GOD told me to LEVEL UP!

Hey Ladies we are back!!! Episode 5 of A Queen with Purpose Podcast! My schedule has been busy so I’ve decided to post episodes every Monday. It’s extremely important to stay consistent. This episode still played out up until this very moment of me recording! God called me out and told me this weekend I need to Level Up! Have you ever experienced a moment where God has required you to become more of who he has called you to be and made you level up? Walk with me while I explain…..

When my position with my last employer ended I transitioned into a new season. If you listened to Ep. 4 | Don’t Dim Your Light, you would know I knew working for my past employer was coming to an end. I knew it was going to happen, therefore I mentally prepared for it. This weekend, I realized God placed me in a sensitive space and it’s important that I guard the space I’m in because this space requires more of me for the next level he’s taking me too. Therefore, I can no longer do certain things I used to do, and most importantly react to certain things and circumstances. This space or season you can say, requires more of me to grow both spiritually, personally and professionally. It requires less of me and more of God.

You can say this season is very selfish! A lot of self work has taken place! I’ve become laser focused on my health, my business, my appearance, my relationship with God, being a mother, caregiver of my mother, sister to my brothers and a dependable friend to the ladies in my life. I’ve been just as busy without a full time job as when I had one. My mom just told me the other day, Ja’Lisa I think you’re more busy now than when you were working. I laughed because she is absolutely right!

So in this season it’s just God and I. Now I’ve had seasons of just God and I before but this time around he set the tone a little different and I’ve grown to be comfortable with that. I’ll speak to the single season in the context of relationships in a future podcast in much more detail. I knew there were areas he was calling me out on that I needed to address and now is the time to do that before he takes me to the next level. This is a real life example of Gods grace. He’s given me time to reach an even higher level of maturity than I’ve achieved now. There’s no way I want to be unprepared for the blessings God has for me.

But as it relates to me right now, I’ve realized I can’t entertain or give energy to dead situations or focus on things God has removed. I have to protect what God is doing within me and around me because of where God is taking me. I’m learning so much about myself along the way and I can’t afford anyone or anything to distract me from that. This even includes myself. I can’t give into negative thoughts and neither can you.

I believe God is showing me areas where I need to improve and with showing those areas he’s allowing me to grow. For example, the old me would react first analyze later. However, over this weekend he’s shown me it’s important for me to lead by example and certain things the old me would respond too is unnecessary to do so now and moving forward. He’ll handle it. I don’t have to take matters into my own hands because the level he’s calling me too requires a certain level of self control. Control over my emotions. Control over setting boundaries and limitations with knowing when to cut things off. Control over not engaging with individuals that will trigger me to revert back to level he’s already graduated me from.

So let’s revisit the question I posed to you all in the beginning of this episode, have you experienced a moment where God made you level up?

Going through seasons or we can say transitions in life such as this can feel extremely lonely or isolated. It may feel no one really understands the walk your currently on. Some respect it but many won’t get it and I say this to you because that’s ok. This walk is for YOU! YOUR GROWTH, YOUR WISDOM, TO BUILD YOUR CHARACTER IN CHRIST! So I want you to NOT look at the situations you are brought up against negatively. Change your perspective and shift your mindset. Ask yourself the following questions:

What is God teaching me? 

What is God preparing me for?

Is God showing me an area or areas where i need to mature?

These are the questions I asked myself this weekend and God revealed exactly what is taking place. I’m being stretched for preparation for what he has ahead for me. Since he has revealed it, it has made me more alert when situations arise and to truly think through a situation before I act or respond. Now this in no way means I’d be ready to pop off on someone. Absolutely not! I’ve graduated from that place years ago. Making spur of the moment decisions aren’t best with where I’m headed. It’s important to take my time and analyze and most importantly pray before making a decision or reacting to anything.

Before I wrap up this episode…

Sunday morning, my pastor Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis at Mount Ararat Baptist here in Pittsburgh preached on the topic “When Heaven Opens” out of Luke 3: verses 21-22. Two things he stated really stayed with me. 

One… Heaven opens to confirm your call and confirm your mission. 

This weekend God provided me a reminder of exactly the mission I’m on and what I need to learn in this season. Staying focused is extremely important.

Two…increase my prayer life & imagine what possibilities exist for me and YOU under an open heaven!

I’ll post the link to the sermon is the description for those who are interested.

I need, we need, to stay in consistent prayer and stop thinking so small regarding the possibilities God has for us. I just thank God for sending the reminders and extending us grace to prepare us before we receive the blessings he has for us.

Have a blessed week ladies and remember…..I’ll talk to you again next Monday!