Awakening the Lioness

   When I first came home from Africa, everyone had a lot of questions to ask me. People would ask the basic questions.."how long were you there? What did you do? What did you eat? Where did you sleep?...and my personal favorite...Did you wake up and there were like lions outside your window?" My answer to that..."umm not exactly!" Although I never quite had the pleasure of waking up to roaring lions, I did get to go on a safari and see many lions. They are such beautiful, powerful creatures. And believe it or not, I am learning that we can actually learn a lot from these magnificent animals. 

  I am currently reading a devotional book by Lisa Bevere called "Lioness Arising". This is such an inspiring book. It is encouraging us to go after the visions that God has put inside each of us, teaching us what it means to be dangerous and fully awake, and how to use our strength for service, not for status. In the chapter that I was reading today, it was encouraging me to be careful who I share my God-given visions with. I need to be careful that I do not seek input or advice about my missions in Africa with people who do not share the same faith that I have, or understand the dream in my heart. I can share my passion with everyone, but it would not be fair of me to expect them to have all the answers, that would make me wrong, not them. If I want helpful advise, then I need to seek wisdom from someone who has walked this path before. It would be more beneficial for me to share my vision with some who has a similar vision and faith. 

   The same goes for you too. No matter your purpose in life, it would be to your benefit to ask someone who shares the same goals and dreams that you have, someone that has maybe already accomplished something similar to what you hope to accomplish. For example, Sarah and Sally are great friends. Sally has a dream of opening a fashion company. Sarah has a different dream of running a dog grooming store. It would not be beneficial for Sally to ask Sarah's advice on the best way to start a fashion company, in the same regard, it would not benefit Sarah to ask Sally which shampoos are best for poodles. Does that make sense?

   God has placed specific dreams in our hearts, visions that are unique to each of us as individuals. What I am beginning to notice is that when I have a dream or a vision for something, rarely do I see all the struggle, time, and perhaps money it will take to accomplish it. I only see the end goal. As I am walking down the path and there are struggles, I tend to get frustrated and even distracted. I will even doubt myself and doubt the vision that God placed inside me. I will say things like "Maybe I didn't understand God right. Maybe I shouldn't do this." That doubt and negativity will distract you from the end goal. It is in those hard times that I have to remember that God's word is true. Numbers 23:19 (NIV) says, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" 

   The vision that God has placed in your heart is there for a reason! Do not give up! Even when things get difficult and it seems impossible, keep going. God is not a God who would lie! His promises endure forever! It's time to awaken the fierce lion or lioness inside you. Do not give up on things that seem difficult, stay the course. You will come out victorious. 

"Thank you Jesus for a new day. Thank you for never giving up on us. I pray that you will awaken the lioness in each of us. Keep us strong. Help us stay the course that You have designed for us. When things in life get difficult, I pray that we would seek You first in all things. We love you! Amen."