You Prayed for This

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

“You are currently living in at least one of the prayers you used to pray.”

Let that sink in for a moment.

I recently stopped myself mid-rant/pity party and considered this quote that I turn to when I get whiny or restless.

So often, we spend our lives reaching for the next thing—a new job, a bigger house, a different relationship, a breakthrough that hasn’t come yet. And while there’s nothing wrong with setting goals or striving for growth, there’s a danger in living life on a treadmill of “what’s next?” Eventually, we can miss the sacredness of what’s now.

We pray, we wait, we hope, and then it happens. The promotion comes through. The relationship begins. The doors open. But instead of sitting in awe of God’s faithfulness, we often pivot into stress, discontent, or even complaints about the very thing we once begged for. The new job brings more pressure. The home brings larger expenses and more responsibilities. The relationship comes with its own set of challenges and demands. Before long, we find ourselves back in “chase mode,” yearning for something different.

Paul offers timeless wisdom in Philippians 4:11–12 when he says, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content… I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Paul’s words weren’t written from a place of comfort. They were penned in prison. And yet, his peace came not from what he had, but from the God he trusted.

Gratitude is more than a feeling; it’s a discipline. One, I’ve had to develop myself. That’s why it is the signature message of my Golden Life Gear line. It requires us to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the miracle in the mundane. It’s the conscious decision to be present in what God has already done before rushing into what we think should be next.

So today, take inventory. What do you have now that you once prayed for? What answered prayers have become background noise in the busyness of your life? Maybe it’s the child you once dreamed of, the career you worked so hard to build, or the healing you almost didn’t believe was possible.

Honor those blessings. Sit with them. Say thank you. Because a grateful heart doesn’t just glorify God…it also grounds you in the goodness of your now moment.

And that, friends, is golden.

For more golden life ventures visit http://www.goldenlifeventures.com

Where the Peace Resides

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I’ve been thinking more about peace lately. What it means, how to get it, and most importantly, how to keep it. Living in a world that constantly threatens or at least runs counter to it, it’s critical to have a strategy and mechanism by which we protect it.

When I asked the question to myself “what brings me peace” transparently, the first thing I thought of was clarity. I like being clear and understanding beyond a shadow of a doubt where I am and where I’m going. The reality is, we are in control of very little in this world so there will always be things that aren’t clear or we don’t understand. Therefore, if I’m relying on understanding and clarity for my peace, it will always be fleeting and I’ll be in a constant state of anxiety. I want a sustainable, unshakable peace. Is that too much to ask for?

The answer to that question is actually no and here’s why.

If you have accepted God as your father, you serve THE God of peace. That means He is the ultimate source of it. 

I’ve found more than anything else, being in and recognizing God’s presence brings me peace. And the beautiful thing about His presence is that you can enter it anytime. Whether through prayer, listening to worship music, reading scripture, or walking in nature, I can immediately access peace. Now that’s sustainable!

Some may say, “easier said than done” or “it’s not as simple as that.” Oh, but it is.

There are many verses in the Bible about peace, but I think this treasure in Philippians chapter four, gets to the heart of our access to it.

He’s given us the roadmap to peace. Immerse yourself in His word. Seek out His wisdom. Be obedient. Follow His example by showing compassion, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love. That’s where you will find peace. Will everything be right in the world? No, but you’ll be surrounded by the One who offers peace amid the chaos and confusion. 

If your peace is disturbed not by the outside, but by what’s within, go to Him in prayer. That same chapter of Philippians also offers instructions to go to Him and tell Him what we need. 

If sometimes, you’re like me and you don’t even know what you need, ask God to reveal it to you. Trust He already knows but wants us to come to Him to get it. 

Lastly, I believe our peace is connected to our gratitude. In Phil 4:6, it says to tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. When we are grateful, it puts our worries into perspective. Gratitude helps us to trust God, because we acknowledge Him for what He’s already done. And if He’s provided before – whether it’s wisdom, protection, healing, comfort, or a tangible fulfillment of a need – He can do it again. 

Seek Him. Follow Him. Obey Him. Trust Him. Thank Him. That is where the peace resides.

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

Prayer Works

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

We’ve all heard this phrase multiple times, especially those immersed in church culture. I’m a believer, no doubt, but recently I dug a little deeper and pondered what makes this statement so true. PRAYER WORKS.

Did you know that prayer works, not just because God answers in the way we envisioned?

Spoiler alert, I won’t wait until the end of this blog post to get to my main point. Prayer works not because we get what we request. Prayer works because when we pray, we get to build a personal relationship with our Creator and Father regardless of the outcome.

James 4:8 says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” The best way to draw near to Him is through prayer. When I think about my favorite Bible characters – Joseph, Moses, Sarah, Hannah, Job, David, Mary (any of them) – no matter how flawed or sinful they were, they all had deep relationships with God through prayer. And He blessed them because of their faith.

By the way, being blessed didn’t mean they always got what they wanted when they wanted it. Also, an answered prayer can be no or not yet, and they are just as powerful. Sarah was a senior when she received her yes for a child. Joseph seemed to be on a downward spiral for years before he was elevated to second in command in all of Egypt, which he never requested. Job lost his entire family, all of his wealth, and his good health, despite his obedience and faithfulness to the Lord. Amid all their hardship, God was building their faith in Him through their prayer lives. That, above all, is what blessed them.

Each time David found himself in hot water, which was quite often, He was comforted by His conversations with His father. Sometimes His situation didn’t change. For example, he prayed that God would spare his first son’s life, despite the adulterous relationship that led to his son’s conception. God chose to take that son’s life, but David’s faith in God did not waiver. And God continued to elevate him despite his sins.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:4, 8 (NLT)

This scripture in the book of John perfectly describes how and why prayer works. You may ask, what does it mean to “remain in me”? I believe God is asking us to “remain” in His word (learning and studying Him through scripture), “remain” in His commands (being obedient to the Word), and most importantly, “remain” in His presence (speaking and listening to Him through prayer). When we do these things, we will embody His Word and become more like Him. That is how He “remains in us.”

Ultimately, we are to take our lead from Jesus. Even though Jesus was our Father Himself in human form; even though Jesus was perfect in every way and knew no sin; even though He knew everything that would happen before it happened…He still prayed, constantly. He did it because He knew the power of it, and He wanted to set an example for us.

Whether or not we receive what we request, I want you to know that prayer has great power. It comforts us; it releases us from guilt and shame; it cleanses us; it calms us; it heals us; it strengthens us; it renews and restores us; but above all, it further tethers us to the One who is sovereign over all things.

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

Single and Saved

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

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This past week I completed a five-day prayer challenge called “Pray for Your Future Spouse Challenge.” In the challenge-crazed day in which we live, it was refreshing to participate in an activity like this that actually had meaning and purpose to it. As a result, it was hands down the most spirit-rousing, meaningful challenge I’ve ever completed.

Literally, more than 200,000 people from around the world participated in this challenge, which was hosted by a dynamic couple named Jamal and Natasha Miller. Their ministry, which began nearly seven years ago when they became husband and wife, is teaching others how to do relationships God’s way in an effort to help reduce the divorce rate. What a noble mission!

Here’s why it was so powerful for me. I had ALMOST given up hope that there was a man of God out there for me. I told myself that dating in general in this day in age is hard enough as it is, but then here I am waiting for a Godly man. An emotionally, physically and spiritually mature man. Yeah that’s pretty much like waiting for a unicorn to show up at my front door.

But then this challenge happened…

I joined a Facebook community of people (which is as of this writing at more than 241,000 members) ranging in age from 18 to 68 who are all desiring, waiting on and praying for the same thing – a Godly spouse. And yes, there are thousands of single and saved men in this group. All desiring transformation in themselves and their relationships, and in serious pursuit of a Godly woman. Total perspective shifter and game changer.

The reality is, in my opinion, it’s still difficult to be single and saved – but not in the way I once thought. As a single and saved person, there’s a different criterion by which you measure your mate than the rest of the world. You are going against the grain in a very major way, so by default, that’s going to be challenging. But what I got in this community was that I am by no means alone in this struggle. The men are finding it challenging as well. I honestly thought it was mostly women who struggled with this. I was wrong.

I was talking to a male friend of mine after church this past Sunday and he said almost verbatim what I had uttered maybe a few weeks prior about the lack of available, Godly men our age, except he was talking about women. I literally said, “Are you serious? There are tons of available, Godly women out here.” But that was just it. We each had our own limited perspective blocking us from the truth. The problem isn’t with the number, because we really only need one to be the one. The challenge has been with our environment.

Once I put myself in an environment where I saw evidence of that which I thought didn’t exist (or at least was very limited), my perspective and ultimately, mindset shifted. And believe me, there were a whole host of other takeaways that I got out of the challenge as well. I won’t give away the content, because it’s just that good, but I will share one of my biggest revelations.

I had gotten caught up in our #goals-crazed society, specifically #marriagegoals. As an entrepreneur, I’ve got goals for days, but when it comes to me connecting with my husband, that doesn’t really work. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with goals. I’ve been so frustrated in the past because I’ve been trying to operate from my self-constructed timeline of being married and having a family by the age of 40. Let’s be honest here, it wasn’t just my timeline – society says I should have a family by this age as well. But God doesn’t work like that. He doesn’t operate based on my goals or society’s timeline. He has a plan and vision for my life, as He does for every person on this Earth. My job is to be intentional about pursuing my purpose, waiting for Him to reveal to me His vision for my life and letting Him unfold the plan in His time.

What I’ve come to know is that being Single and Saved is a sacred group. Even though I still have a desire to be a wife, I’ve become more at ease in my singleness because I believe that this season has purpose, just as my season as a wife will as well. If you’re single and saved I want you to be encouraged and know that this time of singleness has purpose for you as well. Embrace it and enjoy the journey of becoming a better you while you wait.

If you’re interested in learning more about the challenge and/or the couple who hosted the challenge, visit www.prayforyourfuturespouse.com.