Lord knows how much time I have spent listening to messages in this season of my life.
You know, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that this year would be the way it has been BUT I am smiling as I type this right now because I will have it no other way.
Guys, did you know that we should actually be happy and excited that God is pruning us?
He says in John 15:2 that:
“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
So every Christian who starts to bear fruit for Jesus actually goes through the #PRUNING. If you aren’t going through it, then perhaps you should even ask for it. lol.
But seriously, I was listening to Joyce Meyer on a message titled “Lord what are you doing with my life” and for the first time this year, I could sincerely throw my head back and laugh at what I have been going through… Its not like I have been going through something terrible but how do I explain it?
I have had silent seasons this year, seasons where even the dreams and visions God gave me to me had to be laid at the altar…
Wilderness seasons where I had/have to turn my face to the wall like Hezekiah did and beseech God when I am broke because He is somehow bent on teaching me the lesson on surviving on #grace… and I am learning guys, I am learning.
I am learning to drop down envy, face my lane and what God is working with in me.
I am learning to sow in the wilderness season… sow unto myself righteousness and the word.
I am learning to not even be eager to face the limelight… oh I am learning that I must sit down and let God work on me before I go forth into any thing.
I am learning to pray prayers like “Lord shut this door if its not your will/not your time.. and I will pray that sincerely because I have been so broken down, I know that there is more to just trying to jump out and do things.
I am learning to desire depth badly… learning from people’s stories like Bro Gbile Akanni and John the Baptist in the Bible, learning to let God hide me in His mighty arm and shield me from being discovered before I am ready.
I am learning to drop down envy, face my lane and what God is working with in me. Click To Tweet
I know what season I am in purpose wise and I am finally at peace with it.
This is not to say that I don’t have melt downs like the one I wrote about HERE last week… but even then, I am learning to let the Word be my TRUTH and nothing else.
I would not give away this pruning season for nothing…
And somehow, I better understand now, times last year when I would worship God or be praying and the only thing God would lead me to do is to consecrate myself wholly to His use. I even wrote a letter signed to God like Bishop Oyedepo did all those years ago… I did mine last year, telling God that if I go anywhere apart from His will, let it not work out.
Joyce Meyer said in that message (guys you have to get it), that when we make decisions like that, God really gets to work with the pruning because He knows we wont run away now (I laughed here because I was like, God! You are so smart!!!)
This is just like my book “10 Steps to Walking In Purpose Says;
Excerpt from the introduction:
I was having a conversation with a friend about “purpose” when the true meaning of the name of this book – “Steps to Walking in Purpose” dawned on me. Our walk in purpose takes place exactly the way the name of this book says that it does. We only gradually ease into all that God has for us to do on earth. We fulfill our purpose in life in steps; each step leading onto the next. The years David spent at the bush â the years he spent at the wilderness, running and hiding in caves were all part of Godâs purpose for his life.
The times when he was confused as to whether God had indeed anointed him to be Israelâs king were all part of his journey of walking in purpose. Everything he went through made up his life on earth and God was there through it all (See 1st & 2nd Samuel in the Bible).
I believe that Davidâs walk in purpose is very instructional for us today because it tells the truth about the way fulfilling Godâs purpose for our lives really work.
There will be days of not knowing that God has created you to fill a certain niche on earth. There will be days of knowing that you are created for a reason but not knowing what that reason is. There will be days of knowing your purpose on earth but not having clarity on the steps you need to take to fulfill what God has placed in your heart. There will be days of knowing the details of your purpose but not being able to walk in them because the visionâs appointed time is not yet at hand. And there will be days of just stepping into the step that’s right in front of you without knowing that there are bigger steps that lie beyond that step.
No one ever arrives at fulfilling purpose in the blink of an eye. Fulfilling purpose will take constant alignment with God’s will for your life.
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Our walk in purpose takes place exactly the way the name of this book says that it does. Click To Tweet
We all have to understand what times and season we are currently walking in, in the plan of God for our lives.
It is mostly easy to think that God has forgotten you when you are in the pruning season like me but again, Joyce Meyer said something in her message that stuck with me (and again get the message guys, its titled “what is God doing with my life”, I think its on Youtube), she said God is watching. Even when we are in the pruning and wilderness season, God is watching.
He is watching to see how we react in situations. Whether we praise Him, whether we walk in love, whether we stay faithful.
God is watching and through all the different seasons we walk through on the path to fulfilling His purpose for our lives, He never takes His eyes off of us.
Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on you…
Through it all, through it all, it is well…
Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on you…
It is well with me… (Bethel Music)
So I pray for grace upon us all to stick it out with God through every season of walking in His purposes for our lives.
Have an ama-mazing week ahead guys!
And don’t forget that our email based 6 weeks intensive course for aspiring writers begins tomorrow, Tuesday August 23rd 2016!
I am so excited! If you have books to birth and need some help with guidelines, stop worrying your head now and join this teaching course.
Sign up here to learn along as God gives me grace to share on the little I know from birthing three books God placed in me.
And share to everyone!
If you have books to birth&need some help, stop worrying your head now and join this teaching course. Click To Tweet
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Love,
Frances.
4 Comments
Amaka
August 24, 2016 at 4:06 amPlenty love, Frances!
It is VERY important to understand what God is doing IN THE PRESENT. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, âTo everything there is a SEASON, and a time to every purpose under heaven.â
Everything is RIGHT ON SCHEDULE! GOD HAS US AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME and if we will walk closely with Him and keep our complete TRUST in Him, everything will turn out just as He said it would!
Glad you understand your season. Nothing beats the peace that comes from understanding. (Permit me to say, congratulations!)
For me, I’m in a valley of decision. I’m in that “Jonah, Go to Nineveh” season. I need help! Remember when I told you to pray for me? Exactly!
Amen to your prayers!
Frances Okoro
August 26, 2016 at 6:24 pmDeep words from Ecclesiates passage you shared above.. may we always know the season and times like the sons of Issachar and act accordingly in Jesus name, amen.
And babe, read Matthew 25 on the three servants, maybe that will give you the push to obey.
that was my push to obey on the writer’s training and upcoming seminar I am doing right now…some deep things there girl.
I also have Pastor Poju’s messages I have been listening to that I wanted to share with you. Will bring them on our outing soon.
Essentially, no you wont be like Jonah. no!
RZed
August 24, 2016 at 12:23 pmThis is too timely and profound. It appears that we are in similar seasons. Praying for grace for us, and anyone else in similar circumstances, to actually enjoy this (pruning/trusting/quiet) season, and to be fully awake to whatever God is showing and teaching.
Frances Okoro
August 26, 2016 at 6:19 pmAmen and amen RZed…amen to ENJOYING this season! :-)And not griping or grumbling along…