Quiet Time

An important part of Spiritual growth  

Hey family, how are you all doing? How has your week been so far?  In all things, we can only give thanks and be grateful for how far God has brought us. I know some of us might have gone through or are still going through a tough season, I just want to encourage you to keep your trust in God for He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Meanwhile, did you miss me? Haha, I decided to take some time out to rest, reflect and introspect, it is very important to take some time out to reset and rest in God.  I certainly missed you guys and I am glad to be back! Have you listened to the new episode on the Revive Podcast on cracking Identity yet? If not, I really encourage you to go and listen to it, you will be blessed and the light that will come in is just amazing. For the podcast click HERE. 

Today I just want to come here and encourage you to take time out to think, journal and introspect. It can get hard to hear from God if there is too much noise going on. Being still is a discipline that we all need to learn. In our busy day to day lives, we need to take time out to have appraisals and check in with God to be sure we are on the right track. It could also mean to go offline media and social media so that you are not distracted by what is going on out there. Don’t just go by life on autopilot, make time to sit in silence and look within, ask questions and Journal. Journaling is such a powerful tool and writing down thoughts that come to you is a great way to open up portals in your spirit to hear from God. It can also be a great way to declutter your mind. A clear and clutter-free mind is likely to catch the sound waves of the spirit and hear clearly. 

The best example of someone that took quiet time seriously is Jesus. I like that Jesus used to get away from the noise to, to have quiet time and spend time communing with the father. He also needed to hear from God for steps to take towards the assignment that God had laid on Him, how then do you think He knew when it was the right time to do certain things. 

^“It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed.” Matthew 1:35

If you notice through scripture you would realise that Jesus had a habit of going away to pray mostly alone, away from the crowds sometimes with just the closest people to Him. 

“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,” Matthew 14:23

Jesus was also showing His disciples how to take time out to reset and rest and how important it is to go to a solitary place … “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” ³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” Mark 6:31-32

Brothers and sisters, I could show you tons of scriptures where Jesus went to be alone, it was His custom (habit & routine). It is important to create a habit of being alone with God in a quiet place. What did Jesus do in his quiet times alone, He prayed, sometimes He prayed all night … “In those days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God” Luke 6:12. I am not saying go and spend the entire night praying every day, what I am saying is make time out in your calendar to have night vigils with God. 

With that being said, I just want to ask you these questions. How do you wind down? Do you take time out to rest in God in a quiet and solitary place? Do you take time out to introspect and do self-appraisals? Do you journal and write down the thoughts, insights and visions that God is showing you? all these come with discipline and intention but are very vital activities for our spiritual growth. I would like you to commit to yourself to take out time whether it is every day for a few minutes, once a week, once a month, however, you want to do it, just start now! And you will see that the Holy Spirit will assist you and you will begin to gain clarity and direction as you hear clearly from God.  God bless you. 

With love always 

Lisa Maxwell – be blessed and be a blessing

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Storing up Treasures

Hey family, how are you doing? Hope you are well and are not too overwhelmed by the world’s uncertainties and so on. It can be really daunting when you think about what is happening now, and if like me, you are probably wondering if things will ever go back to the way they were or go back to normal. But what is normal? I believe there is a shift happening in this period and we need to align ourselves with what God Is doing. We need to ask for foresight so we can see beyond our natural eyes, we need to hear right so that we don’t miss what God is saying in this season. Today I just really want to encourage you to fix your gaze on Jesus and live entirely for him. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:19

This scripture has never been so alive to me as it is today! where are you storing up your treasures? Why are you doing the things you are doing? What are you chasing after? When you continue to read to verses 20-21 Jesus tells us where, we should lay up our treasure and why: 

^“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:20-21 

You will see here that Jesus admonishes us to store our treasures in heaven for where our treasure is, our heart is there also! Are our hearts fixated on the things of heaven or are we storing up treasures on the earth?! Are we concerned about the things of heaven and our Father or are we concerned about making it big in this world?! It is easy to get carried away with the things of this world and get distracted, it is easy to fall in the trap of chasing after the things of this world and lose focus on what is important. 

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:31-33

It is easy for us to get swamped with the worries of this world, what we will eat, drink, wear, I mean they seem reasonable – right? But Jesus said do not worry about these things, don’t let these things consume you, don’t drown yourself in these things but trust God enough to provide the things you need, He is our father and He knows we need them! Instead, let us seek the kingdom and His righteousness FIRST– this is a keyword because it’s not that we are not seeking the kingdom and His righteousness, it’s just that many of us are not doing that FIRST. Is God first on your agenda? Is it your agenda or His Agenda? Do you consult him first before you make a decision about anything? One statement I always make is I don’t have a schedule, God is my schedule! A lot of us just slot God in our busy schedule to fulfil our religious act and tick a box. For some of us, God is like an app we use when we need to. Brothers and sisters let us not fixate ourselves on things that will perish, let us not live as though this is where it all starts and ends! Let us not forget that our Lord Jesus is coming back for His Bride. 

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Colossians 3:1-4

I just really want to encourage us to set our hearts on things above, it is time for us to be awake and align ourselves with Gods agenda. Let these uncertain times draw you closer to God and question some of your priorities. When eventually our time comes to go be with our father, would we say we fought a good fight of faith? Would it all be worth it? will our Lord Jesus say to us, well done good and faithful servant? As long as you are still here, It Is not too late to live fully and truly for him. At the end of the day, He is the only one that really matters. 

With love always 

Lisa Maxwell – be blessed and be a blessing.  

DON’T PACK YOUR BAGS YET

Hey family, how are you? we officially entered into the next half of the year! Happy new month (though it was yesterday). I woke up this morning and I was just reflecting on the six months that have just gone, and gratitude is what consumed my soul; God has been so good He has kept us, protected us and provided for us! He has been indeed a good Father. You might be looking back and not feel there is much to be grateful for, maybe you lost your job, a family member, or anything really but, I want you to look at all those circumstances and challenges and see that God was right there with you! He brought you this far, you didn’t do that on your own, God covered you, He has been there with you regardless of how you feel! Just think about it. The bible says in:

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

No matter our circumstances, we need to give thanks! Today is a new day! Which means, new hope, new opportunities, new chances. There is something about mornings, the Bible says Gods mercies are new every morning and His Joy comes in the morning.  I thank God for a new day because it means I have a fresh start and new opportunities to BE BETTER, DO BETTER and make BETTER CHOICES. Just take a moment to thank God for the gift of life, for protecting you, for being with you and for allowing you to see another day! Our God is a GOOD GOD and a GOOD FATHER! Expressing your gratitude is always a good way to start your day! 

Exciting News!!!

Drum roll!! Lol, I have some exciting news for you guys, so if you follow me on social media you might have already heard, however, if you don’t, I got you! now your girl has been busy and I am so pleased to let you all know that the PODCAST IS BACK!!!! Whoop whoop! It is new, fresh and filled with so much goodness, I cannot wait for you guys to dive in.  I want to officially announce to you that REVIVE with Lisa Maxwell is launching on Monday 6th July 2020! It has been a journey and I am so grateful to God for walking with me through it all and He still is, I am excited about what He has in store for us. Go ahead and mark the date in your diaries for the first Revive episode. Meantime you can check out the trailer, so you have an idea of what is brewing for you. 

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Don’t pack your bags yet!

As we are now entering into the next half of the year some of us might feel like we haven’t really achieved what we set out to do and might end up feeling discouraged and so on. With the pandemic, a lot changed and still is, life is not as it used to be and might not be as it used to be. There has been a shift in the world and a lot of us are probably thinking what next? I just want to encourage you today to not pack your bags just yet! Yes, your plans might have gone out the window, yes this and that happened and right now you don’t know what to do, hang in there, hold on, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I would like to help you look at things in a different perspective, I want you to look at the DISRUPTION rather than the DISTRACTION! When there is distraction you lose focus on what is important and you can get frustrated with everything going on, however when you shift your gaze to the DISRUPTION you start to look at what needs your attention! This is the time you step back and ask God, what is He saying in the midst of the noise, ask Him to align you with His Agenda and what He is doing in the now! Your plans didn’t work, maybe it is time to submit your plans to His plans and carry His assignment for your life. You don’t have to wait for the 31^st of December 2020 to start afresh and surrender your will to Gods will for your life, you can start today! it’s time to move to the passenger’s seat and allow God to take the wheel.  

God is doing something new and you don’t want to miss it, I surely want to be part of what God is doing, I want to be carried by Him, I want to go where He is going! If He is not going, I am not going! The best thing I did beside giving my life to Christ is giving my will to Him also, I remember Just going to God and was like Father invade my life, I give you access to everything! not my will but yours. Jesus said take my yoke for it is easy and my burden is light! So, brothers and sisters, it is not too late, your 2020 has not gone to waste! Just go to the Father and present yourself, say yes to His will and allow Him to guide you. 

Lastly, I just want to give an opportunity to anyone who is reading this and has not yet received Christ Jesus as his or her Lord and Saviour to have a chance to do so, see God loves you and He wants to be your Father, He wants the best for you, He created you for a purpose and He wants you to fulfil that purpose! The only way you can walk in purpose and real fulfilment is when you know Christ and receive His sacrifice, saying Yes to Him and what He did for you on the cross. Jesus is calling!  If you would like to say yes to Jesus today it is actually very easy, just say out loud the prayer below, the Bible says in Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. That is all it takes, say it with your mouth and believe it in your heart! Praise God. 

Prayer of salvation

O Lord God, I believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. I believe He died for me and God raised Him from the dead. I believe He is alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. Through Him and in His name, I have eternal life; I am born again. I ask you, God, to fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul! I am now a child of God.

Wow, congratulations! Welcome to the family. You are now a child of God. Your journey has just begun. If you said that prayer please send an email to lisa@writersesence.com so that I can gift you with materials to start your faith journey and advice on your next steps. Once again congratulations

With love always, Lisa Maxwell 

Don’t Lose Focus

Greetings 

Hey, my lovelies, how are we doing today? I am so grateful for each and every one of you, thank you for supporting the blog, and taking out time to actually read, It means a lot to me. Can you believe we finally rounded off the journey to purpose series? I don’t know about you but for me, I have been tremendously blessed, the success stories were the icing on the cake! Too heavy, inspiring and absolutely enlightening. Now if you are a newbie here, I want to welcome you to the family, please do make yourself at home and look around, take a tour of your new home lol. For those of us who are returning and have been following the series, I would like to hear from you, do you have any questions? how did you find it? do you want to gain more clarity, whatever it is just send an email to lisa@writersessence.com and I will be willing to be of help. 

Story time

So, the funny thing is, I am actually experiencing a writer’s block lol yes! Each time I showed up to write I had nothing absolutely nothing, and I was like Holy Spirit what’s happening? Is there nothing you want to say to the people, what are we going to do because we need to deliver on Thursday. Anyway, I left my writing station and continued with my day, while I was making breakfast for the family, I was still thinking about the blog and what I was going to share on Thursday because I had already set a standard and I wanted to keep to it. In the midst of my thoughts, I heard, don’t write what is not inspired by Me, just because you feel the pressure to deliver, if I am not saying anything, don’t say anything, Wow, that healed my need to please and show up in the flesh. It healed my need to meet up with demands that I put there myself.  If it is not inspired by the Holy Spirit, then it is not worth putting out there. 

So, this led me to ask you these questions, are you doing things that are inspired by the Holy Spirit? or are you just doing them to show up for yourself? Do you take time to hear what is on the heart of God before you make a move? If God said to you close down all your influencing platforms, businesses or whatever it is you somewhat get value from are you going to do it? Take some time to sit with these questions, write them down in your journal and really think about it and most importantly be honest with yourself.  The Holy Spirit was reminding me that I am not the things I am doing; I am first and far most Gods daughter and that alone should be fulfilling for me. It’s true that I am in the assignment phase of my life. This season has been full on, executing and it is easy to get carried away with all the doing that you may miss out on the most important thing – Being His Daughter. 

I woke up for my usual prayer and journaling time and in the midst of journaling, I told Him I missed Him. In the midst of the doing, I actually missed my Abba, our relationship had become so work-related that I had missed our intimate moments where I am not asking for the next instructions on how to do this or that or a name for something, but where we just gist and He pours out His love and comfort on me. Now, like I said I am in the executing season, but it is vital to not lose sight of what is really important!  

What is your own prayer life like? Are you praying at God or are you genuinely seeking His face to get to know Him? Are constantly asking for what He can do for you? or are you asking what is on His heart? Take time to note these questions down and answer them with all honesty. Start to seek God’s heart and get to know Him not because you want something from Him but because you are His SON

Let’s be real most of us are not Sons, we are children. Sons are always after their Fathers’ heart, they want to please their Father; they are always concerned about the things that concern their Father. Sons are reliable, God can count on them because they don’t put themselves first, rather, they put the needs of their Father first. Meanwhile, children are always after what they can get from Daddy, I want this, I want that, can I have this too? God doesn’t love any one of them less, it Just means He won’t yet trust the children with certain things until they grow to full maturity and become Sons. 

So this is it guys, I just wanted to come here and encourage you to not lose focus on what is really important, to always remember you are first Abbas daughter/son and always build your relationship from that perspective. Do not get carried away by the things that you are doing, however,  pay attention to the person you are becoming, because at the end of the day your main purpose in life is not your various assignments, but becoming like the One who created you! 

With love always Lisa Maxwell

The Journey to Purpose Part Five

Success Stories

Hey, my lovelies, how are you all doing? How has your week been so far? Have you been able to take out time to rest and recharge? It is very important that one should take some time to just rest and draw strength from our Father. I love what Jesus says in:

Matthew 11:28

²⁸ “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me.^[a] I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.^(TPT)

This is from the passion translation! It is really encouraging and refreshing, Jesus is always calling us unto his rest, let us take advantage of it; drop your burdens and worries at his feet because He cares for you! Jesus said in Matthew 6:27 that worrying doesn’t add anything to your life, so beloved let us drop it all at His feet and go to Him.

Wow, I can’t believe we are coming to an end of our Purpose Series and indeed it has been a journey! I did promise you that I have amazing articles coming to you this week! I had the privilege to speak to wonderful ladies that are also on this journey and they agreed to share their stories with you isn’t that just amazing! I cannot wait to learn from them, and I am sure you will too. I love hearing success stories and just people sharing their journey because there is always a blessing in there, lessons, inspiration and just knowing that you are not alone, and you too can triumph! Everyone has a story no matter how small or big it is. 

Today we will be visited by Praise Adebayo:

Praise will be sharing with us on her own journey to purpose, where she is, how she is posturing herself and how she is dealing with the challenges that she is facing in her current season. I believe you will be blessed and be encouraged to continue on your own journey to purpose as you read. Enjoy! 

My wilderness journey experience

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My name is Praise Adebayo, I am currently in the wilderness season, in this season God has been pruning me and drawing me closer to himself. He is helping me to understand that it is not about the gift but rather the giver. It is a season where it looks like all my prayers for material things are not being answered and this can sometimes make one lose faith or be discouraged. In the midst of this I believe God is doing a deeper work in me, He is calling me to come up hither and build stature so that I will be able to stand in my growth and harvest seasons. Most times when God gives us a vision or assignment, we are sometimes too quick to implement and then we realise that we are running on our own strength and wisdom forgetting that it was not our vision in the same place. 

The principle of seed, time and harvest applies to everything in life, most times, we try to jump from seed to harvest and remove time from the equation. We don’t know that the majority of the work is done during time.

The best posture to take in the wilderness season is to spend time praying and labouring in the word and also obeying promptly every instruction God gives. For me, as an intercessor and a watchman, I am extremely sensitive to any burden He places on my heart, praying for anybody He asks me to pray for. I have learnt not to release every word of prophecy God gives me except He tells me to. I am taking a position of stillness and rest in Him because that is what He will have me do.

Your instruction in your wilderness season will be different and tailor made based on where God is sending you to, so as much as it is good to learn from others, always go to God for your own instructions. Don’t make a doctrine out of other people’s experience so that you don’t step out of your own unique path. 

One of the major challenges I have faced in this season, is deconstructing certain religious mindsets I was raised with, which I have been able to overcome by coming with a teachable heart to the Holy Spirit. One of the prayers I pray when studying my Bible is that I have an encounter with the Spirit and not the letter. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible, not man, so as great as it is to have spiritual parents and pastors that you listen to, the Holy Spirit should be your number one teacher. Another thing that has helped me is praying the Ephesians 1:17-21 prayer.

I have also come to the understanding that you don’t have to explain everything to people, it is between you and God. My advice would be that you enjoy your journey, don’t be in a hurry, stay through the process and enjoy each and every step.

Love Praise Adebayo 

The Journey to Purpose Part One

Hey, my lovelies, how is everyone keeping? Thank you for your support I really appreciate it, it encourages me to continue to write.  Last post we spoke about time management and creating effective life systems. I hope you transferred that knowledge into action and went ahead to create your own life system. If you did, how has it been working for you so far? Has it made a difference? How do you feel?  And if you are reading this for the first time and you are wondering what a life system is, I encourage you to read the previous post on HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR TIME.  I assure you; you will thank me later.  Right let’s dive right in.