Prepare yourself for the storm

If you stay ready, you won't have to get ready!

If you are reading this from anywhere in the southeastern United States then you are likely in full prep mode and readying yourself for a winter storm. You have raided the grocery stores, stacked firewood to make sure you can keep yourself warm, and prepared your mental for a frigid indoor weekend. These are the kinds of storms that you get fair warning about and usually you are able to prep a little before it hits. Unfortunately, that's not the kind of storm I'm talking about right now!

The storm that I am talking about has nothing to do with the weather. If you are a person of faith, then you know exactly the kind of storm I am referring to. You know the storm that emerges whenever you are on the verge of a major breakthrough. It is almost always preceded by a storm or series of storms.

The enemy thrives on trying to minimize or eliminate your belief in God's presence in your life during these times. You have to be diligent and steadfast in the midst of the storm if you want to overcome it.

What I have learned is if you stay ready, you won't have to get ready!

What does that mean?

It means keeping your head on a spiritual swivel, being mindful of the energies that you attract, and being intentional about your responses to their distractions. It is also remembering that when victory and breakthroughs are on the horizon, the enemy will pull out all of the stops to try and keep you from your blessings. So you are always prepped and ready but never worried.

Here's what those attacks can look like and how to fight back:

• It usually starts with negative self-talk, but if you are strong willed and speak life over yourself you can overpower that.

  • Daily affirmations and positive self-talk help!

• Then it bleeds into strained relationships via miscommunication and unnecessary confusion. But God is not an author of confusion, so you have to work through it by seeking clarity and resolution in a calm manner.

  • Don't let silence speak louder than your desired outcomes and don't let misunderstandings linger. Keep the communication lines open and talk through the frustration or miscommunication.

• The final attack usually comes in the form of what or who you love the most (usually your family, significant other, children, health, finances, etc). Whatever you hold dear and valuable will be challenged. You have to fight back by declaring that while weapons may form they won't prosper against you or your loved ones.

  • Be in constant prayer over your family and your loved ones daily for protection from those who seek ill will or harm to you or them.

Ultimately, you overcome the enemy by choosing joy and peace in the various seasons of chaos rather than leaning into it. It sounds simple but it isn't if you don't practice joy and peace everyday. The enemy thrives off of chaos and confusion. So instead you have to remain rooted in calm and clarity. That does not mean you are a pushover, it simply means you recognize the attempt to shift, break, or bend your core and you actively decide to maintain the control and free will to exercise restraint, operate in peace, and still set things straight all while maintaining your composure. Even Jesus flipped over some tables but that wasn't the default response.

I say all of that to say this...as you prepare yourself for one of your most successful harvests, also prepare yourself for the storms. They are coming just as certain as the blessings. Don't get caught slipping!

I hope you this helps you understand the power in finding joy in each day and my commitment to being a joy giver and not a joy thief!

I love you and I know you don't know me but I really do...because you are worthy of love and that's more enough reason for me love you freely! Give joy!

Love,

MichelleRena