I Will Rise

I'm sorry I haven't been writing consistently on here. I'm determined to be disciplined about updating this. A blog post every week! Hold me accountable. It's been a little crazy...or just busy here. I find myself wanting to just lay on my bed when I do get free time. Need more energy!!! But it is so good here. Being here has really been a season of us just pressing into God at all times. And it's not just with each other, but mostly on our own. God has been leading us all in a time of being alone with Him and spending time with Him. It's really been good for us.

The women have seen so much breakthrough this last week. Imagine 15 men standing facing 35 women and crying out to the Lord for our voices to be released. Men calling out the fact that women have been quieted in history. Men passionately telling these women that they will do all it takes to encourage these women to speak to nations. These men are looking each of those 35 women in the eye and telling them that they created in God's image with a piece of God's heart. The men are saying that they are desperate to know more of who God is by lifting women up to go to their fullest calling. They start to apologize on behalf of men who have held women back from speaking up. They continue to speak life over the women, dedicate themselves as brothers to their sisters, and promise to lift them up. That was Wednesday morning. Most of us girls had tears streaming down our faces. It broke and released something in our hearts that we longed for. Almost like our walls of insecurity about not having something to give just fell down. Like our voices were being drawn out of us to be used for the building of the kingdom. And these men standing in front of us? How often do you see men's hearts truly shine in this way? How blessed we are to be around such men of glory. Men who intentionally seek after the heart of the Lord. MY GOODNESS!!!


It continued Thursday afternoon as we went to a lecture (lecture sounds boring. speaking? i don't know) for women about envy and comparison. We joined the students of the Fire & Fragrance DTS and our friend Amy shared her story and wisdom with us. Envy is keeping people from their success because you want what they have. It says "I'm not truly established and at rest with my identity." It tells God that we are bitter at Him because he has not blessed us in the same way he has another person. Convicting, eh? But we have all done it. Especially women. As Amy described this, I thought of all the ways this shows up in my life. More than I had previously thought. Even the thoughts of comparison between me and another girl puts these seeds of envy in my mind that fester and grow. Have you ever had that? You don't know why you don't like this girl, but you just don't. Or you assume that those girls are talking badly about you. Lies pop into your head without you realizing the source. It's truly from the Satan. Let's be honest. And you know what? We need to destroy this spirit of envy over women! How do we do this? By empowering each other and being each other's BIGGEST fans no matter what. I want to see women walk in the fullness of what God has for them not matter what. Even if I think they have more favor than what they deserve. Even if I think their motives are wrong. Lies. Instead of pointing out their weaknesses, we start to cover their weaknesses for them through prayer and intercession. Envy holds back revival. Sometimes God withholds things we want so that we will find it in Him later. We will see Him and Him alone as who is giving it to us. And we need to be okay with that. We need to be content with what God has given us. Yes, it will be hard...but as long as you declare truth, it will always rule over feelings. Receive each other as who we are. If we, women, choose to step out in this, breaking off envy, and empowering each other, we will see revival. The world will be changed. What would this look like? Let's find out. It starts with one person in a community doing this. It will spread because it resonates with the heart of women. I'm so glad that the women here are choosing to walk this out. We are not perfect, but our strength is in the Lord.

Anyways, we had a time of response after this. Groups of 5 of us girls repenting for times we have believed lies. Breaking off those lies and speaking life over each other. The Holy Spirit giving us words of prophesy for each girl. It was one of the most freeing experiences because we were all honest with each other. We spoke out everything we have been guilty of or struggled with and we battled with each other to rebuke that. The Lord gave us his heart for each other and we were able to encourage with His words. How amazing that He speaks to us!!! And most importantly, we committed to being satisfied with everything God gives us and rejoice in it. What an awesome reality.

Does this resonate with any of you women? Thoughts?