Speak Your Mind

"Speak your mind. Even if your voice shakes." For some reason, this quote stuck out as I quietly read it on my co-worker's wall of button quotes. Out of a hundred buttons, this particular pink and purple button stuck out the most. I began to think of all the times I had not spoken my mind or went along with what others wanted me to because I did not want to disappoint them.

God brought this to my attention: I was seeking man before him, all along. Instead of truly trusting what God spoke to my own heart, I did what I thought others wanted me to do in order to gain their approval. ‘People pleasing’ was an idol I placed before God.

Maybe you have struggled with this too. Have you found it difficult to really give a genuine opinion about something because of fear of how you will be seen? Or maybe you sacrificed something you really wanted to do or have done something that you did not want to do because you did not want to upset anyone.

‘People pleasing’ is actually a sin my sisters. Galatians 1:10 reads, if you seek to please people then you should not be a servant of God. We are called to please and follow God, first. I believe that a ‘people pleasing’ spirit is birthed out of fear, a fear of being rejected. My fear of rejection came from being verbally abused by people close to me. However, Christ revealed to me in scripture that his love is perfect and steady and it does not change." There is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear".

We don't have to live in that fear of rejection anymore. We can be free from that and operate in the security of being who God made us to individually be. God made all very unique with different personalities, thoughts, dreams and desires and dreams and even opinions. It is ok to be who we are and not base our opinions on what we believe others want us to be. As long as we are following the will of God for our lives, than we are pleasing him and that is all that matters.

By pleasing God we are being true to ourselves. We don't have to sacrifice our comfort or peace anymore. When we sacrifice those two things we are only making ourselves unhappy. To truly assess what God wants for our lives, we have to renew our minds so that we will know his will and we want conform to what the world is doing or wants (Romans 12:2) Ask God to help you be bold for him. Trust God with the plan he has for your life. I asked God to forgive me for putting others before him and I asked him to help me speak up for myself in accordance to His will; I have gotten much better. These days, my voice is shaking some, but I feel it getting stronger with each chance I choose to be assertive. Will you allow your voice to shake some?

Loving Yourself

by Mickela Rutledge

Have you ever felt that a friend or peer had something better than you? Better hair? Better grades? A better body? A better life or relationship? Or maybe you felt they had a better relationship with God. If you are anything like me then you have felt all of these scenarios at one point in time. God spoke to my heart to share: ‘it is time for us to stop comparing ourselves to others’. God made all of us unique and that is a part of the beauty of God. He loves diversity! God delights himself in our differences.

Comparing ourselves to others stems from insecurity. I know this all too well. I spent so much of my life trying to be like the next person and never realizing my own beauty and talents. I was so focused on what I couldn’t do and trying to perfect those things that I ignored my own strengths. I became so tired of insecurity when God whispered to my heart that he was pleased with me and that I am uniquely and beautifully made. From my talents, gifts, weaknesses and strengths, God was pleased with them all! And guess what? He approves of you! He is pleased with you and you are wonderfully and fearfully made! (Philippians 2:13) (Psalm 139: 14)

In order to start living your full potential in God you have to have a good relationship with yourself. The Bible says to love your neighbor as you love yourself. You can’t correctly love others if you don’t accept yourself. I encourage you stop comparing yourself to others. It can drive you to competition, low self -esteem and jealousy.

Take time to learn about your uniqueness and start counting the blessings that you have in your life and the fact that there is only one of you! Change your self- talk! There are so many ways to do this. You could write positive statements about your life and yourself on your bathroom mirror so you can see them as you get ready in the morning or at night. You can also stop negative thoughts as they begin to formulate in your mind. As Christians we have the authority to cast down thoughts that do not line up with what God says about us. (2 Corinthians 10:5) You could also read books about the power of positive thinking.  Joyce Meyer has several books about thinking positive thoughts and liking yourself. And most importantly my sisters pray and talk to your Heavenly love. Confess to him how you want to change your thought process and start embracing the way that he sees you. Ask him to help you see yourself the way that he sees you. Let’s start today! What is one thing that you like about yourself?

The Fragrance of Christ

By Mickela Rutledge

When was the last time you did something for someone else? Seriously when was the last time you placed someone else's need before your own? The last time you bought someone lunch who needed it? Or maybe volunteered at a soup kitchen? Or simply listened to someone who really needed to talk? These are questions that have been heavy on my mind for the past several weeks. As I have been seeking God in prayer and journaling. I realized how self-absorbed I was. I always thought of myself first: my dreams, my desires, and my needs. Always wondering how God was going to fulfill them. 

God speaks against self-centeredness. Philippians 2:3-4 reads, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others". Our lives are so much more than ourselves. Our lives are so much more than the next cute outfit or our education and even our finances. Now in theory, I do believe that these things are important and that God wants us to live fulfilled lives, but they become a problem when we are so consumed by these things that we ignore the needs of others.  We should reevaluate how much of an effect and impact we are making on those around us. There are so many people who are hurting and in need. We as Christian women should be meeting those needs and doing all we can to lessen the pain that others are feeling. Before I noticed how self-centered I was, I often did not notice how much my family and friends needed my attention and time. Some of them only needed a listening ear from me for a couple of minutes or needed help paying for a lunch or dinner. 

There are so many simple ways that we can help others and reach them for Christ. When Jesus started his ministry on earth he met the needs of others first and built a rapport with them and then let them know how much he could change their lives. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and gave his time to people who were ignored in society.

Colossians 2:16 reads, " Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things". I challenge you to take your eyes off of yourselves and open your eyes to the needs of others. We are to be the fragrance of Jesus and an example of his love and that starts with helping with the needs of others. That could be giving a friend a ride who needs it; or maybe helping that person who needs help paying for their groceries in front of you at the store; or simply calling a family member and letting them know you love them and care. The needs are endless. Rely on the Holy Spirit to show you needs that you can help with. You never know what a simple gesture can lead to. 

Day Dreaming

By Mickela Rutledge

What will he look like? What will we talk about? How will I meet him? Do I already know him? But back to true contentment. What does that look like? What does that feel like? Do I have it? When will I have it?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions? I know for the past couple of months I have struggled with finding the answers to these questions. Especially when it comes to my season of singleness. In a world where it seems that everyday someone is getting into a relationship or engaged or meeting a significant other, it is so easy to ask God what about me? I am doing everything right. I am following you, desiring to be with a Christian man and I am constantly waiting on you. Why am I still single? But we all have to come to a point to where God is simply enough. He fills all voids. Philippians 4:11 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content”. True contentment is learned and it is not a feeling. We often have the tendency to think that when I reach a certain level of contentment and peace, then God will give me a relationship. And even though I was waiting on God, I still made ‘God giving me a relationship’ an idol. God is definitely jealous for us and nothing comes before him. Not even our dreams or desires. James 4:5 says” Surely you don’t think the scripture is wrong when it says; the spirit which he sent to live in us wants us for him alone?”

The truth is, God alone is enough. He is more than anything we could ever imagine. Yes, God has the power and the ability to orchestrate our love stories and I believe he wants to do that but we can’t wait to let our lives began when we meet that special someone. Our lives started when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. True contentment knows who you are in Christ and learning to let your mind and heart rest with where God has you right now. God is everything we want in a special guy. He is perfect, he loves us for who we truly are and he desires to see us grow and succeed. He has a sense of humor and he loves and enjoys life! He has the ability to comfort us when we are sad and truly knows what to do to put a smile on our faces. He also loves to hear us talk! We need to start realizing that God is everything that we seek and desire in a relationship.

So, what is keeping us away from accepting where God has us right now? I had to realize that daydreaming and fantasizing about my special someone or how God would put that special someone into my life took my focus off of God’s plan for my life in this season. Dreaming about this took me away from my present reality and made me even more discontent with the season that I was in. Luke 12:34 reads, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.  I took a break from love songs and songs that made me dwell on having a relationship until my head was clear and I was able to fully trust God with my love life.  Having a relationship is like having icing on a cake. God and us make up the cake. We are whole with God. Having a guy is the icing. We have to learn to love ourselves and find the beauty and joy that is in our lives right now. So get out and start enjoying your life as a single godly woman. Grow deeper in his word and want he says about you. Enjoy hobbies or hanging out with friends or even serve others who may need your help. You only get to be single once. In what ways can you enjoy your life as a single? Feel free to share.  

Got Trust?

Is there something that you really, really need right now in your life and you just don't know how you are going to get it? Do you trust God about it? Of course you do! I am going to take a guess and say that you have prayed about it and have asked God for it. You have even used every possible scripture you know about God supplying your needs and you sing about this in church too. Even your pastor has talked about it recently but yet and still you are trying to figure out a way to fix everything. I have been there my sister; as a matter of fact, I am there right now. But did you notice the small glitch in our approach? We asked God to help us and even affirmed our request with scripture but after that we tried to figure out a way to solve the problem. And that is where I like to believe God chuckles at our efforts!!

We have to stop merely "saying" we trust God with our lives and "actively" trust God with our lives. I have often been a perpetrator of this crime!! I would be in a situation where I really needed God' s direction or needed him to supply something for me.

I would pray about it and claim that I was "putting it in God's hands" and then seconds later I was anxiously worrying about what I was going to do or talking to anybody who would listen about my situation. My personal favorite thing to do was thinking of different ways I could manipulate the situation!! This is not Godly at all!! Jesus says in Matthew 6:27, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Worrying about our problems will not solve anything and it shows that we don't fully believe that God is our answer. Our beliefs and actions determine the type of experience we will have with God. Jesus also said in Matthew 21:21, " I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea'".

We need to relax and claim the peace that is ours through Christ. God wants us to make our needs known to him and not worry about them. He promises to keep us in peace, if we keep our minds on him. So throw away those Plan B lists and stop complaining about what you don't have. I know it is hard, but we have to thank God for what we have and thank him for making a way for our current situation even if we don't see it yet! God does not withhold anything good from us and he wants us to have what we need but he wants to work our faith and build our character. So, supernaturally believe with me, sisters, for the impossible! I am trusting that God will supply my need for a car. I can't see where it is coming from right now, but I know that God has all of that taken care of!! What impossible thing or situation are you going to actively trust God for in 2013? I would love for you to share with us!


by Mikela Rutledge

He Calls Us Friend

What makes you and your best friend so close? You may share things in common like similar hobbies or the fact that you both love pepperoni pizza or shopping at the same stores. Lets go a little deeper, what keeps you and your best friend as best friends? I know for my best friends and I, conversation and spending time together keeps our relationship in tact and enjoying. I can and do talk to my best friends about everything going on in my life. But what if we never talked to our best friends? What would happen to our relationship? How would you feel if your best friend only talked to you when something was wrong? Without constant and consistent conversation our relationships would die. Well my beautiful sisters this is exactly what happens when we don't take part in constant conversation with Christ in prayer.


God loves us and calls us his friends!! (John 15:15) And guess what?! He longs to engage with us in conversation! Isaiah 55:6 says " Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near". As Christian women our prayer life with Christ is vital. It is what keeps us connected with God and ensures growth for us spiritually. We can talk to God about absolutely anything. We can talk to him about our fears, our struggles, our victories and hopes and dreams. We can talk to him like we would talk to any close friend. Philippians 4:6 says " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God". That scripture alone offers so much freedom to us!! God does not want us to worry about anything, but in conversation present our concerns to him!! With that being said, I would encourage you to get real with God this year in your prayer life!! Open up and tell him anything and everything that is on your minds. Ask of him anything that your heart desires.Tell him about your dreams or about that co-worker that works your last nerve at work or tell him about how it seems everyone is in a relationship but you and even tell him about the last argument you had with your mother.! Mark 11:24 says " Therefore I will tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours".


God delights in our conversations with him. He longs for us to share the deepest and most intimate part of our hearts and lives with him. I found that when I talk to him consistently, my days are much more peaceful and I feel the closest to him. I often hear many young womentalk about how that know they need to pray more but they just don't or feel like they know how. I feel that when you are talking to God, itshould be while you are doing something you enjoy. For example, I love journaling so I write out my prayers like a journal to God. Here are a few suggestions:

• If you enjoy drawing or painting you could get a canvass book and while you are drawing or painting talk to God! You can relax and share your thoughts with God.
• Or if you enjoy running or exercising of any type you could talk to him while you are jogging or shooting a few hoops.
• Or if you enjoy talking to God out loud, get alone and pour out your heart.
• Maybe you feel close to God through music. You could turn on your favorite christian song or instrumental music and journal or talk to him out loud.

These are only a few ideas to develop your prayer life but do anything that you enjoy while you are praying. I encourage you sisters to communicate with God daily in 2013 and watch your lives change even more and your relationship with Christ grow!