This Christian walk has been a journey- one I will be on for the rest of my life, and while the objective is to exalt Jesus and bring others to the well that never runs dry, I must admit, much of the work begins in me. God has a way of pruning me as I try to provide him to others- in my life, my words, my reactions, etc. It's actually a pretty beautiful, uncomfortable thing.
One thing I am working on is improving how I both identify and address my emotions. My being spiritually strong goes deep, so vast to explain, but the truth is that I can't be my best for the kingdom when I am emotionally unstable. God doesn't want us to ignore how we feel or become numb to the things going on in and around us. The idea is to take what we feel and lay it at his feet. He knows how to do what we can't do alone. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reminds us that we will have weaknesses, and it is in those weaknesses that God shows himself strong. Keep this in mind as you go throughout the day thinking and feeling, being exposed to so much of this world. If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that I sometimes go missing for weeks, sometimes 2-3 months because disconnecting is so important to me. When I spend too much time doing anything, it affects my emotions, feelings, spirit man, etc. So I disconnect. I recently took a social media break, only to get back on and see a very disturbing video of an African-American male jogging, attacked and murdered by a White father-son duo. It was disturbing to watch. In that moment, I realize I had to not only identify the feelings and emotions that surfaced but also hand them right on over to my Father. If you haven't seen this video, I am sure you will, or perhaps you'll hear about the unfortunate injustice to not only a Black man but simply a human life. Friends, don't deny what you feel in this season or the season to come. We are supposed to feel, and if it breaks God's heart, it should break ours. It's called compassion and love. Even our heavenly Father experienced anger. What we do with the anger, sadness, outrage, etc. is what matters most. That is what will make or break us. Where will we take these emotions? Harboring them will breed hate, resentment and bitterness. Acting out of these emotions will result in the projection of hate, violence, etc. on the next man, and so what do you do? You do not become numb. You do not become blind. You do not become unbothered. You do not pretend it did not happen. Friends, talk to God. Release the heaviness of your emotions. Tell him all about it. Then, you do as the saying goes, and you "put your money where your mouth is." You go out into the world and treat your family, friends, associates and complete strangers how you know they should be treated, and you actively anticipate justice to be served, be it on this side or the next. Ultimately, God is our Great Defender. He avenges; we don't. In his time. Not ours. I am praying for you in this season- in the thick of chaos and uncertainty, trust God and open up to him about how you feel and what you are experiencing, in all aspects of your life because he certainly cares for you and every single detail concerning you. He can handle it all. Feel what you feel. Release it. Watch God. "Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many." -Hebrews 12:15 (I find this scripture befitting, as when we don't address the feelings and emotions evoked at the social injustices and conflicts going on in and around us, resentment and bitterness can take root, and they ain't good for nothing and nobody!)
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My husband and I have been quarantined since the second week in March. Here we are in the first of May, and God has been moving like never before. What could be an emotionally draining season has turned out to be a pruning season. I realize everyone's journey looks different; therefore, I won't speak for anyone else when I say, "God did this for me."
Although I am greatly saddened by the death and sickness occurring in the world around us, I am yet grateful for the quality time God has granted me in the wake of a crisis. I have picked up daily routines that I pray I never part ways with after we return to some sense of "normalcy." The truth is I never want to return to what I once deemed normal. The hustle. The bustle. The busy. I don't want to be apart of it. In all honesty, the first week of this thing, I wanted to pull my hair out of my head haha. I was so accustomed to being busy. Get this: I had some pretty productive, "God" things going on- don't get me wrong; however, there were some things that were just busy, and they were producing no fruit in my life. Those are the things I no longer want to involve myself in. Throughout this isolation, God has shown me myself. Ouch. Not comfortable. Not fun. But so necessary. I have been on the potter's wheel, and he has been working some things out of me. You see, his word is light. He is light. And if we ever want to go deeper in our relationships with God, we must read, obey and apply his word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that all scripture is inspired by God, useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. It's God's way of preparing and equipping us to do the good work he has outlined for us from the beginning. Because of this time, God has shown me several things about myself, not to condemn me, hurt me or belittle me, but to show me how desperately I need him. I'm learning to be way more transparent with God. I've cried out to him about deep feelings and emotions I thought I had overcome. In his response, he has spoken to me through his word and through confirmations from other believers. God is for me. God hears me. God answers me. Friends, I know what this thing looks like. I know what it feels like. This 'global storm' is uncomfortable, emotional, and all sorts of things wrapped up tight, but honey, let me tell you, there's a silver lining. If you are reading this, I bet you have shelter, warm water, food to eat, clothes, shoes, at least one family member and/or friend, etc. We are so blessed. In the midst of chaos and calamity, I am grateful that God still sees me and loves me enough to shine a light on the parts of me I thought were healed or maybe didn't even realize were there. There is power in a relationship with Jesus. He's so worthy of us getting still, quiet, and childlike. So I don't know what this season looks like for you, but I do know for me, it has been quiet moments, birds chirping, journals galore, transparent prayers, tears of joy, peace, uncertainty and QT with my husband (who I have a greater appreciation for, by the way, but that's another post). Friends, read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, and be encouraged, even in this...whatever your "this" may be. You are loved by a perfect God. Spend time with him; talk to him. Share your deepest, darkest secrets; tell him how amazing he is, and watch things shift- on the inside. I'm always thinking about ways I can become better. Sometimes, I realize I'm far too hard on myself. Actually, most times, I am probably harder on myself than God is on me. It's something that I'm always reflecting and praying about. I'm always thinking of ways I can forgive more, give more, trust more, etc. And then one day the Holy Spirit convicted me. I can't do these things in my own might. There's no way I can show more grace, mercy, forgiveness, etc. without God. And God is love. When you connect the two, there is the realization that love covers a multitude of sins. Without love, there is no way I can become better in anything. Love covers. Love gives and gives and gives. Love teaches. Love reaches down low and grasps every detail. Love forgives. Love never wavers. Love never gives up. Love trusts. Love wraps its arms around us all, no matter how good or bad we are. Love covers every single detail that we, in our own might, would miss or fall short in. Therefore, I have been reminded that the only way Brittney will master or improve in anything is to seek a God who is love. Not only does he love us, but he is love. Outside of him, we cannot fully understand love. It's just too big and goes beyond our human comprehension. Today, I hope you chose love. I hope you ran after it with all your heart, mind, and soul, but if not, God is so merciful and so gracious that we can begin afresh tomorrow. Seek love, and everything else will handle itself.
-B. Hoover Wow.
I have not written on here since May 28th! I knew it had been awhile but wasn't sure just how long. Ya'll, so very much has transpired the past few months. It seems as if every week we were losing a loved one or a close friend, and it happened so very quickly. I must admit things have been very, very busy and different. If I could sum up this year into one word, it would be TRANSITION. That is where we are- in the midst of transition. Surprisingly, in the midst of so many trials, God has truly been blessing us. It's amazing how God can give you the strength to overcome trials and at the same time bless your socks off. It's unbelievable how well-rounded our God is. He's so faithful, even when we aren't. I want to encourage you tonight. Whatever you may be facing: loss, death, transition, opposition, etc. God is STILL right by your side. Adjust your perspective, and instead of asking God why it has to be you, thank him that he trusts you with whatever you may be facing. Trudge through it. Give time time, and allow yourself to be human. Feel what you feel. The key is to not park where you are right now. Listen: Every single time we drive into a bad storm, I always ask my husband if we can just pull over, and he always responds the same way! NO! And every single time, as we continue driving, we run into clear skies and/or sunshine. Of course, he uses this as an opportunity to minister to me. What if we would've parked back there in the storm? We would have never known sunshine was up ahead. It sounds practical, and it is, but friends, make a conscientious decision to continue on because every storm you face HAS TO END! There is so much in store for you, but if you park in those feelings of sadness, regret, guilt, shame, pity, then you'll never feel the warmth of the sunshine. You'll never see the rainbow at the end of the tunnel. So feel what you feel, and give time time, but don't you park. Keep moving. There's more. -B. Hoover Distractions.
Hardships. They come so easily. Sometimes, they come so frequently. But I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:58 that declares, "So my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is every useless." Ever. It is never useless. Never. There is purpose to every season in our lives. But may I speak in all transparency? As a Christian, you may not always understand what God is doing in your life. You may not always understand the pitfalls, distractions, and heartaches, but it is necessary that you understand that God has purpose in every season. Every word, action, drought, valley, hard time, is promised to work in your favor. No exceptions. So I challenge you today, my friends, stand strong. Be immovable. That means don't be easily swayed and distracted. Stand strong, and always work hard and consistently for the Lord because He has promised to make it all work in our favor (Romans 8:28), and God can't lie (Numbers 23:19). Rest in that. Know that. Embrace it. Work enthusiastically, knowing it will all work in your favor; no good deed is ever useless. God's going to make it work for you. Keep abounding. Keep growing, and stay committed until you take your final breath. It's got to work in your favor! -B. Hoover All the glory belongs to you.
All the glory belongs to you. Hallelujah. Mali Music's Yahweh declares it perfectly. All the glory in our lives belongs to God. Sometimes a harsh reality, an uncomfortable truth, yet we can't make it simpler. It is so easy to make everything so personal. We take everything to heart. There's a misconception that when others say or do things to us, it is about us, and quite frankly, it's a lie. It's not at all about us. We are all meeting one another right where we are, but I like Mali Music's way of putting it. ALL the glory belongs to God. When we encounter difficult people, difficult situations and undesirable day to day happenings, we must take our minds to this one truth, "All the glory belongs to God." How we handle others, how we respond in tight situations, how we react to disappointments and the shortcomings we face in life, say more about us than the people or the things we are interacting with. What we choose to say and do speaks volumes about us and about the God we serve. So I have this question, "What message are you sending about God and to God through your reactions, conversations, and reactions to difficulty? Is he getting the glory or you?" Yes, it may satisfy you in the moment to react in such a way that is not pleasing to God, but your spirit man will feel the effects of it. You must make the conscious decision to surrender and let God have his way. Remind yourself that no matter what you are facing, dealing with or having an issue with, God will get the glory. All of it. Choose this day to respond in such a way that it points others in the direction of Jesus Christ. I am reminding myself today that no matter who or what I encounter in this day, my God is worthy of all the glory I have to give. He is more than worthy. When it gets tough, He's worthy. When it gets unexplainable, He is still worthy of all honor, praise, worship, and love. All the glory belongs to you, God. All the glory belongs to you, God. Hallelujah! -Brittney B. Hoover Peace. It has been in my spirit all week. God's peace surpasses all understanding. It is impossible to wrap our minds around it.
Absolutely impossible. I have been reading, "Restart Your Heart," a book by Jentezen Franklin. He poses a very interesting thought, "What shows up in the room when you show up?" Is it peace, or is it chaos? I pray that it is peace. I pray that you bring an ease and comfort to those in the room, as opposed to chaos and discomfort. It is extremely important that we take a personal inventory over our inward man. Are we truly at peace, and are we at peace to the point it is infectious? When we arrive on the scene, do our family and friends feel the peace of God? Do we calm the storm or irritate it? God's peace is not understandable to us. We can never wrap our minds around it. Today, I challenge you to wrap yourself in the peace that only God can provide. In the midst of turbulent storms, Jesus was at ease and completely unbothered by the raging waves. He did not allow his circumstances to move him, just as we should not allow our circumstances to move us into chaos and discomfort. Find the peace that God promises us, and be intentional about wallowing in it. His peace is a promise to us, and no matter how we feel or what we encounter on a daily basis, we can operate in God's peace fully and consistently. John 14:27 -B. Hoover "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." -Colossians 3:13
I can recall a time I was so mad at my husband. I could not seem to shake the feeling I was experiencing. I mean, he apologized, and I said I forgave him, but I truly didn't because I kept replaying every single detail, and I couldn't seem to move forward in my spirit. Then, the Holy Spirit convicted me. He reminded me of the Prodigal Son. What if I had responded to conflict the way the Prodigal Son's father responded to him- in love, grace, mercy and abundance? This would have changed the trajectory of the situation. Sometimes, when God doesn't change the situation, He's changing our perspective. The truth is that we all make mistakes. We make bad decisions. We act selfishly. We think, respond, and act erroneously, BUT GOD. God continues to give us brand new days and moments. My husband reminded me of this by saying, "Brand new days, brand new mercies." What a reminder. Today, give others the room to be human and make mistakes. No, this does not give them a license to do or say whatever they want, but it does remind you of your responsibility to love and forgive in such a way that doesn't even make sense to the human mind. Make room for others to be human. Know God does the same for you on a daily basis. Make room, and watch God move like never before on your behalf. It's a must! -B. Hoover I heard a message entitled, "Create Your Space" by Bishop Noel Jones. Ya'll, it blessed me so. In the message he mentions us doing what God created us to do. He discusses how God doing something victorious around us is not as powerful as him doing something victorious through us. Both are phenomenal; don't get me wrong. However, it's so powerful to know that some of us are sitting around waiting on God to do a thing for us when he wants to do something through us. We just have to be receptive and prayerful. I was sitting in a classroom the other day, and I wrote in my journal, "God show me what to do in this; show me how I can be useful for this teacher and these students." Bishop Noel Jones' message confirmed this for me last night. He said to ask God what role you play in a situation, and stop expecting God to perform every single detail. You do it. I want to share this message with you because it is so very important for us to realize the power within us. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave resides in us, and we simply can't walk around waiting on people or waiting on God when he has given us everything we need to execute what we are waiting on. The truth is that God is ready, willing and capable of blowing our minds, but what he won't do is what he purposed and provided for us to do. We often say things like, "I'm waiting on God to bless me financially." Well, has God given you gifts and talents that could potentially make you money? Work those gifts and talents. You are too gifted to ever be broke. Work what God has placed in you, and quit waiting around for him to do what you are capable to do for yourself. Can you imagine the people who waste a lifetime waiting around? There's an old saying that says, "The graveyard is the richest place on earth." Why? So many left this place not having worked the gifts God gave them. Books. Plays. Businesses. Art. Churches. Organizations. Travels. Just to name a few. So much is lying dormant in you, my friends. Don't wait another day. Ask God to reveal to you the role you play in any and every situation you encounter. Ask God for the ability to do your part in his perfect plan for your life. Then you'll see the manifestation of the work he wants to do through you.
-B. Hoover I took a huge leap of faith a few days ago by joining the gym. It has been so long since I committed myself to working out. I have made excuse after excuse as to why I shouldn't worry with joining, but Sunday, I realized I had to do it, for me. So, yesterday, I was thinking, "Lord, help me be consistent," as this has always been my struggle. I come up with the best ideas, and somehow, I find myself not being able to stick with it. Yes, my "stickwithedness" is often very weak, but this time, I heard the spirit whisper a very familiar scripture in my spirit- Galatians 6:9. We often hear this scripture as it relates to pushing through and not growing weary, but this time, I was able to relate it to just what I was asking God to do for me: consistency. If I want to remain consistent, I have to keep at it. When it gets hard or seemingly unbearable, we must remain consistent. When we are on top of the world and things seem absolutely amazing, we must commit to being consistent. If I ever want to reap the benefits of my labor, I have to keep at it, and this applies to any and everything. I want to encourage you, my friends: REMAIN IN GOD, and REMAIN CONSISTENT! Then, you will see the fruit that comes from it.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. -Galatians 6:9 |
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AuthorBrittney B. Hoover is the author of It is Finished: A Devotional of Unadulterated Truth. She has also co-authored a book with her husband, Michael Hoover, entitled Victory Over It All 22 Days of Healing, Deliverance & More. Archives
May 2020
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