This is something that has been on my heart and mind a lot lately, and something I’ve posted about a handful of times before (see below related posts). I actually believe that one of my “life messages,” if you want to call it that, is encouraging women not to settle. Not just in regards to relationships, but in all areas of life. This quote helped put that ideas into a new perspective for me, and I wanted to share it with you.
I talk often about having hopes/dreams/desires - and I absolutely think that’s important - but lately I’m realizing what a huge difference it makes to have a YES from God on those areas.
Because here’s the thing. When we decide on our own hopes and desires, we can easily second guess ourselves. When things don’t seem to be working out - or when a “good enough” version comes around we think, “well maybe my hopes were just too high?”
But when GOD gives you the dream or desire, there’s no second guessing. There’s no settling. It’s time to start letting HIM set our expectations.
It’s not based on entitlement, but on trust. When you trust that was He has for you is far beyond what you could even dream up or achieve for yourself, it kind of doesn’t really matter what else happens or what comes along. It makes it easy to rely on the TRUTH of what He has given you, rather than on (ever-fleeting) emotions.
This is something I’ve been experiencing a lot over the past few months. I can’t exactly explain it other than the whole “when you know you know” sort of thing. I’ve gotten a very clear YES from God in certain areas of my life, so when something seems off from that…I know with certainty that it is.
So I want to encourage you today - have you asked God what He has for you? Have you asked Him if the things you’re dreaming for or working toward are part of His plan? Grab a journal and write down your answers. It can be a bit of a scary question to ask, but I can promise you that if you leave room for the impossible in your life, God will fill in the spaces…and then some.
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In what area do you need to let God set your expectations?
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Related posts:
Life: Unfiltered
How To Stay On Course
More Than The Counterfeit
On Knowing Your Identity
The Thing About Striving
Why I Don’t Do Christianity
Hey Gracie! I love this idea, I completely agree that it is in our best interest to let go and let God, but I sometimes struggle to find His answers. I have been a little low in my faith lately, and it makes me sad. I sometimes find things as a sign from Him, but I find myself second-guessing a lot. Is this really what God wants, or is it what I want or am I convincing myself it’s His plan? How do you know what God’s plan is for you? If you have any further advice on this that would be awesome! Thank you!
Hey Abbi! I’m so glad you left this comment.
First of all - I just left a comment below for Sabra about hearing from God, and I think that is something that will help you too.
As far as knowing God’s plan for you, I think a really good place to start is looking at what your actual desires in life are. God puts them there for a reason! And then simply ask Him for confirmation and that He would guide your steps - open and close the doors for you.
I definitely suggest started a “vision journal” of sorts - it seems like that could be really helpful for you. Start writing down your vision for your future - whether you think it’s right or wrong - and ask God for His input. Often times even more than giving you a sign, He’ll give you the answer in your heart (as I mentioned in my response to Sabra, for me that very much looks like my “gut feeling” or intuition).
I hope that helps answer your question! Definitely let me know if you have any more 🙂 You can email me too if you’d like. xx
How do you know when God says, “yes!”?
Hey Sabra! That is a really good question 🙂 Maybe I will do a blog post about it soon! But in the meantime, here is what I believe / what has “worked” in my own life.
Hearing God is definitely a learning process because we have SO many other thoughts/distractions in our life at any given time. Inviting the Holy Spirit into your life is definitely the first step, as the Bible tell us the Holy Spirit speaks to us (John 16:13).
And then for me…I just start asking! I ask God about just about everything…the big things, little things, etc. Sometimes He tells me even the smallest of things like which street to walk home on. But I also listen and obey because it’s those little things that act as “practice” for hearing about the big things, if that makes sense.
I would say that getting a YES from God, in my life at least, is kind of like “when you know, YOU KNOW.” To me it’s the same has having a gut feeling or intuition about something. I would say that’s the best way to describe it.
I do want to note, though, that a YES from God does have certain characteristics to it. It will never have fear, chaos, or confusion attached to it. A good “checklist” to run through if you’re unsure if something is from God is:
- Does this exalt Him? (John 16:14)
- Is it Scriptural? (Proverbs 30:5-6)
- Do other Christians confirm it? (Proverbs 15:22)
- What fruit does it bear? (John 15:1-16)
I hope that helps answer your question. Definitely let me know if you have any more questions/thoughts 🙂 xo
I so love this and needed to read this today. It’s easy to get caught up in making plans for ourselves based on our wants, and even more so, based on what we think we are supposed to want (and what our peers are doing). On social media, I often have to remind myself, ‘Their path is not my path.” I try to keep my own goals in mind, whilst making sure those goals are actually fulfilling my purpose here, not just serving myself. <3
Love. So much love. Especially that last line! Guess it is time for a heart-to-heart with my Father AND some stillness to allow Him to speak back.
Hi Gracie- this post is right in time. I have been feeling the same way about what God has given me. I was pretty lost with it all about a year ago but He’s given me grace and now I understand that I wasn’t really letting Him lead my way in those dreams and desires. That is so important. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Gracie! Great answer! I like how you gave bible versus to look up. I really need to start going to bible study lol. Are there many Christians in NYC? I’ve only been to New York once and it seemed like there weren’t many Christians, but I could be wrong!