When Feeling Overwhelmed

You’ve walked out the house with two different shoes, you have a deadline to meet at work today, you have multiple demands for your time between your family, friends, and coworkers, and you forgot to eat breakfast again…. From minor to major things, I’m sure we all have experienced being overwhelmed. But what do you do when you find yourself headed in that direction?

To be overwhelmed means to: affect very strongly; to cause (someone) to have too many things to deal with; to defeat completely. By the definition alone you would/could seem hopeless, but God is AWESOME! So if you are a child of God you do not have to stay in the place of being overwhelmed for too long. Why you ask? Because “His grace is sufficient” “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2Corinthians 12:8-9 NKJV) You see Paul was pleading with the Lord to remove the “thorn” from his side but He wouldn’t. Not because He didn’t love Him or didn’t care but because He needed Paul to understand that His grace would sustain him in any and everything. When we become overwhelmed we take our eyes off of God because our focus becomes the problem or the situation or the person that is contributing to the stress in our life.

 I got to a place this year in my life where it seemed every week it was something else, so much was coming at me all at once and I was feeling as though the Lord didn’t hear my cry. But He spoke clearly to me and let me know that His grace would carry me through. He already said in His word that in my weakness, His strength is made perfect. I know someone may be reading this and saying “yea but Erica, you don’t know everything that I’ve been through!” Or maybe you are reading this and you’re thinking “uh-huh I’m tired of people telling me just pray!” Or maybe you find yourself where I once was, where Paul was… pleading with the Lord to remove the “thorn” from your side. Well….. He won’t… but He will be with you through it all.

Now let me encourage you and give you some things you can do when life throws you an overwhelming curveball. Trying to do it all is not the solution and neither is worrying ourselves about how much we stress. 

1.     Spend time in prayer and reflection: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

2.     Get Organized: Productive people maintain a schedule or system to track tasks. Schedules are about vision, and vision is from God. Jesus was intentional. He had a purpose. You do too and stepping into your purpose starts with taking control of your day.

3.     Invest in Yourself: You must find some activities that nourish you. If you want to pour into other people and be the best spouse, parent, friend and co-worker you can be, investing in yourself is a must.

4.     Throw out insignificant activities: If you think about it, you are overwhelmed because you are doing too much or have too much going on.

5.     Find space/time to unplug: Rest is essential for the natural order of God’s creation. When you neglect rest, life gets muddled. “Hello” somebody… God rested (on the 7^th day) so why would you think you wouldn’t need to.

6.     Be present in every situation: Being present is a key to restoring your life, to relational intimacy, to being productive, and to experiencing peace and joy. Set your schedule. Get rid of unnecessary activities. Then, give your attention to the tasks at hand and the people in front of you.

Father God I pray right now in the name of Jesus that you touch the person who is reading this now, that you speak to their hearts and give them an overwhelming peace. I thank you Lord that you open their eyes to the distractions and interruptions in their life right now that are not edifying them. Lord I pray that they trust you and that they lay down every weight that has brought about a feeling of being overwhelmed. May you remove the stressors from their life that seek to destroy their purpose and may you give them understanding and wisdom in how to deal with the thorns in their side. I thank you right now Lord that Your grace is sufficient for any and everything that they may face. I thank you Lord that you see that their burdens and heavy and too much to bear but that You will give them rest. Lord you do not desire for them to be anxious for anything so may the peace of God which surpasses all understand rest, abide, and rule in their hearts and in their life. I thank you Lord that they learn to cast their cares upon You and You give them strength when they are weak. I know that if we pray Your word and believe it, than it shall be. So I thank you Lord for what You are going to do.

In Jesus Name,

Amen!

Keep Calm and DIVA On!

Use Your Weapon

In a world riddled with violence, why would I encourage readers to use their weapon? Because the weapon that I am referring to is not a gun, or a bomb, or weapons of mass destruction. But the weapon that I am talking about is your WORSHIP!

Your breakthrough, your healing, your deliverance, the breaking of generational curses, your obedience, revelation, the joy and peace of God is orchestrated through your worship. Worship gives us a direct connection to our heavenly Father. A true worshiper, worships God in spirit and in truth. “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 NKJV) This is the first characteristic to define a true believer. When your worship comes from the heart, then you can tap into what you need. We have to get to a point where we understand that worship is ABSOLUTELY necessary.

What weapon do you use now when doubt, fear, anxiety, or worry come around. How about when you have a prodigal son/daughter that you’ve been praying for or a spouse that has abandoned the family. When you are in a stressful situation or when you have reached your wits end? Well I have good news and I have bad news for you. The bad news is that we live in a fallen world so problems are inevitable. The good news is that we have access to the response of our problems. As Christ-followers, worship is our main weapon against life’s problems.  When we worship, our problems don’t go away, but what the devil threatens to do in our lives through those problems goes away.

Worship is not only a weapon but it is a lifestyle too. Worship helps us endure trials and empowers us for witnessing. The worship of Almighty God gives us victory over the enemy.

Worship focuses us on the Lord. When we truly worship, we take "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." We can't worship and be tempted to sin. We can't worship and lust. We can't worship and lie, hate, covet, gossip, cheat, etc… Worship brings about the Victory. It worked for Israel. It worked for Peter. It worked for Paul and Silas and it will work for you!!!

Don't stand at a distance; enter in! Refuse to agree with the circumstances of life and the deceptions of the enemy; bring your voice into agreement with the unchanging Word of the Lord. Choose this day that you will lift your eyes and enter into God's presence using the password of WORSHIP. Truly, one of the greatest weapons that you can ever put into action is the worship of God in your mouth!

Keep Calm and DIVA On!

We all need a little encouragement

Well 2017 will quickly be here and I just wanted to take a moment to send my love, encouragement, and prayers to you and your family for the New Year to come. I pray that this year is a year of overflow and double blessings for you. The number 20 according to biblical numerology represents “holy” and the number 17 represents “overcoming the enemy/complete victory” That alone is encouragement to me and I pray for you this year that you continue to not only live a holy life but draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, communion, and His word. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV) The only acceptable worship is to offer ourselves completely to the Lord and not assume an outward expression that does not reflect what is really on the inside is acceptable or is worship. You have the living God inside of you and I pray that through your surrender and submission to His will this year that the blessings pour forth and that He fill your spiritual cup to the brim to where it will overflow and you will be a blessing to others that you encounter. 

My desire for you in the upcoming year. Is for you to  become or continue to strive at being a “Woman of Purpose” and I created an acronym for the word purpose:

P ~ Prayer
U ~ Unction (Holy Spirit)
R ~ Royal and Renew
P ~ Progress
O ~ Obedience and Overcomer
S ~ Surrender and Submission
E ~ Edify and Encourage

Let us (DIVAS) in all that we do this coming year and beyond press towards not only becoming a woman of purpose but a woman of influence as well, because your influence and the God in you is what is going to open doors for you in 2017.

Father God I come to right now lifting up the woman who is reading this and I pray that your grace, mercy, and love will continue to fill her life. I thank you Lord that she is not burdened down with depression, anxiety, jealousy, anger or unforgiveness but that You have created in her through your precious Holy Spirit a clean heart and have renewed in her a right spirit. I thank you for the doors that will be opened in her favor in 2017. I thank you for increase, witty ideas, divine encounters, and good health. I thank you for your Holy Spirit always being encamped around her and her family and I pray for safety and for no hurt, harm or danger to come to her. I pray God that You continue to show Yourself not only as a present help in her life but a constant friend, may she not lean to her own understanding but in all her ways may she acknowledge You as You direct her paths. For the unknown, unforeseen, and uneasy circumstances that arose in her life in 2016 may You give her the peace that surpasses all understanding and may she cast her cares upon You for You care for her. As she draws closer to You in 2017 may You draw closer to her. I thank you Father God that she not only knows You better this coming year but she knows who she is in You. I thank You that she is becoming a Woman of Purpose, Destiny, and Influence and it is You who will make her name great. Every thought, character and word that is not like You or that has hindered her progress I cast it down and tell it to be removed from her life right now in the name of Jesus. I pray this prayer with a cheerful and thankful heart Lord because I will always enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise and because You not only hear the prayers of the righteous but You have given us the power to speak Your word and for it not to return back void, but for it to accomplish everything that we send it out to do. So I know and I believe it by faith that You are already orchestrating great and wonderful things in this woman’s life. So I praise your Holy name and I give You the highest praise in Your Son Jesus’ precious name I pray and know that it is happening. In Jesus name,

Amen. 

Keep Calm and DIVA On!

The "Real" Hotline Bling

Did you know that the word prayer is mentioned in the Bible over 600 times and the word pray is referenced over 300 times? With that much emphasis wouldn't you think it necessary to put that into action? We are called to:

~Watch and Pray

~Pray wthhout ceasing

~Pray and seek God's face

~ Fast and Pray

~ Rejoice and Pray

~ Pray in troubled times

~ Pray with thanksgiving and supplication

~ Confess and Pray

~ Forgive and Pray

~ Pray and Believe

~ Pray with Boldness

~ Pray in Faith

~ Pray Always

Prayer and praying should be a part of our daily lifestyle, something that we can't go without. Just like we cannot go without eating or drinking water, so should it be with praying. 

Everything that you have need of is locked up in your prayers. (Yes you still need to be obedient, and faithful, and live holy, and so on and so on) But your healing, your deliverance, and your breakthrough is activated through your PRAYERS! Be selfless instead of selfish. Those prayers for healing, deliverance, prosperity, guidance, and breakthrough are not just for you. We need to pray for our world, our nation, our leaders, our children, our families, our marriages, and the list goes on. " If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2Chronicles 7:14 NKJV) Enough said! I get into a position of humbleness, I pray, and I seek the Lord. I'd like to add that I also listen attentively to what the Lord tells and/or reveals to me. 

Every Wednesday join me for an Hour of Power! This is just one hour of your day for one day a week that is truly worth it. Maybe you don't know what to pray, or perhaps you don't understand the power in our prayers, or just maybe you are broken and know that you need to pray and you need prayer but just can't even fix your mouth to utter any words. Then please join me for an Hour of Power every Wednesday beginning at:

5:00 am (PST)

6:00 am (MST)

7:00 am (CST)

8:00 am (EST)

All you have to do is Dial: (712) 832-8330 and enter the Access Code: 7874417.

It's that simple and I promise you will be blessed. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12 NIV) God wants to do some amazing things in your life and I know that a "world changer" is reading this right now. Activate your faith through PRAYER! 

Always Keep Calm and DIVA On! 

Know Your Purpose Baby

These days you are considered bizarre if you live without a phone. Yet nobody cares if you live without a purpose… Anything wrong with that picture?

So what is your purpose? Do you even know? Now understand that knowing why you were created is different from knowing what your purpose is. Created is your existence “So God created man in His own image… male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NKJV) So God made man/woman exist here... on this planet. Purpose is the reason why you were created, which is NOT just to exist. You were fashioned for a purpose, to do great and marvelous things. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV) The purpose for your life is exclusive to you, but the awesome thing is that what God has purposed for your life will flow over to be a blessing for others. And because the purpose for your life is exclusively yours, it may not look like the next persons.

Link up and connect with people that will encourage you to seek out your purpose. Find those people/friends that will inspire you to be great and do great things. I implore you to consider the things that bring your heart an unspeakable amount of joy and passion. Ask God how to use those passions to serve others and to carry out the divine works set aside that only you can complete.


Keep Calm and DIVA On!

Bona Fide

Transparent: Undisguised, unconcealed, conspicuous; standing out so as to be clearly visible. If all we want (as a society, culture, and as people) is for individuals to be quote on quote “real” then why are we not reflective of what we want to see? Who will and wants to take the first step toward being transparent? It seems as though people want others to keep it real with them, but will not be first at vulnerability… so can you really say or claim that you are transparent? Transparency is not contingent upon someone else. I understand that there are a plethora of reasons to hide behind the veil. Most people hide their essence in fear of rejection or judgement, lack of self-confidence, or broken-heartedness. Transparency reveals the character of a person. Just as high definition television illuminates the blemishes and imperfections of those appearing on screen, living a high definition life can expose both our strengths and weaknesses. But often times most of us would rather remain phony than face the exposure of a transparent life. We feel trapped, desiring a confidante, yet terrified that honesty will cause those we value to permanently lock us out of their life. There is freedom in truth and there is liberty in being open. There is no fear of exposure or shame, there is such an implausible peace that results from not having to juggle a lie or keep bases covered.

Even though people may disappoint and friendships fail, refusing to live an authentic life separates us from the one relationship we can always trust. One of the biggest pitfalls… is distance from God; when we lie to people, we offend the God of truth, and that will create distance in our relationship with Him. We lose many teaching opportunities. Instead of learning from our sin and developing lessons that can be taught to and applied by others, we spend our energy and thoughts trying to cover up the truth. How can we speak the truth when we live in constant denial of the truth? We then keep ourselves in sinful patterns of living. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV) I know that God’s mercy and grace is far more rewarding than the torment of keeping up with a lie. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16 NKJV) Wow! Amazing! Not only that there is power in our prayers but that there is healing in being transparent with one another. It is time to take the first step at being exposed, at being vulnerable, at being transparent. Allow others to see that there is a real human being underneath the grease and the makeup with God-given gifts and fleshly struggles. If you’re honest with yourself as I am honest with myself, we have enough energy to be transformed or to conceal… but not both. It makes far more sense and takes less time and energy to work at changing than to work at covering something up.

So ask yourself this…

Am I living a transparent life? Is my life and my character in HD (High Definition)?

• Are you able to be yourself no matter whom you are with?

• Are you able to refrain from joining a group when they engage in events in which you don’t want to participate?

• Are you honest about where you are in your spiritual walk?

• Do you have a few friends with whom you can confide in about deep intimate issues?

• Have you shared your goals and dreams with someone?

• Can you laugh at yourself?

• Can you own up to your mistakes, stating, “Yep, I blew it.”

• Are you acknowledging your strengths by serving or working in an area in which you are gifted?

Time to be B-O-N-A-F-I-D-E! Keep Calm and DIVA on!

Watch Your Mouth

I think I can just drop the mic after the title…. Such a small member of our body, yet a very powerful one. The words that proceed out of our mouth can either encourage, uplift, or comfort someone or they can hurt, disappoint, and even destroy. That’s why we must understand the power and weight of our words. As words come out of our mouth and are put into the atmosphere, we cannot get them back, so choosing our words wisely is the best thing to do. Do you ever wonder why when you say something offensive or hurtful to someone or maybe they say something to you, it’s hard to forget what has been said? Think of words like a scar. Someone may accidentally cut you on your arm, they apologize and tell you how sorry they are and you forgive them. Although you have forgiven them it doesn’t erase the fact that now there is a scar on your arm. Same way with our words. Once they proceed out of our mouth we can’t just seize and erase them, they’ve already been heard. So although we have forgiven someone for what they’ve said it still does not erase what was spoken. Ephesians 4:29 reads as thus: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (NKJV)

So what is this verse instructing us to do? Let’s dissect this verse a little to get a better understanding. The word “corrupt” in this verse literally means putrid or rotten. But it is just not referring to communication/words that are putrid or rotten but also words that are flattery, calumny, railing, boasting, tale-bearing, backbiting, commendations of vice and impiety, profane jesting, and/or trifling conversation. But the words that come out of our mouth should be good, positive, inspiring, edifying, clean, comforting, and/or influential. Wow!! How amazing would it be for people to grab hold of this and use the power (that we all have by the way) to encourage and love on one another instead of destroy and tear each other down. There are so many scripture verses that connect us back to Ephesians 4:29. The battle for purity of the mouth begins in the heart. Well how can I say that? Because “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45b NKJV) and we know that “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:11 NKJV) Defile means to spoil, desecrate, debase, or degrade. Well what comes out of our mouth……. You got it! Our WORDS! Look at how much power there is in our words. So the next time you get ready to say something out of your mouth…… Think about it! If it doesn’t inspire, influence, comfort, or edify…… Keep it to yourself! Remember there is power in your words, use it for good. Keep Calm and DIVA on!