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- [00:00]
A
Hello, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Christ with Coffee on Ice. I am your host, Ali Yost. It is a joy and honor to be here with you guys. I didn't plan on being so emotional right off the bat of this episode. It's so sweet. Actually, I. I was a little embarrassed.
- [00:21]
B
About it at first. I was like, God, I don't. I don't want to go into this.
- [00:24]
A
Episode being as emo as I feel right now. And then the Lord said something so sweet to me just now.
- [00:34]
B
He was like, ally, your vulnerability is your superpower. And so, okay.
- [00:44]
A
I'm totally comfortable being.
- [00:45]
B
Vulnerable about just what I'm feeling today. And my biggest prayer in it is, is that you guys feel understood and seen and less alone in it. And maybe what I have to say is a little shocking for some of you guys because maybe, you know, you.
- [01:07]
A
See all that I'm doing online and you see my podcast, and, you know, if you follow me on socials and stuff, it might be clear to you guys of the things that I'm doubting myself in right now. But for me, I don't always see it. And.
- [01:24]
B
I'm sorry, this isn't our traditional intro. We do have our coffee on ice. I have my pumpkin spice here.
- [01:31]
A
But I think.
- [01:35]
B
Thank you guys for letting me share this with you. I just think the biggest thing I'm struggling with right now is.
- [01:43]
A
I'm kind of.
- [01:46]
B
I know a lot of this is lies, but I'm kind of doubting what.
- [01:53]
A
The heck I'm doing.
- [01:58]
B
What is my purpose? You know? And I. I understand that. My purpose is to be the light in this world, you know, and my purpose is to share the love of Jesus. And my purpose is to be the light in dark places. And my purpose is to share the gospel and to even encourage you guys in your faith. Like, I know those things.
- [02:25]
A
But it's.
- [02:26]
B
Just like when I sit and I'm like, who is Ali? Like, who has she been made to be? What are my dreams? Like, there's some hesitation that I have when I ask myself those questions.
- [02:41]
A
I don't know if I've ever actually.
- [02:42]
B
Really asked myself those questions seriously before. You know, I've never been one who, like, operates in a place of, like, a five year plan, you know? Like, people have asked me that where they're like, where do you see yourself in five years? And every time my answer is, I don't know. I don't know where I'm gonna be in five years. I don't know what my dreams are. I Think. I think my dream would be for this generation to know Jesus. I think my dream would be for the Lord to use me in a way that brings people joy and laughter. But, yeah, I don't know. I'm just, like, really struggling today. I feel such a lack of vision. And I know that could sound so silly because the Lord has done insane, insane, insane things with my life. I mean.
- [03:56]
A
Just in these last couple.
- [03:57]
B
Of years, my crying voice is so. I'm so sorry.
- [04:03]
A
The Lord has done just insane things.
- [04:05]
B
With my life in the last couple years. Things that I could have never done on my own, things that I would have never expected. And so I recognize that, you know, clearly there is a purpose for my life, and clearly the Lord has a plan for my life. Just the favor is beyond me.
- [04:23]
A
So.
- [04:23]
B
Is there any tissue on my face?
- [04:28]
A
Yeah. Anyway, so it's not that that's a question in my mind at all. I know that the Lord has a plan for my life and that he wants to use me in a great way, and I want to be used in great ways. I just. I don't know. I just fear that I don't know how to dream bigger with God. I think sometimes I limit myself and I hide behind the statement of, like, well, I'm just taking it day by day with God, which is very true. And I think that that is a way that we should live with God. But I don't know if I've ever actually sat down with God and, like, really dreamt with him and was like, God, this is. This is what I'd like to see us do together in my life, you know? And so, anyway, if there's any prayers I could ask for from you guys, which I know that you guys are just the best. You guys are the best. Thank you for listening to me and thank you for just interceding from. For me. And, you know, we may not technically know each other in real life or have ever met, but it really means a lot to. And, yeah, if there's anything that you guys could be praying for for me that I'd ask is just more encouragement, I guess, or maybe not being so hard on myself or maybe receiving more vision. But, yeah, that's just the honest truth of what I'm feeling. And I pray that that kind of breaks down any third wall of, like, I don't know, any way that you guys could be seeing people like me on the Internet, where it's so clear that they know exactly what they're doing with their life, but it's just not always the truth. I think, you know, I am just as much of a daughter and a child of God as you are. And we all have our doubts and. Yeah. So anyway, today's episode. Today's episode. Well, I honestly think something I'd love to talk about today is maybe doing scary things that we feel God nudging us towards, that we don't know how to do, or we don't want to do things that we feel called to do, but we're so scared to do it. And there might be a little bit of that in there for me, too. Like there could be some dreams that I am scared to do, and I've been scared to do and I've been procrastinating for a long time because of just a lack of maybe having faith in myself or believing that I can do it or believing that the Lord can come through in that I can say confidently that that is something I've also had to face a lot is like you feel called to do something and you feel the Lord really weighing it on you, but you just don't know how to move and you don't know how to start having faith in yourself or in the Lord in that thing. And so, to be honest, you guys, I would love to learn with you right now because I think that that's something that I also could grow in a lot. I asked Chat. I know we can take it with a grain of salt, but I do think Chat is very helpful. I've changed my ways a little bit. I don't ever want to rely on Chat more than I rely on God, of course, because anything can become an idol. Chat could definitely become an idol. But I just simply asked Chat. I said, how do I do something scary that I know the Lord is calling me to do? And Chat says, that's a really brave and honest question. Doing something scary, especially when you feel the Lord nudging you towards it, can feel overwhelming. But it's often where deepest growth and blessing happens. How are some steps you can lean on? Or here are some steps you can lean on is what Chat Sundays. So, number one, start in prayer. Ask God to confirm his call and to give you peace, courage, and clarity. Sometimes fear makes his voice feel quieter, but his spirit brings assurance. I think that's so good, and I think that that is absolutely step one that we could all make is that if we feel God is nudging us to do something really scary, fear can definitely sound a lot louder than God can. I heard this quote once. Whether I heard it or I saw it on the Internet, where the Lord obviously speaks to us in such a calm, just like a gentle, soft voice. If you have experience hearing the voice of God, he's never screaming at us. He's never like yelling at us. It's always like this gentle, soft voice almost in the back of your head sometimes too, where he's just very gentle. Most times, I think a majority of the times that is how he speaks to us. And so God can speak so gently, but when the enemy talks to us, it's with such aggression and it's so loud. He's loud because he knows that if he's loud enough, it can, it can blare out the gentleness of the Lord's voice. But also it's like, you know, when somebody is like so wrong, like they're so wrong, everything that they're saying they're in the wrong, they're spewing lies. More likely than not, that person is going to come into the situation really aggressive, raising their voice, being loud, trying to prove why they're telling the truth, because they're not. And we may even be guilty of that. We may even be guilty of that ourselves. Like, if you're caught red handed and you know that the very things that are coming out of your mouth is not necessarily the truth, I'd say more times than not, we're probably going to be reacting in that situation aggressively. We're going to be speaking a lot louder. We're going to be, you know, saying why? Why? It's true. No, I didn't. And it's very rare that we lie in complete calmness and like in a place of like, yeah, no, I didn't, I didn't do that. It's like, I didn't do like you're, it's so much more right. So anyway, it's like I think the enemy is just naturally louder because all he can do is lie and all he can do is tell lies. He can't tell a truth. So anyway, it's just interesting. The contrast in that is like fear and anything that could be going through our minds of doubt or like why we can't do it or why we're not enough or whatever is so much louder because it's just straight up lies and it's not the truth. I'd say 10 out of 10 times it's that. It's that still quiet, gentle, kind voice in our mind that's telling the truth. But it takes a lot more effort for us in our flesh because I think our flesh Just wants to go to the easier thing, which is the louder thing. You know, it's like, oh, yeah, that's the truth. Because it's louder. I think it's a lot easier for our flesh to just kind of, like, submit to that versus submitting to the voice that's a bit quiet. It takes a little bit more effort to, like, push aside all of those lies and to focus on the small, still voice of God. There is a bit of effort and discipline and I think wisdom also, like training from God. It's only anything we can learn from the Lord, but there is some training that comes with that of knowing how to resist that loud, obnoxious voice in our minds. Chat says that step number two is to remember who is with you. So to remember who God is, who you are, but most importantly, who God is. You're not stepping into this alone. Scriptures like Joshua 1:9, be strong and courageous. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Remind us that God doesn't just send us, he goes with us. I think that is something I forget. Why? Why do I forget that every single time? And it's. It's so funny because it doesn't even matter how many times you've been sent by God, and you've seen that in your life, the way that he's gone with you. I don't know. I don't want to speak for all of you guys, but I'll just speak for myself. I have seen God literally do that. I've seen him send me and encourage me to do things that I don't necessarily want to do. And I've seen the way that he's gone with me the whole time. So it's so funny how I will so quickly forget that.
- [12:02]
B
Like, I will so quickly forget that.
- [12:05]
A
God goes with me, even though I've seen it. I've seen the fruit, I've seen the receipts. Like, I've seen the way God has done that in my life, but I somehow I just forget. But it's true. Like, God doesn't just send us out into places. And I think when we feel God nudging us to do those scary things, it can feel like he's nudging us. And then he's like, okay, good luck. And, like, that's literally not who he is. He's never, ever done that. Sometimes it may feel like we're alone, but again, it goes back to what we've always said on this podcast where, like, feelings are good and all, but we shouldn't trust them. And so just because you feel like you're alone doesn't mean that it's the truth. You're never alone. God is always with us, even in the scary things that he encourages us to do. There is truly no one like God, because it's only God who will be like, okay, I need you to learn something in this. I also need you to make an impact in the world. I need you to be doing this very thing, and it's going to stretch you, and I'm going to teach you things in it. But then he goes through that hard thing with us. Like, he is a humble enough of God, because the thing is, is, like, he doesn't have to go through it with us. He doesn't. He's God. He can just tell us, just be like, okay, this is what you're going to do. Go do it. And then he could, if he wanted to, he could just sit back and be like, okay, yeah, no, I'm here if you need a word. I'm over here, though. But I'm not. I'm not going to walk through the fire with you. No, I'm not. I'm going to stay out here. You let me know when you're on the other side. Like, that's not even. It's the fact that God goes the extra mile to be like, no, I will physically also walk through the fire with you. What God does that actually, like, if we really sit with that, that is like, I can't wrap my mind around a God like that. Like, I don't know what God is actually willing to then also endure and go through the fire with us. But that is who God is, and it is a promise in His Word. And we believe in his word because we believe it's true and we believe it's directly from God. And so, just as Chat brought up Joshua 1:9, the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. He will always be with us, no matter the circumstances, no matter how hard it is. Like, no matter what, he's going with you to the grocery store and he's going with you to the. The hardest thing that you've ever had to walk through in your life. Like, it doesn't matter if it's the most mundane thing or the hardest season of your life or the hardest thing that you've had to face, some of the biggest fears you've had to face, right? The time where you've had to be the most courageous in your life. You. He's with you in that. Chat says step number three is to break it down. If the thing feels huge, divide it into smaller steps, Take the first faithful step instead of worrying about the entire journey at once. I need to write that on my mirror. Actually, that is something that I need on my mirror. I need to remind myself of that every day at the beginning of my day. Because I don't know if anyone relates to that. If I feel God is nudging me to do something really scary and big, it's so much easier for me to like, see how massive it is and like how far it goes that I freeze. I literally freeze. Yeah, I freeze. I freak out and I'm like, I can't. I actually am just going to stay right here. Fight or flight. I don't know if I fight or fly. I just freeze. I just. I don't do anything. I don't move when I'm overwhelmed, when I'm overstimulated, When a situation or something. Yeah, something that God's calling me to do feels way, way, way, way too massive, I just go. And I freeze. And then I don't act on it at all because I'm just so scared and frozen. And I think I've let myself be overwhelmed because I'm looking too much at everything all at once. Rather than sitting down with God and being like, okay, Lord, how are we gonna do this? I need a step by step plan because obviously I am overwhelmed and I won't get anything done if I'm looking at the huge giant picture. But thinking that I have to achie giant picture all at once. This is literally ministering to me right now as I speak. And so, God, I need your help just showing me what. What is the step that you want me to take in front of me right now? What is the one step like right now? What is the thing that I can do to get towards the very thing that you're calling me to do? That's really, really good. Take the first faithful step instead of worrying about the entire journey at once. Number four, Replace fear with truth. I think that's the biggest thing. I don't know, I might even bump that up. I feel like that should come after prayer or maybe after remembering who is with me. Like praying, remembering who God is. And then any lies or fears that I'm coming into agreement with, replacing them with truths. I think that actually should be like one of the first steps taken is just like rebuking, coming out of agreement, denying, turning from all the lies that are rooted in fear. Fear often whispers lies like, you're not enough it won't work. You'll fail. But God speaks truth. My power is made perfect in weakness. That's from 2 Corinthians 12, 9, which is, like, one of my favorites. Write down the truths and rehearse them out loud. I've done that before. I probably could be better about that because I think sometimes I've written down lies and truths or, like, I've declared them out loud and I still don't really believe it. And I think that there's something really important in continuing to say it out loud until you genuinely believe it. Like, until your spirit also is like, I come into agreement with that, you know, because there are things that we can say. We can be like, yeah, I mean, I know I'm believing a lie, that I'm not good enough, and the truth is, is God's strength is perfect in my weakness. But, like, you could say that once or twice and still not completely believe what you're saying, you know? And so I feel like I could probably be better at doing that one, more often. And two, saying it until I genuinely believe it. Like, saying it over and over again until I have hit a place of revelation from the Spirit and I'm like, oh, wait a minute. No, these aren't just empty words anymore. Like, this is actually, like, rooting deep into my spirit right now. You know what I mean? I think we will call it too soon before we really let the spirit, like, get us to a place of fresh revelation, even if it's in the same thing. That we just need that reminder again. Because you're facing another scary thing again. Giving ourselves that time to, like, really believe it. Like, really believe it. Number five, Chat says to seek support. Share what God is calling you to do with a trusted friend, mentor, or spiritual leader who can encourage and pray with you. I think that's so important. And this is actually something that I've. I think I've shared this on the podcast before. Um, I think I may have shared something like this at the end of 2024, where I was sharing, like, things that I felt the Lord had taught me in the year of 2024, as I reflected on my life and all. Oh, we have our Christ. By the way, guys, I'm sorry, my intro was just not our typical intro. I forgot to tell you that we do have our word of God and we do have our coffee. I love you guys. Ugh. It's just one of those days. Anyway, I had shared. I think I had shared that one of the things that God had been really Revealing to that. I had a fear of, like, asking for help, you know, or feeling like a burden asking for help. Simple things like asking for prayer, or simple things like just letting people in on what I'm feeling and going through. Or again, like, I mean, even just as what we're talking about today, like, if you feel like God is calling you to do something, you're not in it alone. Not only do you have God by your side, but you have a body. Like, you have the body of Christ. You have the church, you have friends, you have family, you have mentors, you have people at church that you could be sharing this with whether. Whether they're strangers or not. That's the thing is, like, if you're sitting here and you're like, ally, I don't have close friends in the church, that's okay. Literally, find anyone in the church. Like, if there is somebody on staff at church, if there is a prayer team at church where, you know, I've. My church has that where they. They have a prayer team where at the end of service, if anyone needs prayer, you go up to the team and everyone starts individually praying for you. Go up to the pastor and share it with them and be like, hey, I know you don't know me. I've been going to your church for a little bit now. I don't know who else to talk to about this, but I really need prayer in this area. Like, you're not a burden. You're not a burden. So, yeah, whether that's somebody close to you, whether that is an older couple at church who has a family and, you know, whatever that looks like, pray to God and ask and he'll highlight somebody to you. Or it could be someone near to you. Bring it to somebody who knows Jesus and could be interceding and praying for you, and also who could encourage you and. And help you in that and be an additional support. So, like, yes, there's the support of God. Of course, he's more than enough, but he's given us the gift of each other. And so I just think that the minute we break through any kind of hesitation of, like, well, you know, like, I got this and I can do this with God alone. Like, I don't need to bring this to anybody. You know, I don't want to be a burden. I don't want to feel like. I don't want people to feel like I'm super needy and I. Whatever could be going through your brain, all those things are lies. Again, if it's the loudest voice in your head, it's most likely not from the Lord, because, like we said, he has a very still, gentle, sweet voice. And it's not of condemnation or shame or feeling like you're too much or that you're a burden. So those aren't words from the Lord for sure. Those are lies. But, yeah, I think that just remembering that we have the support of each other as well. Like, just like I know that you guys are giving me support in the comment section as I speak about what I shared with you at the beginning of this episode. We don't technically know each other on a personal level, but, like, we're the body, and that's what we're called to do, is to pray for each other, intercede for each other, support each other, love each other. And so you have support. You do. Even if you don't feel like you have close friends in the church yet, I believe you will. If that's a place that you're in right now that you're kind of navigating with the Lord, you will. But it doesn't mean that you don't have any support at all. The body is the body, and we are family, whether we know each other personally or not. I had a really sweet encounter with a woman in the church bathroom actually yesterday, because I'm filming today on a Monday. Yesterday was Sunday. I went to church, and there was this older woman. She had to have been, like, in her 50s. Like, she. Or mid-50s, early 60s, maybe, like my mom's age, to be honest. She was giving very mommy. And she was washing her hands next to me, and she's like, are you Ali? Is that Ali Yost? And to be honest, I'm gonna be so for real. That doesn't typically happen to me. It's usually sweet young girls that are, like, in college or, you know, like, a lot of you guys are around my age or even younger. And so for somebody like her to know who I am, and sometimes I'm just kind of like, what in the world would older people. I mean, it's probably a false humility. It's something I need to actually, because we can all learn from each other, no matter the age. But I'm just like, how in the world could somebody older than me. But, you know, anyway, it was just. It was an insane compliment to me that a woman like her knew who I was. And she comes up to me and she's just encouraging me in everything that I'm doing online and in my ministry and, you know, the podcast and stuff, and Then she asked me if there's anything she could be praying for for me. And I was like, oh, my gosh, yes, actually. And so I shared with her what I love to receive prayer on, and she prayed for me. And even in that, it's like, total stranger, you know? And technically, I'm still stranger to her too. I mean, I know she knows more about me than I, but it's like, strangers, okay? Like, but this is what the body does. This is what we do for each other. And so, yeah, just to encourage you guys in that that you do have support, even if it's in the comment section here. Hello. Like, if you guys have anything that you need prayer and support in, comment it in the comment section right now, if you're watching on YouTube. And I would really encourage everybody else in the comment section, like, return the favor too. Like, if you're asking for prayer and then you see other people who are praying or some people need advice or encouragement in something that they're facing with the Lord and you have history with God in that, share it with them. I actually think this would be a great opportunity for us to practice that even virtually. Like, it doesn't have to just be in person. There's so much support that we can get. Thank you, Lord, for technology in that way where we actually can support each other so much quicker because of the Internet. It's beautiful that way. So I would love to see that in the comment section. I would be such a proud girlie. I'd be so proud of you guys if I got to see that in the comment section. But, yeah, letting others into those things, letting them encourage you, support you in that and also pray for you. I love that. Seeking support.
- [24:39]
C
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- [25:07]
A
Experian number six, the chat said, is act in faith, not feelings. I love that. Like, one day I'm gonna put something like, something about not trusting our feelings. Like, feelings are a good indicator, but we're not gonna trust them. We're gonna act in faith and not in feelings. Something about feelings. I want to like do something with that. With merch, maybe. Because we just talk about it so much on this pod. Okay? Courage doesn't mean the fear just disappears. It means you choose obedience in spite of the fear. Often the peace comes after you move, not before. Gosh, that's so real. This is gonna feel like such a silly example, but something that just came to my mind is I did an ice plunge for the first time. Like, an ice bath, whatever. What are they even called? Okay, so see, this is how inexperienced I am with ice baths, polar plunges. I don't freaking out, but I did one for the first time. And when I tell you that the fear I had about getting into this ice bath, I had so much fear. I had so much hesitation. I was so scared. I was scared. What was I even scared of? I think I was scared of, like, getting dizzy. Like, I was scared of. Of my body going into such shock that I would, like, see stars and, like, borderline, kind of like, pass out. Like, I don't like that feeling of feeling kind of lightheaded and like. Like a rush of, like, whatever. And so I kind of expected that to happen. It didn't. It didn't happen. But I'm using this example because I was so, like, truly so scared. Truly so scared to do it. But I know this is silly. I don't care. It did take courage, okay? Because I didn't want to do it. I was like, I'm gonna do this. I'm like, literally talking to Jesus about.
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B
Getting into this freaking ice bath.
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A
I'm like, I'm gonna do this because I feel you, God, telling me that I'm gonna live and I'm gonna be okay and I'm not gonna pass out. And also, worst case scenario, if I pass out, what happens? I wake up. If I pass out, then what? Like, nothing bad can actually even happen. Even if I did see stars for a second and I got a little woo. And then I came back. Okay, you're still good, my girl. So anyway, I felt Jesus saying all those things to me where he's like, I got you. Also, like, al, no offense, but you gotta remember that your life is in the palm of my hands. And I'm like, right, okay. So I get into this ice bath. Fear of death via ice bath is.
- [27:24]
B
Crazy, but okay, Allie.
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A
Yeah, none of those things happened. I will say a couple things happened that shocked me. It felt like the wind got knocked out of me when I first got into it. Like, could hardly. Like, it was like I couldn't catch my breath at first, which I really hated that. But it only lasted a couple seconds. And then I was breathing just fine. And then the other thing that I didn't uber love was that my hands got really tingly. I did not like that my hands were getting tingly and numb. But it's fine. I lived. And so I get out of the ice bath and I felt so good. I felt so good. I was so proud of myself.
- [27:59]
B
I was like, wait a minute.
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A
I lived and I felt good. The peace that came after it, I.
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B
Was like, wait, that was actually really fun. So anyway, I don't know why that was the thing that came to my mind.
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A
But choosing obedience in spite of the fear. Often the peace comes after you move, not before. I was not filled with peace before.
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B
I went into that ice bath.
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A
I was not even a little bit during, Actually, mostly during.
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B
It wasn't very peaceful.
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A
But after, I was like, wait a minute. I just did a really good thing for my body. My body feels great, actually. I feel so energized. Like I was. I was like, immediately feeling the benefits of it. And I conquered something with the Lord.
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B
Thank you, Jesus.
- [28:41]
A
That I honestly wasn't sure I could do in the beginning before I got in it. Yeah, the peace definitely isn't before, but it typically comes after. And so it takes that leap of faith and courage for us to just do the thing in spite of feeling fear. Fear doesn't always just go away, but doing it in spite of being afraid, which I think is actually the definition of courage. What makes a person courageous and not just like, bold and like, whatever. Having courage is doing something in spite of being afraid. Like doing the very thing while doing it afraid. Because I don't know how much courage it takes to do something if you're not scared. There is no courage in that. Courage can only exist if you're doing something that you're literally petrified to do. So if there's something God's calling you to do and you're like, so scared to do it, choosing obedience instead of submitting to fear. We feel the fear. The fear is there. That's okay. But recognizing that God has not given us a spirit of fear, that's not from God. So it's like, okay, I'm afraid, but I know it's not the truth. Fear is not the truth. So I'm going to act in obedience despite the fact that I feel filled with fear right now. Because I know the truth of what God is telling me, which is his power is made perfect in my weakness. And that he is the one that has has me and my life and the destiny of my life, the call of my life. It is in his hands. I literally need to listen to this podcast for myself. After I'm done recording this, like, I literally need to go for a walk and hear myself speak right now. This is for me too. Like, truly for me. I'm in that boat with you guys. If you're relating to this, but believing and knowing that your life is literally in the palm of God's hands and he has ordained every footstep and not being afraid to dream big with Him. I think maybe there's a hesitation that some of us could feel to dream big with God. I relate to this too. I feel like maybe that's even a part of why I feel like I lack vision or, like, because I'm, like, not letting myself dream really, really. Like, I don't know if I let myself do that a lot. And I think sometimes we don't let ourselves dream really, really big. I don't know, maybe because we don't believe that God could have big plans like that for our lives, or maybe we don't believe that God has perfectly ordained every footstep. Like, it's. It's gotta be a lack of, like, believing in who he is and less even in who I like less about who we are. Like, believing in ourselves. It's good. We should never underestimate ourselves because of God. But like, I think maybe even before that is just because maybe we don't entirely believe in who God says he is, and that's an opportunity to grow in your relationship with God. It's like really believing who he says he is and acting out in courage, being obedient and letting him prove that to you. Chat is so sweet. This is like, after every time I ask Chat a question, Chat will be like, do you want me to suggest a short prayer? You could pray before taking the step so you can carry it with you.
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So sweet. And I said, sure. Okay, here's a simple prayer you can.
- [31:47]
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Keep with you when you're about to step into a scary Lord, I know you are calling me to this, and even though I feel afraid, I choose to trust you more than my fear. Go before me, stand beside me and strengthen me. Remind me that your power is greater than my weakness and your presence is my safety. Help me to take this step in faith, knowing you will never leave me or forsake me in Jesus name. Amen. Oh, that's beautiful. I declare that over all of us. Actually, I love Joshua 1:9. That is such a good verse for us to remember in these moments. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Psalm 50:6. 3. When I'm afraid, I put my trust in you. Isaiah 41:10. This is another classic. Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Yeah, I hope that this was a good reminder for you guys. And thank you again for letting me just be vulnerable and share the things that I shared at the beginning of this episode. Yeah, we're really in this together, guys. And I just pray that the Lord strengthens all of us, and he gives us the courage and the boldness to act on the things that we know he wants us to do. If there are things that have been a little bit dormant in your mind or in your life where you've really procrastinated it, I believe that now is the time to do it. And as we've seen a lot, even in just recent events, life isn't promised. Like, we don't know what tomorrow will bring. And so I think that's another perspective is like, the more we procrastinate things, the more it's like, how do we. How do we actually really know, though, that we have more time to do that thing next month or next year? You know, once the season's over, you know, once I've gotten to this point in my life, then I'll do it. But, like, who says, you know, a Bible verse that just came to my mind is James 4, 14, 15, which reads, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. It's such a grounding reminder that tomorrow isn't ours to control. Only God holds it, and we're invited to trust him with it. This is the one that I was thinking about. James 4, 13, 16. Now listen, you who say, today or tomorrow, we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. Okay, so those were just different translations. That's the translation. That's Niv. That's the one that I'm familiar with. Anyway, that verse to me is like, who are you to say what you're doing in a year? That's kind of sometimes my hesitation with, like, having a crazy plan for my life because I'm like, who am I to say? But again, I do think I could be better about dreaming bigger with God, because I think I'm scared to do it. I think I'm scared to dream too big with God. So, yeah, I do think that there has to be a healthy balance where it's like, we don't put things off saying, well, I'll just do that in a year. We don't actually know if you're going to do it in a year from the perspective of procrastinating the very thing that, you know, God is calling you to do. But then the perspective that I'm wrestling with is I'm like, but who am I to say what my hopes, dreams, goals will be, where I want to be in five years, when I don't even. Who am I to say? You know, kind of like that Scripture saying, so that's a slightly different perspective where it's like, why would I bother to dream really big with God and be like, this is where I want to be and whatever, when I don't? Who am I to say? I wish I actually had an answer to that. But I think maybe my answer would be that there has to be a healthy balance of that, you know, where it's like acknowledging that we don't know what tomorrow will bring and that's okay, and taking it day by day with the Lord and trusting him with our everyday and being obedient with our everyday and not putting things off. If we feel like that's what he's telling us to do right then and there, or that there's clear opportunity for us to do it, but then not being afraid to dream about the future, believing that God does have a future for us, like what Jeremiah 29:11 says, where the Lord promises us a hope and a future. Yeah, that's something I'm gonna sit with me personally, I don't know if anyone else relates, but I'm gonna sit with that one. Guys, I love you. Thank you so much for being here with me. Thank you for being a part of my family here. And yeah, I'm so in this with you guys, and I'm really proud of you guys. Thank you for being here. I hope that you loved this episode. I hope it was helpful. Hey, can we do something cool today? Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is. Can we walk more like him? Talk more like him? Be more like Jesus? I love y'. All. Happy Friday, by the way. I hope you have a beautiful weekend and I will see you next time. Bye. Are some of y' all still listening? Okay, if you're still here, that means you're a real one, which is why I'm about to share this with you. If you've already caught up on all the episodes so far and you don't want to wait until next Friday for a new one, I have really good news for you. Subscribe to our Patreon to get early access to the episodes every week, early access to merch launches or any other exciting news, and receive personalized encouraging messages or Bible verses from us. 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