Words have the power to encourage.

What happened to the unity we felt after September 11th? It felt like we were all brothers and sisters who cared about each other, no matter our differences. That sense of unity I was able to experience for a few weeks is something that’s been on my mind a lot in the last two years as we’ve become more and more disconnected as a country and division seems to be becoming an acceptable norm.

Sometimes I think we as Christians can make things seem more complicated than God intends them to be. When I first accepted Jesus Christ, I thought that hearing His voice was something new that I had to figure out. Yes, I did have to learn how to best position myself to hear Him, I’ll explain that later, but eventually I realized that I had been hearing Him my whole life.

Obedience brings peaces? Those are words I never imagined I would say.  I used to get anxious when someone would use the word obey or obedience. It had an extremely negative connotation in my mind. It was associated with losing control, being taken advantage of, and not being respected as an individual. But thankfully, as I matured, I began to understand obedience from a different perspective.  

As a Christian and as a black woman, I spent a lot of years juggling “student Jamila”, “work Jamila”, “church Jamila”, “family Jamila”, “friend Jamila”, and “wife Jamila”. I know this makes it sound like I have multiple personality disorder. Praise the Lord, I do not. These are just some of the masks I’ve worn to fit into the different parts and places of my life.

What does being wealthy mean to you? Does it mean monetary wealth? Does it mean amassing material possessions?  I could throw a bunch of Christian scripture at you about riches and wealth, but instead, let me share some personal thoughts and #realtalk with you.

Did you know that trees work together, protect each other, warn each other of danger, and share nutrients? Like a tree tells us that the same way a tree grows and manages tough times is the same way we grow and cope with challenging situations.

I’ve actually felt pretty fearful lately. Not the kindof fearful where I even realized it. Not fright or desire to run and hide. I haven’t been jumpy or afraid to speak out. l’ve been experiencing a different kind of fear...the kind where I’m afraid to take risks, afraid to dream big.

I began this year feeling emotionally drained and scatterbrained.  Last year was hard on all of us and for me it was a true test of choosing joy and living encouraged no matter what.

With each disappointment I’ve tried to fix it in my own strength and I find myself now feeling drained and discouraged. With the words “I can’t do this” and I should just give up because “I don’t have the strength,” floating around in my head.

Have you ever said that you were going to take “a leap of faith”? Although the phrase isn’t in the Bible, the idea of following God in faith is certainly Biblical, and there are times we may feel like we’re taking a leap. It doesn’t mean we are stepping out into the unknown; it merely means that we trust God.

Let's be real, it can feel like we're constantly being rated and judged by the world.  We've all heard about the comparison trap and how social media is one of the ways we fall into comparing our real lives to other people's perfectly curated online lives.  

Each day of your life is a step in the process of becoming who God created you to be. It’s funny how God already knows who you are today and who you will become, but often we struggle to see and accept ourselves.