desk in your office, or on the couch in your living room. Just make sure no personal information is showing on the wall or the background that may reveal too much. I shoot my videos at this desk in our guest bedroom facing a window that gives great lighting. Again, don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be. Keep it simple and then keep it going.

5. Plan your videos. 

Just because you have your equipment and studio set up and ready to go does not mean you’re ready to press record. First, you want to do your research. Decide what topic your first or next video will be about and brainstorm video ideas. If you’re running low on ideas, ask your audience, read the comments on your videos or videos like yours to see what the conversation is like around your topic, and what questions people are asking. I also like to type my topic in the YouTube or Google search bar and see what search suggestions come up to provide even more video ideas. As you come up with ideas, write them down. I keep a running list of video ideas on my phone so I never run out.

6. Start creating. 

Next, it’s time to start creating! Here you will press record and make a video. Make sure the topic of your videos is clearly communicated in your video and that by the end of the video, your audience is helped. Keep in mind there are many directions you can take when creating a Christian YouTube video. You can share a video devotion, or conduct a video interview for your podcast or even share a lifestyle Vlog sharing your behind-the-scenes or day-to-day life. Create a video that best represents you. That’s what YouTube is all about.

7. Share your content. 

Next, it’s time to share your content. This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised to know how many people plan and record videos but never actually share them. Don’t let that be you. Upload your video, add a compelling thumbnail, add your description and tags, and press publish. Then share on social and with your email list if you have one. It’s ok to share your work. People can’t benefit from your gifts if they don’t know they exist. Now is not the time to hide; it’s time to shine bright for Jesus and share your gifts with the world.

8. Engage with your audience.

Your next step is to engage with your audience. YouTube is about community, not just people listening to you. It’s a two-way street. So reply to comments on your video and ask your audience questions. Let them know you are just as excited to hear from them as they are from you.

9. Review Your Results.

Next, you want to review your results. After you post a video, check out your comments and see how your audience is responding. Is this a hot topic you may need to create more videos on? Was something unclear, or have you triggered your audience? Also, look at the analytics of your video, such as views and watch time (found in your YouTube studio) and see how your video or videos are performing. Ask yourself what changes and adjustments can you take to make your next videos better. What’s working and what’s not? I need to warn you to be careful here. The numbers are not always a clear indicator of the impact you are making, but they do provide information to help you grow as a YouTuber and content creator. So know who you are in Christ and that you work for God and not the YouTube algorithm.

10. Repeat the process. 

Your next step is to repeat the process all over again. The most successful Christian YouTubers don’t have the best equipment, connections, are the most tech savvy, or even the largest following, but they are consistent. Consistency is the best way to show up for your audience. When you show up for your audience, they will show up for you. So create a workflow that’s best for you. What can you commit to consistently? One video a month or one a week? Two a week? Make a plan and then go for it. If you miss an upload, don’t worry about it. Keep going and upload again next time. Just don’t give up, keep going, and let God use you according to His perfect purpose and plan.

Now that you’re ready to get started with your Christian YouTube channel, you need a plan to grow your channel and, ultimately your impact which is why I want to invite you to my FREE Christian YouTube masterclass, where I will teach you 3 important steps to confidently start and grow your Christian YouTube channel. Click the link in the description of this video to register for free, or visit wwwchristinapatterson.com. 

There is a purpose why God gave you the gifts you have, so be encouraged, release fear, and keep creating for Christ. 

As always, thank you so much for watching today, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed and beloved.

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Why God Called You to the Wilderness https://www.belovedconference.org/why-god-called-you-to-the-wilderness/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 20:30:44 +0000 https://www.belovedwomen.org/?p=35313 Christine Cain is quoted saying, “Sometimes when you find yourself in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.” No one wants to experience a wilderness season, but we all will at some point. Honestly, a majority of our spiritual growth will occur in seasons of isolation, suffering, and pain. We, however,  do not journey through this season alone. God is with us every step of the way, and in today’s video, I want to share with you how to grow closer to God and trust Him even in a wilderness season. Enjoy!

Navigating a wilderness season requires an elevated dependence on God. It’s in these seasons when our senses are heightened to how much we need God because we’re face to face with our lack. As I incurred a neck injury a few years ago, it was a serious wilderness season for me. At first I didn’t know what was going on and why I was in excruciating pain, then I was misdiagnosed, which only exacerbated matters, and that was followed by a bumpy journey of healing and recovery. 

The most challenging part wasn’t the pain but knowing my kids were worried seeing me in pain and time, I felt like I was missing out with family and friends. I just didn’t understand why God had me go through all that. It made no sense, but I resolved to trust Him anyway. Now looking back; however, I can clearly see God’s hand all on that wilderness season, from leading me to the right doctors, miraculous healings that surprised those doctors, overwhelming me with His presence, and showing me that even when I didn’t feel Him. He was there. If anything, that season deepened my trust and faith in God on a level I don’t think could have in any other circumstances. So while I’m not looking for a wilderness season, I’ve experienced firsthand how God is closest to us in the dark.

Wilderness seasons are times of lack, waiting, and even suffering. Seasons like this can be very lonely, especially if God appears to be silent. You’re making it day by day, but you don’t feel like you have enough as you wait for God in this season. It’s here you need to fight the urge to shut down, stay angry, or run away. Resist the lies this season tells and cling to God’s truth because some of the most important spiritual growth in our lives occurs in a wilderness season. 

When we think of growth, we think of growing bigger. As children, we want to grow taller and up. But spiritual growth first grows down as we become deeply rooted in God’s truth. Colossians 2:7 says:

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Often in gardening, we focus on the plant, the fruit, or the flower. We often give little thought to the roots of a plant. But we must not forget it’s the unseen root of a plant that enables it to grow fruit and flower in the first plant. And it’s this growth that takes place in a wilderness season.

Last year, I grew a flower garden in our front yard, and a few of the flowers were struggling and were starting to wither. As my son helped me to water them to bring them back to life, I saw he kept putting water on the petals of the flower and leaves of the plants. I said, “son, you have to water the roots for the plant to get the water.” It’s hydrated roots that transport much-needed water to the rest of the plant. It will not be enough to water your petals and spend all your energy on how you look or how you come across. A sustaining faith comes from not looking like you are well watered but actually being well watered. 

When our hearts are saturated in God’s truth it is then that His truth permeates to every other aspect of your life. And many times that watering occurs in the dark of a wilderness season. 

Watering the withering petals of a plant will not restore it. In the same way, we can’t treat the symptoms and not the root cause of a matter. Growth doesn’t come from treating the symptoms but from treating the root system.

Jesus says:

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

Much of the spiritual growth we experience will happen in the dark, unseen, and often overlooked wilderness seasons of our life, much like roots growing in soil. Proverbs 12:12 says:

“The root of the righteous bears fruit.” (Proverbs 12:12b ESV)

I like to say it this way, fruit starts at the root. Much of our root growth is established in wilderness seasons. It’s here we must remember we are not alone. The darkness of this season is not meant to destroy us but to provide the necessary conditions for growth. A seed cannot grow unless it is broken first. In the same way, God will use our brokenness to start growth in us to strengthen us for seasons to come. But don’t think that God wants us to be broken and stay broken. He does not take our pain lightly, but He will use our brokenness for our good, His glory, and to produce fruit in our lives. Honestly, when I think of many of the blessings in my life, I can look back and see how they originated from some sort of brokenness that opened a door for God to give me something better. 

In a wilderness season, we must remember this is not the end. You are victorious in Christ. It may not seem like it, but the wilderness season is when God is the closest to us. He is right beside us in the dark and depressing times. Psalm 34:18 reminds us:

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 ESV)

A wilderness season is like winter. We don’t often associate it with growth, but it’s often where the most important growth occurs. It’s in the cold dark soil where the seed breaks and roots start to grow. It’s the growth no one sees but is necessary for fruitful living. Your wilderness season is the time to press into the presence of God and understand that no season lasts forever. This, too, shall pass.

Today’s video is part of a series called “Growing Closer to God in Any Season,” where we’re learning how to trust God in a wilderness, pruning, growing, or harvest season. Take my “Spiritual Seasons” quiz to learn which of the 4 spiritual seasons you are in currently, and be sure to comment on to this video and let me know your results. 

If you enjoyed today’s videos, will you do me a favor and share it with a friend because you just never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. 

And for more Beloved, be sure to download the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google play stores for unlimited access to beloved Bible studies, daily devotions, inspiring interviews, and videos to fill your soul. I look forward to connecting with you there. 

As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved. 

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