The Emerge Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ashley Henderson
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What to expect on The Emerge Podcast
In 2022, my focus is aimed towards more lifestyle,
self-improvement, and young adulthood content. This
includes content such as:
• faith-based content
• living a healthier lifestyle (fitness, healthier eating)
• creating productive habits
• day in the life vlogs
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Much Love! God Bless! 💜
When we feel spiritually drained, we may have to establish new patterns and activities. We may experience one moment or day of relief but get discouraged when our weariness returns. We can learn to praise God in the moment and have a restart until we reach a victory in our souls. Spiritual healing comes when we surrender control and celebrate God’s grace and mercy…one step at a time. Be encouraged Saints and I’ll catch you in the next one. Be blessed.
“The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting Him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant.”
Rick Warren
The job of the GPS doesn’t change. God doesn’t change. He is the same who was, is and is to come. If you allow Him, God will position His saints to arrive at their intended destination. God Positions His Saints whenever He knows that the enemy has sent someone or something our way to kill, steal or destroy us. The enemies agenda is to “try” & get us out of position so we don’t focus on God. Our job is to trust God. And when we do, just like the job of the GPS, we’ll arrive at our intended destination. However, God never says it’s going to be a straight path. Sometimes the GPS on our phones or in our cars tend to update as we are driving. Asking us if we want to take the faster route. Obedience is what speeds up the process. Remember, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, when he delights in His way.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart & lean not in your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him & he will make straight your paths. Though your heart will try to shepherd you today, do not follow it. It is not a shepherd. It is a pompous sheep that, due to remaining sin, has some wolf-like qualities. Don’t follow it, and be careful even listening to it. Remember, your heart only tells you what you want, not where you should go. So, only listen to it to note what it’s telling you about what you want, and then take your wants, both good and evil, to Jesus as requests and confessions.Jesus is your shepherd (Psalm 23:1; John 10:11). Listen to his voice in his word and follow him (John 10:27). Jesus is the truth, he is the way, and he will lead you to life (John 14:6).
What leadership style are you under? Are under a bad leader like King Saul and Lisa’s dad or are you in the midst of Jonathan, David and Shania, who only want to work with you, not against you. Remember, what Pastor Otha said earlier about the difference, Under the bad leader your ceiling is their floor, you’ll never be able to pass them. But under the good leader, a leader modeled by Jesus, your floor is their ceiling. All those years of experience can be passed down to you overnight, just like the slowest on the relay team passes the baton to the “anchor” the fastest on the team. You don’t have to struggle with the same struggles as the generation before you. One generation commends His works to another. What leadership style you’re under matters, you cannot afford to put your whole life on hold to wait for them, not everyone can go to the top with you. Jesus separated the 3 from the 9 in the valley and took the 3 disciples Peter, James, and John up to the mountain with Him to pray. Jesus never said they were better just that their paths are different. Just like yours. Because just like back then, The kingdom of God is at hand. It’s not about us, it’s about God’s Spirit working in and through us as we aim towards the common goal of building the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.
Jethro is not highlighted as often as Moses. But we can learn valuable leadership insights from him that can transform the way we lead in our settings. This was episode 23 of the Emerge Podcast, 5 Leadership Qualities from Jethro found in the book Exodus chapter 18. Thank you all for listening, be blessed.
God has been saying to me recently, “Put Me On”. And I hit Him back with what? I think it’s the other way around Lord, I need you to put me on. More blessing, finances, peace etc. And in His love and mercy, because God is so patient with me, He repeats, “You forgot to Put Me On”. You see, I’ve been taking natural steps and bringing natural weapons to a spiritual battle. But God generously reminded me of His word in Ephesians 6:11 which says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” A key part of this verse is that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, it’s not a natural battle but a spiritual one. I never once broke down step by step what each piece of armor represents and how to apply it. I’ll admit I was more a hearer of the Word than a doer. So a big challenge for me in this season is learning to find the application as I read the Word of God and starting asking God questions on what it means. I like to believe the break down of each piece of armor I mention earlier has me on the right track. But Episode 22 of the Emerge Podcast “Put Me On” serves as more of an encouragement that I know us Believers need. So saints let’s get to work. Let us be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Let us Put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Let’s continue to pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Keeping alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Be blessed.
I understand that the pain can sometimes feel unbearable, believe me I know. Your pain is real, I’m not discrediting that. Pain can be apart of your story without controlling your story. You don’t have to live in denial and you don’t have to give it free rein either. First and foremost, you need to find healing and peace in God. You may also need to seek therapy, counseling, or educate yourself in whatever area is broken. Or maybe its time to set healthy boundaries with the ones who have deeply hurt you. I realize that without the Church hurt I went through I wouldn’t have met Jesus. My prayers going unanswered during that time was the best thing that has happened to me. I wouldn’t have met Jesus, I wouldn’t be alive today, the podcast that you are listening to right now wouldn’t be a thing and I wouldn’t have shared my testimony because there’d be no testimony to share. Be thankful that God didn’t give you what you thought you wanted. He bypasses our wants to meet and supply our every need. Be thankful for what God didn’t do!
Lastly, lets talk about your reward for being found a “good and faithful servant” that shouldn’t be overlooked. . If we return to the verse notice this key line: “Come and share your master’s happiness.” I know that the verse also says you have been faithful with a few things and you will be ruler over many. That’s great and it’s amazing but I believe the real joy comes from knowing that you have made the master proud. Is there a greater joy in life than knowing that you’ve brought happiness to the heart of Jesus, because you’ve been faithful to do what he has asked you to do? This should be the driving force of our life, that we would make him proud of the lives we have lived.
I hope you have gained a better understanding of the meaning and context of Matthew 25:23, “well done good and faithful servant.” When you think about hearing your well done then, you have to start working towards it now. Think about what your responsibility is and don’t worry about whether it is great or small, that’s not what really matters. Just be faithful in the places God has put you in and one day you will hear…well done. If you’ve enjoyed this episode and are ready to Be Faithful Right Where You Are, give this video a thumbs up, share with your friends and family & subscribe to the channel. This was episode 19 of the Emerge Podcast Be Faithful Right Where You Are. Alright saints, let’s go and do the same!
If there is anything that people love to hear it’s approval for a job well done. It gives you confidence knowing that you are performing or have performed at a high level. It also gives you the encouragement to keep going and to continue in what you’re doing. In Matthew 25:23, a king gives his servant what I call the ultimate well done. This is what the king told his servant:
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
If it seems your adversaries, enemies or antagonists have the upper hand, keep trusting God. Don’t take matters into your own hands by seeking revenge, that belongs to God and God alone. God rises up to vindicate those who put their trust in Him. Remember, revenge is taking matters into our own hands to satisfy our pride and bring glory to ourselves. But waiting for God to vindicate us is putting our trust in Him to get His glory out of our situation and our enemies will witness it, while our supporters praise God. So, let them scheme, plot, conspire, mock, even strike you. Let them fire you. Let them abandon you. Let them accuse you. God loves to silently watch the behavior of man because He’s preparing a table in the presence of your enemies.
5 Ways God Promises To Deal With Your Enemies 1. He will bring everything hidden into the light. [Luke 12;2-3] #luke12 2. He will avenge you. [Romans 12:19] #romans12 3. He won’t let your enemies succeed against you. {Isaiah 54:17] #isaiah 4. He will prepare a table before you. [Psalm 23] #psalm23 5. He will help you defeat the real enemy. [Ephesians 6:12-13] #ephesians6 Remember, like any other promise, they require obedience on our part. If we are unforgiving and unloving toward our enemies, the promises are off the table. If we are worried, trying to take justice into our own hands, or gossiping about the situation—no deal. Stay in obedience, and let God deal with your enemies.
I’m not sure who this is for, but your presence is a present. And you need to Let your light shine brightly. The goal is to point people to the goodness and glory of God. As we shine our lights, let’s ask God to continually show us how best to shine so we can be vessels of His love!
Now, I mentioned earlier that I had a bad habit of dimming my light around those whose really needed to see Jesus and it was such a discredit to myself and them for not being the light God has called me to be; By being my authentic self. If you can relate stick around while I share some helpful tips and tricks on how you can let your light shine today! Like right now
Examine Your Heart
Light and darkness cannot coexist in the same place. Test your heart for any hindering secrets, shame or anything preventing the light God’s placed on the inside of you from shining bright. Wisely share your hurts and struggles with God or a trusted friend. When our burdens are brought to the light, they have no power over us because they can’t hide anymore. The darkness flees, allowing us to be who we are and show that reality to others.
Be Authentic
Yeah I know, In a world full of conformist, being authentically you is frowned upon or even mocked. But Authenticity is a way to shine for Christ. We’ve all gone through trials and tribulations. The façade of perfectionism can diminish the impact of our light since it’s easy to see the rays when the sun is already out. But Our light shines bright when we wisely share our struggles with others, showing it’s possible to have hope amongst sorrow and hardship.
Encourage Others
One way to let your light shine is to be an encouragement to the world. Hey this is one of the reasons God has opened a door for me to start the Emerge Podcast.
I’m using my social media influence as a beacon of hope.Another way to encourage is to simply be there for one another and show we care. Really listen to others. Sending a text message, phone call or placing a thank you card in the mail goes along way.
Read the Word
Christians can shine brightly by reading the Word. The Bible is the manual for our lives. Everything in the Word is true. To embrace these truths, we first need to know what they are. When we read the Bible, we can submerge ourselves in God’s rich words and illuminate them to others. God has given us an incredible gift in his light. We are not meant to hide or hoard this gift. His luminesce can glow within us and then shine out into the world. When we show up as our authentic selves, we demonstrate to the world that light is possible in the darkness. We can consume God’s truth through his words and then share his brightness to encourage others.
I want to leave my listeners with a few verses about what God says about being a light in the world:
2 Corinthians 4:6: “ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
John 9:5: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Psalm 119:130: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
Luke 12:2-3: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and are ready to shine your little light for the world to see, give this video a thumbs up, share with your friends and family (who are also called to be lights of the world) & subscribe to the channel. This was episode 16 of the Emerge Podcast Let Your Light Shine.
The world will wear us down, and we do need our best friends to be brothers and sisters in Christ who rally us back to a full tank of gas when we’re empty. Local church communities are extremely important for this among many other reasons. We were not meant to be alone. In fact, when Jesus sent out His disciples, He sent them out in pairs! When considering who bad company is and the status of our good character, there are three things we can do daily to align our lives to God’s will:
Pray. The Bible says to pray continually. When we do, it brings forth clarity, wisdom, and peace into our hearts.
Read the Bible. God communicates to us through Scripture. His Word is life to us. When we cling to His Truth daily, we are better able to discern what the next steps are.
Love and be loved. We were not meant to be idle, or alone. We need Christ-centered friends to run the race with and to go out into the world and spread the love and joy of Jesus to others.
Alright let’s get into this weeks episode,
So we all know that life can Life can be very unpredictable. There are some seasons where you have a huge amount of confidence on what you need to do and can make plans for the next couple years. But then there are some seasons when don’t know what to do and can’t even picture the next few months.
Have you ever been in such seasons?
Maybe God has called you to do something out of the ordinary, but He hasn’t shown you the next steps. Maybe your hopes were shattered, plans unexpectedly changed, and now you don’t know how to move forward. Or maybe you are like me and have been stuck in the same situation for a while now. You have done everything you could to prepare for a breakthrough, including fasting and praying, but nothing is happening.
Regardless of the root cause, we all fall into seasons of uncertainty. I am currently going through one, and I just do not know what to do with my life. I don’t know what to do next or whether I should do nothing at all. No matter which direction I look, I can’t see a way forward. It’s as if I’m stuck in a hallway and can’t make any progress because every door is closed. This uncertainty and confusion often make me feel discouraged and depressed. But, I hold on to the truth that Jesus hasn’t forsaken me and is still control.
Even though I don’t know where I am going, I know the One who is guiding me, and He is trustworthy.
As I have been going through this season, I have learned these three simple things to do when you don’t know what to do next.
1. Do the last thing God “instructed” you to do
We often like to ask God for the next thing or to give us a new mission. But are we really doing the last thing He called us to do? If God doesn’t tell you what to do next, perhaps it’s because He has already “told” you to do something else. And He either wants you to start doing it or to keep on doing it.
If you are unsure of what God wants you to do last, read His Word and you will find His instructions for your life. Also, ask Him in prayer, He always gives us wisdom when we pray for it. (James 1:5).
If His last instruction doesn’t seem to make sense do it anyway; just like Peter did in Luke 5. After Peter fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told him to try again. It didn’t make sense because the sun was up, and the fish would be even harder to find. Nevertheless, he obeyed and caught so much fish that the boat began to sink. Maybe it’s time for you to cast your net on the other side.
God’s last instruction for me didn’t make sense either; it was to resign from a job opportunity, a door which He opened. Here I am asking God to guide me in this new chapter of my life, and I feel He is calling me to stay where I am & continue working on this podcast.
Believe this, when God calls you to do something, it’s for your good and His Glory. So, if you are in doubt about what to do, persevere in the last thing He “told” you to do. No matter how small, insignificant, or even foolish it may look, just do it.
2. Rest in the Lord
A season of uncertainty could be a call for you to rest. We are continually searching for the next thing, and trying to make things happen that we often forget we also need to rest.
So, when you don’t know what to do; rest it in the Lord. Cease striving, stop trying to make things happen; be still, and know your God. Trust that He is in control, and depend on Him wholly.
When I think of rest, I think of Elijah the prophet in 1 Kings 19. He was on the run for his life and was so weary and overwhelmed that he asked God to kill him. But God in His mercy sent an angel to minister to him. Elijah was able to eat, drink, and sleep. And after he rested well, God sent him back to work.
Likewise, God may also be calling you to rest in Him before sending you off to work again.
Resting in Him has been extremely difficult for me to do. I come from a family of work-alcoholics. I like to plan, find solutions, and make things happen. And I hate stagnation,
Waiting without any course of action drives me crazy. But, I have now learned to embrace rest and stop trying to figure everything out. Rather than being restless, I choose to surrender to God’s will, to sleep in the midst of the storm and trust that He won’t let me drown.
3. Do Not Fear
When life is uncertain, and you don’t know what’s coming next, it’s easy to give in to stress and anxiety. But resist the temptation! Do as Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Whatever you have going on, worrying won’t help, it will only rob you of your peace. And, Jesus commands us not to do it. To keep from worrying, I try to take one day at a time. I only focus on what I can do today and trust that God has my tomorrow in His hands.
And if that fails, another effective way to fight anxiety is through prayer. For the Word of God says to “cast our worries on to Him and to pray about everything.” So, don’t worry, keep seeking God and worshipping Him, everything else will eventually fall into place.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.”
Psalm 37:23-24
As long as we follow Him, we will never be lost. He is always in control and leading the way even though we may not see Him.
When you don’t understand what He is doing, trust His faithfulness and goodness. When you don’t know what to do next, do the last thing God told you to do, rest in Him, and do not worry. Continue to worship Him, to thank Him, and patiently wait on Him.
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Christians Need Biblical Discernment
Hey, you are listing the to the Emerge Podcast with Ashley Henderson. This episode is entitle Biblical Discernment & Why we as the children of God need it.
Before we get into the episode I want to encourage you to check out the last two episodes “Why does God wait until the last minute to help us?” & “Waiting on God And How to Do it Well”
Let’s get into this weeks episode. Let’s talk about Discernment.
Discernment is “the ability to judge well.” It’s distinguishing between the truth and error. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not a matter of telling the difference between right and wrong; rather, it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”
So Why we need as believers need discernment? Well, Christians need to be discerning for several reasons. For one,
1. It is God’s will
Being discerning is a biblical command and a believer’s responsibility. Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, “but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
2. Discernment is linked to spiritual growth
A mature Believer is discerning, and a discerning Believer is mature. Discernment takes us from “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes,” (Ephesians 4:14), to “the mature, those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14).
3. Discernment protects us from false teachings
The visible church abounds with false teachers who sneak in destructive heresies. Yeah, it true demonic spirits are in the church more than God & His people are. They are like their father, the devil who masquerades as an angel of light to deceive us (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Discernment guards us against their lies. John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
4. Being discerning helps us think biblically
Discernment helps us navigate every area of our lives through Scriptural lenses, so we don’t conform to the world but the image of Christ. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
5. Discernment improves our discipleship
When we are mature and discerning, we can come alongside brothers and sisters who are being deceived and bring them to the truth. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual [mature] should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Priscilla and Aquila showed this when they took Apollos aside and corrected his teachings that story can found (Acts 18:24-28).
Now, allow me to share some practical steps on How we, as the people of God, can strengthen our discernment.
6. How to grow in our discernment
Firstly, Discernment is a gift from God. If we want to grow in it, we must ask Him. James 1:5-8 tells us that God delights in such prayers. He will give us wisdom generously and without reproach when we ask in faith. Without reproach, do you know what this means? That we can go to God many times and God doesn’t get frustrated or annoyed with us. Although God provides a sizable portion of discernment to some believers (1 Corinthians 12:10), we all have a measure of discernment. And we must train it through constant practice. Here is how.
7. Know God’s Word
The best way to recognize a counterfeit is to know the authentic one well. Study the real thing. God’s Word is the truth (John 17:17). Therefore, growing our biblical knowledge builds our discernment skills. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof (rebuke) for correction (rectifying) and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
It means we should read the entire Bible, study it directly—not rely on canned studies, learn how to interpret the Bible using principles of hermeneutics, meditating, and memorizing Scripture. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Be walking Bibles!”
8. Grow in your grace and knowledge of Christ
The more we learn about Jesus and how to follow Him, the closer we get to Him. And as we grow closer to Jesus, we increasingly learn to discern what pleases Him. Philippians 1:9-10 says, “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
9. Learn from others
Discernment ministries have a terrible reputation in the evangelical world because they call out popular teachers. But they are necessary. And we should learn from their wisdom and competence. Proverbs 13:20 says, “whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” So learn by watching seasoned saints practice discernment, but still, compare their teachings with Scripture.
Many things in life look beautiful on the outside but possess a hideous core. As William Shakespeare famously said, “all that glitters is not gold.” This truth also applies to Christianity. Proverbs 14:12 says, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
What makes us recognize this shiny road paved with false promises is biblical discernment.
Discernment is vital in our spiritual lives. A lack of it means at best, a long term spiritual immaturity, and at worse, a false conversion. But remember that discernment is primarily to conform to Christ’s image and come alongside others. As Corrie Ten Boom said, “Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to fault finding.”
And Sinclair Ferguson said, “True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.”
This is episode 12 of the Emerge Podcast entitled Biblical Discernment. I encourage you to revisit these points, get into the Word yourself and allow God to strengthen your relationship with Him through biblical guidance. God Bless.
Waiting on God: How to Do it Well
We all go through seasons when we are waiting on God. It could be waiting for a promise He made, the fulfillment of a dream He put on our hearts, or the deliverance from a hardship. Whichever the reason, the Christian walk is paved with waiting periods.
We wait because we are like planted seeds that need time to grow into beautiful trees. Hear me when I say this: God does His best works in us in the waiting. He develops us, make us take roots deep into Him, so we can grow and bear fruits that will glorify Him, and others will enjoy.
But let’s be real, waiting on God is tough. And more often than not, we don’t want to do it. I have been praying and waiting for financial freedom for years, and at many times, I wanted to give up. I couldn’t take another disappointment.
Have you been there?
Feeling so weary of the wait that you tell God from the depth of your pain that you can’t take it anymore? Telling Him with brimming tears that you can’t keep getting your hopes up only to be disappointed? Being frustrated of always wondering when God will show up; or if He will show up?
I have felt that way many times. But whenever I was on the verge of giving up, I stumbled upon a sermon or went through a situation that revived my hope. And through this cycle, I have learned how to wait well because waiting on God is not a means to an end.
On the contrary, it is a critical process that matures us. How we wait.. will affect our growth and the length of our wait. And here are some ways to maximize our growth during waiting seasons.
But before I give you my points, I want to encourage you to watch The Emerge Podcasts 10th episode entitled “Why Does God Wait To The Last Minute To Help Us” ?
Alright, allow me to share how to wait on God & how to do it well.
1. Wait without complaining
Now, I have been found extremely guilty of complaining whilst waiting on God. And He has Humbly disciplined me. If you know you know.
You see, waiting on God provides fertile soil for complaints to grow. We complain it’s taking too long, not happening how we want it, others are prospering, and we are not, etc. I am overwhelmingly guilty of this, I have complained way too many times, which isn’t right. Until The Holy Spirit revealed to me that Complaining is a sign of spiritual immaturity and a total lack of reverence for God. It is saying God is not doing a good enough job of running things, and we would probably do it better. As a result of this, God may lengthen our waiting.
Take the children of Israel for example. When they were in the wilderness waiting on God to take them to the promised land, they complained non-stop. It irritated God, and the consequences were devastating. God forbade the older generation from entering the promised land, and the younger generation had to wait forty years.
If it could happen to them, it could happen to us. So, refrain from complaining during your wait, instead, be full of praises for God.
2. Wait with faith and expectation
When you are waiting on God, it’s important to wait with faith and expectation. For a long time, I waited without expecting God to deliver, and my prayers were mostly wishful thinking.
But that’s not how to wait on God. We are to wait eagerly and with a confident expectation that God will come through. We should expect His promise as a pregnant woman expects her baby to be born; with anticipation and joy.
Waiting with expectation shows trust in God, for we believe what we can see. But we are called to live by faith not by sight. It’s also a sign of a mature faith, for it’s harder to trust God when we are in the waiting than in the promise.
In the book of Isaiah 40:31 it says
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Continuing with point #3
3. Keep producing good works while waiting on God
God created us to do good works, and faith without works is dead, but the Bible doesn’t say to do good works only when life is good. We can still do good works while we are waiting on God.
To “wait on” means to attend someone or serve them, as a waiter waits for a table at a restaurant. And that’s how we should wait on God. We don’t wait on God passively but proactively; we wait well by pleasing Him, seeking His will and obeying His commandments.
Never allow any season or pain to prevent you from producing good works. So, in your waiting, serve others, be generous, and pray without ceasing.
Alright, I’m wrapping up shortly with my last few points but I want to take a moment to ask you to please consider subscribing to my channel. And if this podcast has blessed you, Help spread the word. Share with your friends & family. Thank you.
4. Participate in what you are waiting on God to do
God likes to involve us in His work. How He performed miracles or answered prayers prove that. For example, When Jesus miraculously fed the crowds, He didn’t make a pile of food for them to eat. The miracle happened as the disciples started sharing the bread; in other words, when they participated in the work. Likewise, while waiting on God, be active, and participate in what He is doing.
The funny thing is, sometimes we think we are waiting on God, but in all actuality, He is waiting for us to move. God will always help us do what we have never done, but we need to make the first step.
For example, if you are waiting on God for a job, keep sending resumes and networking. If He called you to publish a book, keep writing, if you are waiting to conceive, keep trying. Develop your skills, take classes, create things, do what you have to do. Don’t spend your waiting season being lazy. Get up & move!
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.”
Lamentations 3:25-27
5. Don’t take matters into your hands
During the waiting, it can be tempting to take things in our hands. It could be because we are weary of the wait and want to speed up the process. Or perhaps, we are so excited about God’s promises that we can’t wait for it.
Whichever the reason, don’t give in to the temptation of doing things your way. It will only cause you problems and possibly delay your promise. Moreover, what you create for yourself, you will have to sustain. Whereas when you wait on God to provide, He will maintain it.
When Abraham and Sarah got tired of waiting for the son God promised them, they took matters into their hands. So, Abraham, with Sarah’s blessing, slept with Hagar the handmaid and had a son with her named Ishmael. But Ishmael wasn’t the promised son, and his birth caused problems later.
You will most likely also have opportunities to shorten your wait. I did, and I was tempted to take it. I knew other Christians who did it, and things seemed to work well for them. But I decided to trust God and wait for His timing.
It can be hard but keep on waiting, no matter how desperate things look, or even if it costs you. And if you are tempted to take shortcuts because others are doing it and are prospering, I encourage you to read Psalm 37.
Lastly,
6. Draw closer to God in your waiting
While waiting on God, draw closer and closer to Him. Since the fall, we are prone to run away from God, particularly during hard times. Many times, while waiting, I pulled away from God. I didn’t want to be in His presence because I was so weary of the wait.
But that’s when we should press on and keep pursuing Him. If you only seek God when He gives you what you want, then God is your sugar daddy, not your good Father. We love God because of who He is, not what He gives us. So, when you keep seeking Him, even in those hard waiting seasons, it shows spiritual maturity and genuine love for God.
We live by faith not by feelings, so keep pursuing Him even if you don’t feel like it. Be like Moses, who refused to take another step towards the promised land if God’s presence didn’t go with him (Exodus 33:15). What would it profit to achieve all your dreams but lose your faith?
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
For a while, I did not spend my waiting season well and didn’t do half of the things I just listed. But God has been good and provided many opportunities to help me grow rather than giving up on me.
God cares about our lives more than we do. He wants to us obtain His promises more than we do and has given us all we need to receive it. And waiting on Him well is part of it.
If you are waiting on God, I hope this episode helps and encourages you. Don’t give up, keep waiting well, and before you know it, God will come through!
Have you ever wondered why God chooses to wait until the last possible minute to intervene? I did when I was in a tough situation a few months ago, and God showed up in the nick of time to help me. 1. God waits until the last minute to display His glory --Most often, God intervenes at the last minute to display His glory. He lets our situations get to a point where it looks impossible so that when He shows up, it will blow our minds away and make us in awe of Him. The higher the challenge in your life, the higher His glory. 2. God does eleventh-hour miracles to make people believe--The second reason why God will wait until the last minute to intervene is to make people believe in Him. Remember, The higher the challenge, the higher the miracle, and when people witness the wonders of God, it makes them believe. They know only God could have done that, and they respond by worshipping and believing in the God who is mighty to save. Just look at what happened to Daniel and his three friends.I invite you to watch or listen to what the Spirit of God revealed to me about waiting on Him. This was episode 10 of the the emerge podcast . I pray & hope those of who stayed until the end were blessed.Where to Find Me: ⬇️TikTok : http://www.tiktok.com/@theemergepodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theemergepodcastWebsite: https://shotbyash.co/the-emerge-podcastLinktree: https://linktr.ee/theemergepodAmazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/ashleyhenderson/list/1MHF88T1TQ88F?ref_=aipsflist_aipsfashleyhendersonListen to The Emerge Podcast with Ashley Henderson on your favorite streaming platform! Now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, and More.I want break down the book of Proverbs chapter 6 & the importance on how we can learn these valuable lessons from the ant. Proverbs 6 read the whole You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, and poverty your permanent houseguest!
Everyone has a desire to do something great, to make a difference, to make an impact on our world, our community, or at least the people closest to us. And to do that, will require that we engage those things. Following Jesus requires taking both physical and spiritual steps.
I want break down the book of Proverbs chapter 6 & the importance on how we can learn these valuable lessons from the ant.
Proverbs 6 read the whole
You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, and poverty your permanent houseguest!
I know it’s easy to get caught up in the business of life & distracted by the current events going on in our world. For the past few weeks that’s all I’ve been doing. Running on autopilot. And just going through the motions. Until I couldn’t. I hit a road block, I became stuck and I didn’t want to see or talk to anybody. I also didn’t want to go to the gym or post videos & upload content. Life was just moving way too fast for me & I couldn’t keep up. I needed to get to a point where I was honest with myself about my intentions for working myself so hard. And ultimately came to the conclusion that I believed I wasn’t good enough.
Have you ever noticed how much little kids talk to their mom or dad about every little thing that pops into their head? And how most of the time they don't really worry about much of anything?
One of the best things I've done, so far, in my walk with God has been to do just that. I decided to recognize that I'm his child, so I started talking to him about everything, not just my wants & worries, thanking him for the little things, as well as the big, & trusting him with the things I don't understand, that would normally cause me to worry. That paired with reading or listening to His Word in the morning & at night have been the biggest blessings in our relationship.
In God, you have all you need to be secure and at peace with yourself. Even when you're crying at your own party. Even when you don't understand what is happening. Even when you feel like a failure.
Remember, shame finds strength in secrecy and silence, so talk to God) Be honest with him about whatever is causing you shame. God will not gaslight you, tone police you, ghost you, or cancel you. He won't censor you or ignore you.
He won't mock you or punish you. He'll listen to you. He'll validate you. He'll embrace you.
After putting on the full armor of God,Paul commands us to pray. Praying that you will turn to God today in prayer.
God wants to hear your prayers remember that nothing is too big or too small to discuss with the Lord. If you have a specific prayer request or a person you would like me to lift up in prayer today please pass it along to me and let that person know that we are praying for them.
If this message was a blessing to you please like & share with your family and friends. And also, consider subscribing to my channel. This is Ashley with the Emerge podcast, God bless.
Have you ever noticed how much little kids talk to their mom or dad about every little thing that pops into their head? And how most of the time they don't really worry about much of anything?
One of the best things I've done, so far, in my walk with God has been to do just that. I decided to recognize that I'm his child, so I started talking to him about everything, not just my wants & worries, thanking him for the little things, as well as the big, & trusting him with the things I don't understand, that would normally cause me to worry. That paired with reading or listening to His Word in the morning & at night have been the biggest blessings in our relationship.
In God, you have all you need to be secure and at peace with yourself. Even when you're crying at your own party. Even when you don't understand what is happening. Even when you feel like a failure.
Remember, shame finds strength in secrecy and silence, so talk to God) Be honest with him about whatever is causing you shame. God will not gaslight you, tone police you, ghost you, or cancel you. He won't censor you or ignore you.
He won't mock you or punish you. He'll listen to you. He'll validate you. He'll embrace you.
After putting on the full armor of God,Paul commands us to pray. Praying that you will turn to God today in prayer.
God wants to hear your prayers remember that nothing is too big or too small to discuss with the Lord. If you have a specific prayer request or a person you would like me to lift up in prayer today please pass it along to me and let that person know that we are praying for them.
If this message was a blessing to you please like & share with your family and friends. And also, consider subscribing to my channel. This is Ashley with the Emerge podcast, God bless.
Have you ever wonder why God commands his people in Matthew chapter 6 “do not be anxious”, to “look at the birds of the air, to consider the lilies of the field,” As far as I know, the birds don’t have to clock into work anywhere, yet they seem to live with an assurance that if they just keep moving, their meal will appear. And regardless of the how, the need is always met.
In Episode #5, I share what it means to "Look For A Bird" by diving into the Scriptures Matthew 6:25-34 & 1 Kings 17.
Matthew 6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...
1 Kings 17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...
My question to you is: How will you stir the nest?
Sooner or later, every single Christian will have to make that big choice for their lives. Who will you decide to serve and follow in this life?
Do you follow and serve your own self and your own self-interests, doing what you want to do with your life. Or will you decide to fully surrender every part of your life over to the Lord and go with His divine plan for your life rather than your own.
If you decide to follow and serve the Lord in this life, then sooner or later God will call you and you will then have to take that big leap off the edge of the cliff in order to learn how to fly into the calling that He has placed on your life. And just as the wings of the eagle are the only thing that will allow them to fly and soar on those wind thermals, in the same way the only thing that will allow you to fly on the call that God has placed on your life is your faith and belief in the Lord.
As suggested in the title, this is part one of a short series I’m calling Stir the nest.
Let’s Connect ⬇️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... TikTok : http://www.tiktok.com/@shotbyash Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shot.by.ash/ Website: https://shotbyash.co Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Shotbyash * Here is the link to everything I own! I do get a small commission (at no cost to you ;) if you were to purchase products from the link below: Gear: https://kit.co/shotbyash * Sow A Seed: I am so thankful for your support. May the Lord greatly bless you! PayPal: paypal.me/shotbyash23 Cashapp: https://cash.app/$shotbyashllc * Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe! Much love, God Bless! 💜
Let’s Connect ⬇️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emerge-podcast/id1616387305 TikTok : http://www.tiktok.com/@shotbyash Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shot.by.ash/ Website: https://shotbyash.co Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Shotbyash * Here is the link to everything I own! I do get a small commission (at no cost to you ;) if you were to purchase products from the link below: Gear: https://kit.co/shotbyash * Sow A Seed: I am so thankful for your support. May the Lord greatly bless you! PayPal: paypal.me/shotbyash23 Cashapp: https://cash.app/$shotbyashllc * Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe! Much love, God Bless! 💜
Let’s Connect ⬇️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emerge-podcast/id1616387305 TikTok : http://www.tiktok.com/@shotbyash Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shot.by.ash/ Website: https://shotbyash.co Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Shotbyash * Here is the link to everything I own! I do get a small commission (at no cost to you ;) if you were to purchase products from the link below: Gear: https://kit.co/shotbyash * Sow A Seed: I am so thankful for your support. May the Lord greatly bless you! PayPal: paypal.me/shotbyash23 Cashapp: https://cash.app/$shotbyashllc * Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe! Much love, God Bless! 💜