Day Of Preparation
Our Beautiful Journey Begins
Good Morning Beauties!
Welcome to the 2023 Mother’s Day Journey! I’m so glad you’re here. Have you brought your mom with you, or perhaps that special woman mentor in your life? Whomever is on this journey with you, one thing is certain, Jesus is right there with you too.
There’s a reason you’re here. God has something magnificent planned for you. Let me begin by saying I admire your courage, strength and dedication to grow deeper in your relationship with God. We have a promise about our desire to seek God in Matthew 7:8, “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (NIV)
I believe this 40 Day Journey experience is a “narrow gate” which leads to the Truth of God few people find as written in Matthew 7:13-14. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (NIV)
How can we possibly navigate through this world without knowing who we really are? Without knowing the Truth, the enemy fills our heads with lies. Our belief in them leads to our destruction. God desperately wants you to know the Truth about who you are and who He created you to be, which will lead to a life of love, joy, and peace. A life of fulfillment. A life He died to give you.
As you can see, this journey is significant, and with anything of great importance, we must approach it with great intentionality. We must prepare for our journey. We will take time today to pray, search our hearts, and look at our expectations, obstacles, and motivations.
Let’s start by defining our expectations. What do you want to accomplish? What do you want God to do? What are you willing to do, to give, and to surrender in order for you to consider it a successful experience? Selah. (Stop and ponder)
Take time this morning to pray and ask God about these things. Find a place in your journal to write down your answers. You will want to refer back to them during your journey.
Next, we need to plan for obstacles along the way. Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal anything that may stand in your way of a smooth journey. I know from personal experience, as well as hearing from several women who’ve taken this journey, having a busy schedule is a big obstacle. Like with this example, we have to create an action plan to overcome road blocks.
Take charge over anything standing in your way! You have the power to make your schedule. What will you do to allow for more time to spend with God each day and journey with Him? What sacrifices might need to be made? Is it worth it? Like your expectations, please write down a list of obstacles standing in your way, and beside each one, write down your action plan to overcome it with victory.
Lastly, we’ll look at motivation. Why do you want to take this 40 Day Journey? What’s calling you to a deeper relationship with God? Has something changed? Do you find yourself in a valley and want to be brought out, or are you in a mountain top place in your life where you want to grow even closer to God? Is it somewhere in between?
I love Psalm 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (NIV) King David, often quoted as “the man after God’s own heart”, wanted to be in the presence of God and in deep relationship with Him more than anything else. Is that where you are? Longing for God? Longing for Truth?
Please write down your answers in your journal. Trust me, you will want to review your motivations, your “why” on those mornings when it’s hard to get out of bed and get to your journal. Let it remind you of all the reasons you’re taking the journey.
All of our journeys will be different, but we can all agree that today, as we begin, there is an uncertainty about where our journeys will take us. That’s okay. Do not fear. Though the experience is unknown, we do know the one who is leading us, and He will be with us to love and care for us the entire way.
The universal goal is change. We are asking God to reveal the lies we’ve been believing and replace them with His Truth. The battle is waged in our minds. Transformation occurs when we trust God and allow Him to change our thoughts. Are you ready for this kind of change? Selah.
Let’s pray… Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you today in great anticipation of all you have in store for us during our 40 Day Journey. You have created each one of us, perfectly and wonderfully. May we come to know the truth of who we are in you, Jesus. Reveal to us the lies and deception we’ve believed and replace them with your truth. Lord, take back what the enemy has stolen and give us newness of life so we may pursue you and our purpose. Holy Spirit, help us to surrender our control and bring comfort and peace to us during our journey experience. We welcome the change you have for us - from glory to glory. We love you, Lord, and we lift up our prayer in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Glory to Glory - William Matthews
Love and Blessings,
Kendra
“Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.”