I begin 2023 with a fast. The purpose was to turn my heart to the Lord so that I cannot only be delivered from sins of commission and sins of omission but to hear what He is saying to me including how He is ordering my steps. This is my way of setting a new year’s resolution of faithfulness to the Lord and becoming the person God created me to be. During this 21-day period, I fasted and prayed with other church members, family, and friends. The Word of God states in Matthew 18:19, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (NIV).
In January, during my quiet time in the presence of the Lord, it was confirmed that God would open doors of opportunity for me to serve in a Trauma Healing Ministry. Most of us have experienced some type of trauma in our lives and some of us are still in bondage because of that trauma. Facilitating healing groups allows me to use my spiritual gifts of administration, leadership, and evangelism. During the sessions, I share bible scriptures, participants share their testimonies and through activities the participants identify their heart pain. At the conclusion of the sessions, the participants are encouraged to take their pain to the cross and begin to heal their heart wound(s). In late January, I was invited to participate in a 9-week Strength from Weakness: Beyond Healing the Wounds of Trauma Training. I interacted with other facilitators and learned how their situations in third world countries handled trauma in addition to digging deeper into the scriptures. The training equipped me with additional facilitation skills to help those who are suffering locally and abroad.
I am thankful that I can see God’s plan coming to fruition for me to continue the journey to facilitate healing groups. My goal is to transition from an Apprentice Facilitator for Trauma Healing Groups to a Training Facilitator. The new role will multiply the number of facilitators around the globe, and it aligns with Sowing Seeds of Joy’s strategic plan.
I spend time daily in God’s presence so that I can hear his voice, hide His word in my heart and obey Him. Matthew 6:6 says “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (NKJV) When spending time in my quiet place I often use the SOAP Method.
Scripture: Read prayerfully and note which scripture(s) catches my attention.
Observation: Focusing on the scripture(s), listen to what God is saying to me.
Application: Think of how the verse(s) applies to my life.
Prayer: Wrap up my SOAP time in prayer by talking to God about what I just read.
I do not take my divine purpose lightly. By faith, I am stepping into the path that God has for me. My journey includes prayer, fasting and support from other believers. Through spiritual maturity, I am confident that I will overcome any challenges, and that God will fulfill the destiny that He has for me. There is no doubt that I will continue to fast, pray, and cry out at the feet of Jesus with praise and thanksgiving. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (NIV) Pray with me and for me as I continue to walk in the steps God has ordered for my life.
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