A few months ago, I felt like the scripture put your house in order from Isaiah 38 kept coming up. Finally, one day I went to a coffee shop and took the time to study that specific scripture. I learned that King Hezekiah was ill and about to die, so the prophet Isaiah told him, “Thus says Adonai: Put your house in order. For you are dying and will not live.” When Hezekiah got this news, he wept bitterly and said to God, “Please, Adonai, remember how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your eyes.” God gave him another 15 years to live. I am pretty sure 15 years was a reasonable amount of time to get certain things in his life in order.
As I thought about this scripture and have marinated the information before writing, many things came up for me. The truth is that it’s not easy for me to slow down because I like to check off my to-do list. It gives me a sense of accomplishment in life. But I know deep inside that there is more to life than my list. If I found out that I only had a certain amount of time to live, I know for a fact I wouldn’t worry so much about all the petty little things I have to do, but I would be more concerned about being present. I would pray more for my loved ones’ souls to be saved. I would listen for hours to my husband talk, ask more questions, and be fully available when he needed me. I would write out my heart to leave some tangible words for the world to read, and I would let my loved ones know how important and meaningful they genuinely are to me.
By the grace of God, from what I know of, I still have time to live. I am so grateful for God’s word because it’s a reality check to refocus on what is truly important in life.
When life gets complicated, it’s hard to want to persevere. In a way, it feels like something inside of us dies. It can be hard to want to do anything, but today I write to you to tell you that there is life, hope, and stories to share on the other side of your hardship.
Pushing through hardship is not easy at all. Someone who knows this well is a pregnant woman about to give birth and a caterpillar. A woman has to push through to see a new life come to be, and a caterpillar has to push through to become who it was always meant to be.
It takes faith to push and trust that on the other side, there will be life. If you don’t go through this now, how will you know the end result of faith?
Whatever you are going through now, I want to encourage you to keep pushing through the unknown, the pain, the darkness, the confusion, the trials, and the fear. Have faith that choosing to continue the good fight will be worth it in the end. Before the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it finds itself in a dark place, and before a woman gives birth, the pain seems unbearable, but on the other side, they both realized that it was all worth it and there was life.
There are days when everything seems to be going great, and then there are those days when everything completely sucks with feelings of sorrow, negativity, and a lot of complaining. This is how I felt all week. I tried so hard not to feel discouraged, I even prayed and asked God for help, but nothing seemed to work. I am pretty sure God heard my prayer because my neighbor texted me out of nowhere, saying, “I feel like the Lord wants to tell your not to grow weary in doing well.” And then my husband realized without me saying anything that I was down, and he would encourage me. It was helpful, and it made me feel so loved, but I still felt discouraged. There were these lingering feelings of depression and oppression. I didn’t go through anything too crazy to get me to the point, but this is how I felt. At the end of my workday today, I was just done with the day. I wanted to be mad and remain mad, but at the same time, I wanted to go back to feeling present. I came across a YouTube motivational preaching that I thought might help, but I knew deep down that that wasn’t the answer. Instead, I played some instrumental worship music, and I talked to God and cried freely.
I got real with Him and told Him all the reasons I was discouraged, and I also acknowledged my need for Him. At that moment, I truly realized that no amount of money, accomplishments, love, or gifts could fix my soul’s discouragement. Only God can speak life into the hopeless parts of my being. After praying, I felt that I was supposed to say out loud all the things going right in my life. As I began to do that, the burden began to disappear, and I started to see and think more clearly. Proper encouragement can only come from the one who knows what is hurting us when we don’t have the answer. Tonight I was greatly encouraged by the one who loves my soul, and I hope you have been inspired by reading this and have the desire to talk to God now.
When I was little, I used to love watching Mexican soap operas. I realized that the actresses were beautiful and desired. I wanted to be just like them. As I got older, the desire to be known and seen only grew stronger. When I was 18 years old, I moved to Hollywood to pursue a career as an actress and a model. I did pretty well and landed my own tv show named “Dayana Grace.” I started to receive new likes, followers, attention, and so much more, but it wasn’t enough. Something was missing. I felt empty even though I had everything I thought I wanted. Suddenly all of this began to take me into a place of despair, and I knew something had to change. Growing up, I knew enough about Jesus to know he was real, but I didn’t know him nor trust him due to some things that happened to me. I did want a relationship with him, but I wanted it to be based on my conditions. I mainly only talked to him growing up when I needed something. As I entered into despair, I realized that I could either keep living in my fantasy world for the rest of my life, or I could invite Jesus into my heart. I wanted something tangible that would last, and somehow somewhere deep within me, I knew that Jesus was the answer. Over five years ago, I accepted by faith Jesus into my heart. Life isn’t the same anymore. I don’t have as many followers, likes, or attention, and I am okay with that because I am finally happy. God has blessed me beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Within five years, God has given me more treasures than Hollywood ever could have. I have traveled for ministry to South Africa(twice), Dubai, and Mexico. I have shared my testimony on the radio, television, and events. I married an amazing, Godly man. God healed my relationship with my parents. And His goodness only continues. If I had to do this all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate to give my life to Jesus. If anything, I would run to Him. The world will never be able to satisfy what only Jesus can fulfill.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14
To be known is what I desire. To be seen is what I want. To be loved as I am is what I crave, and to be heard is what I need. My whole life, I have wasted wondering if I am enough? Am I good enough? Do I matter? Do I make a difference? I want to know that someone knows what I need. For so long, I thought men were the answer to all these questions. I wanted to be affirmed. But how can a man who has never been affirmed by the creator of heaven and earth affirm me?
I wasted 9 precious years of my life wandering in between the arms of men so that I could be affirmed. They couldn’t give me what I wanted, and instead, I would end up more lost in my self-worth while all along, God was asking for my attention. I couldn’t give my attention to this great God. How could I? I was afraid of what I did not know or understand, but yet He never gave up on me. He constantly pursued me. He frequently found ways to show me he was there. Some of his ways would seem unreal for many to believe, but that is who he is. The one who never gives up. The one who leaves the 99 to go for the 1. Oh, gracious God, what did you see in me? I was lost, without direction, and a lot of rejection towards you, but you never gave up on me. You pursued me and have always wanted me. You know me, and yet you still want me. I am a mess, but you like me, you love me as I am, so here I am, Lord. Take me as I am.
I’ve had this revelation recently as to why God doesn’t want us to sin. It’s not because he is controlling; he knows the unfavorable effect of our decisions. In my own life, I have experienced that sin is expensive. Sin causes shame, fear, envy, boasting, lies, anxiety, and so on. Sin separates us from God, for when we sin, we hide from him. God gives us Grace, a lot of Grace; however, there are still consequences to our sin. We have to acknowledge our sin, repent of it, and allow God to heal us. Sin does not only affect you, but it also affects those around you and your generations to come. Becoming a Christian does not mean that you have a license to sin because of the Grace given to you. I have seen this over and over again with Christians who willfully sin due to all the Grace they have. They seem to not be repentant or willing to acknowledge their sin. If you think about it, It’s a slap to God’s face every time we willfully sin. God calls us to repent. We see the word repent so many times in the Bible. Repentance can bring real change in us. If we want to have a repentant heart, we need to cry out to God to help us see our sin. We also need to invite him into our heart and ask him to be our strength. We can’t do this on our own and God knows this. This is why Jesus died on the cross for us. Grace is a gift to change us from the inside out and glorify Jesus with how we live our lives.
Beloved, You need Jesus, and I need Jesus; we all need Jesus. Sit at his feet and appreciate his Grace. If what he has done for you on the cross is not enough to understand Grace, cry out to him, and ask him to help you understand why he willfully died for you.
Why God? It is probably something God hears from me often. As someone who has struggled with significant control in the past, “why God?” is crucial. Some stages of my life in my walk with God have not been ideal or comfortable, so I will ask why to give me some peace in my situation. I don’t always get God to answer the question, actually I probably never do until much later, and most of it still has to do with God growing me in my character.
It seems that my why God has been shifting to God help me understand and give me strength. He sees the bigger picture, and each situation seems to be a puzzle for that picture. My heart tends to be more at peace when I focus on the fact that God truly is good and knows what He is doing. I like focusing on Jeremiah 29:11 as a reminder that the plans He has for me are good and not harm to give me hope and a future. In situations where things don’t seem significant in my life, I will recite Jeremiah 29:11. It’s a reminder that God is bigger than whatever I am going through, even in the not so good moments.
Beloved,
You are not alone because he is always with you. Seek him with your whole being and ask him to show you how to pray for the situation you are currently going through.
Jesus loves you!
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I usually clean my bathroom on Saturday or Sunday. The toilet calls for help in less than a week, and if I let it go on longer without being clean, it looks gross. As I was about to clean it today, I realized how we tend to be like a toilet; if Jesus doesn’t come to cleanse us, we will remain dirty. Sin does that to one; it turns us into something messy, and we need Jesus to regularly come and cleanse us through his word, affirmation, love, and presence. Cleaning the toilet happens to be my favorite thing to do. It has been a reminder over the years that no matter what, I must remain humble. My humility comes from knowing that I need a savior to come and cleanse me always.
Allow Jesus to come and cleanse you from any impurities. Remain clean and reliant upon God in all of your ways.
Jesus loves you!
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Today, I had to get rid of several strawberries. Usually, when we get them, we freeze them right away so that they can last longer. It had been a few days since I said I would freeze them but didn’t, and now I had to throw away several of them. As I was throwing them out and trying to save the good ones, I started thinking more in-depth about the strawberries. In some weird way, we happen to be these strawberries. Many times, we tell ourselves, I will wait, I will do this tomorrow or another day, and then life happens. The longer we wait, the longer the saving of something good takes. These strawberries could have been saved sooner and enjoyed, but they now find themselves entirely rotten in the trash. Some strawberries had not gone bad, that I did try to save. I did this by cutting the areas that were bad and keeping the good part. I thought to myself, and this is what God does with me when there is something in me that is not good. He is cutting away and pruning what is not right to save what is. It’s hurtful when I am going through a process like this with God, but He sees the bigger picture that I do not. He is trying to save me and not hurt me. With all of this being said, I realize I would never want to eat something rotten, it’s the worst, and it makes me want to puke, so for that, it goes in the trash. We would never eat something that we know is not good for us, but why is it that we consume things that rotten the soul so often? Is our soul not as worthy as our stomach?
Let me get super personal with you. When I first gave my life to Jesus, I had stopped having sex, but I had not stopped making out. There was a battle in my soul to let go of the old. But I needed to let go to step into the new that God had for me. I remember that I felt God speaking to me and saying, “How do you expect me to use you (Speak through you) if you contaminate your mouth?” Hearing that stopped me on my tracks, and everything began to shift for me from this point on. I was more aware of honoring God and protecting my precious soul.
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:11
Beloved, I write to you to remind you that you are precious, and Jesus loves you.
“Interruption from God is not a distraction. It is the call you have been waiting for your whole life.” – Dayana Shiplett
Recently, I was reading Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge. In one of the chapters they share the amazing story of their friend Jeanine. Jeanine has been a missionary with OMS for thirty-years. For the past fourteen years, she has poured out her life in Medellin, Colombia. Medellin is known for drug cartels, murders, and violence-a culture of death. It is a city that does not welcome Christianity. On a recent visit, she mentioned that sixty pastors are murdered a year. Jeanine chose to go to Medellin because she followed God’s call to teach Hebrew in a seminary which led to ministering in Colombia’s notorious prisons. Jeanine, was the only a woman walking into an overcrowded all male prison to bring the love of Jesus to all the hardened heart criminals.
Bellavista, is a prison located in Medellin, Colombia, housing 6,000 inmates which was only designed to hold 1,500. Jeanine said, “Up until (14) years ago when the Bible studies began, Bellavista was known for its violence there was an average of two murders a day within the prison walls… As lives are being transformed, the killings are slowing,” Recently, only 7 inmates were murdered from 1990 to 1997. Jeanine risks her life every day going to prison daily. However, the thought of death or the risk of death does not stop her from ministering. As she says, “Security is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of Jesus.”
I am inspired by Jeanine’s story, I cried. It reminds me of a similar testimony from a beautiful woman that I know named Jennifer Boakye, who I met in South Africa. I was so touched by this story because I think about people around the world who need the hope of Jesus. It is when we say, “Yes” to God that we get to see hope in this world.
Saying yes to God is not easy. It requires sacrificing one’s old self in order to walk into the unknown with Him. I know this because my life was interrupted by God many times. Here’s how:
He invited me to leave Hollywood in order to follow Him.
He invited me to leave my boyfriend who I lived with for 3 years to trust him with my life and on-going love.
He invited me to leave my career in Psychology to get to know him more through the community and attend ministry school full time.
He invited me to leave my dream job at a rehab center in order to go on a two-week Mission trip to South Africa.
In South Africa, he invited me to come back and live there. I did, it changed my life forever.
In South Africa, he invited me to help set women free by teaching a Ministry called, “Give Her Courage Worldwide.”
He invited me to trust him after a near death car accident.
He invited me to take care of my grandpa. In the past, we never got along. However, he healed my relationship with my grandpa. On my way to see my grandpa, I met my husband at the airport during my layover.
I am grateful for the times God has interrupted my life. It turned out better than anything I could have dreamed of. When God makes an invitation, it is scary. It seems impossible. But, all we have to do is say “Yes” and trust him.
Reflection Questions:
Has God ever interrupted your life?
What stops you from saying, “yes” to God?
How would your life be different if you said “Yes” to God?
Moses 4:10-17
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
A few months ago, I felt like the scripture put your house in order from Isaiah 38 kept coming up. Finally, one day I went to a coffee shop and took the time to study that specific scripture. I learned that King Hezekiah was ill and about to die, so the prophet Isaiah told him, “Thus…
When life gets complicated, it’s hard to want to persevere. In a way, it feels like something inside of us dies. It can be hard to want to do anything, but today I write to you to tell you that there is life, hope, and stories to share on the other side of your hardship.…
There are days when everything seems to be going great, and then there are those days when everything completely sucks with feelings of sorrow, negativity, and a lot of complaining. This is how I felt all week. I tried so hard not to feel discouraged, I even prayed and asked God for help, but nothing…
Once upon a time, there was girl who felt invisible to the world, especially amongst her parents. Her desires as a child to be seen grew. Her soul yearned to hear the words “I see you!” She left her innocence to chase fame and riches hoping to be seen and for the world to worship her. She thought “Oh, world how shall I get you to praise me?”
She was led astray as she saw the Maxim girls receive a lot of praise. She thought becoming a sex symbol was the symbol. She felt seen, desired, and admired. She craved more and headed to Hollywood. But in the back of her mind, she knew that the praise would disappear sooner or later.
What is the point of being like God when she does not know God? The fame, the men, the praise… eventually it was unfulfilling. Dayana, fell on her knees and surrendered her throne to know the real God. The God who created the heavens and the earth.
The fall of humanity is when one has tried to be like God. There is no amount of wisdom or knowledge that can make one be God. Many have tried to be like him. Yet they fail and realize they need a Savior. One example is Eve, she lived a graceful life in Eden. In time, she chose to ignore God and ate the apple to be like God. Her choice affected both her, her husband, and future generations. She did not become like God if anything she witnessed the wages of sin.
For so long, Dayana, tried to be like God. She wanted to be the savior of many. She carried the burden of responsibility. Recently, she realized that she can’t be the savior because she might be interfering with God’s will for their life.
She has learned to not get in the way of being a savior unless the Holy Spirit leads her to help.
I have written all of this to remind myself and others that we are not God. There is only one God. He is strong enough to handle our burdens and be our savior. He is the way, the truth, and life.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
When I was little, I used to love watching Mexican soap operas. I realized that the actresses were beautiful and desired. I wanted to be just like them. As I got older, the desire to be known and seen only grew stronger. When I was 18 years old, I moved to Hollywood to pursue a…
The sun is gone, and the moon is about to come out. The blinds are down, and pretty soon, I will need to turn on the lights. It’s the end of my workday, and I have already taken a shower and had dinner. Now I sit here with my soft white blanket and meditating on…
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 To be known is what I desire. To be seen is what I want. To be loved as I am…
One of life’s challenges that we encounter is forgiving ourselves and others. Many of us, carry the burden from childhood into adulthood. As we get older, the harder it becomes to forgive. Although we genuinely want to forgive, we don’t know exactly how. The moment we feel pain, our instinct is to hold back. Instantly, we decide not to forgive. Discomfort makes the forgiveness process so much harder. Forgiving requires remembering what someone did to us, setting them free, and letting the offesnse go. But how do you let go of something that hurts so bad? How do you let go of something that made you question your identity?
For me, forgiveness has led to tears, anger, sadness, rage, cuss words, and falling on my knees to cry out to God for help.
Throughout my life, I learned to forgive myself for the monster I once was. I learned to forgive my dad who wanted my mom to abort me. I learned to forgive my brother and sister for rejecting me. I learned to forgive those that sexually molested me. I learned to forgive my mom for not being present. I learned to forgive the men that abused my heart.
Forgiveness, is a hard process and I am still going through it. I call it a process because it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and diligence. I think to myself, “Why am I the one that has to pay for something someone did to me?” The part that hurts me the most is facing the ones who did me wrong. Although I forgive them, most times, I don’t receive an apology. Deep inside, we all desire an apology. Some debtors will never admit their debt. I am someone that loves justice. If someone hurts me, I want them to pay. I think this comes from being so hard on myself and lacking in grace. Even though I feel this way, God, reminds me of His Grace. He set His eyes upon me and did not let me go even when I sined. He chose to forgive me and die for me.
Jesus is the perfect example of forgiveness. Even though humans sent him to the cross, He chose to love us, forgive us, and gifted us eternal life to not perish. I have forgiven so many people in my life, more times than I can count. But I still have a long way to go. As mentioned earlier, forgiveness is a process for me. However, with God’s help, I know I can forgive.
Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! Matthew 18:21-22
Reflection Questions:
Who am I struggling to forgive?
Does forgiveness come easy for me?
How is not forgiving others affecting my life?
Do I believe in my heart that God has forgiven me?
How do you forgive:
You let go of holding a grudge, you let God into your pain, and your surrender the outcome to God.
Prayer time:
Father, I invite you into my hurt and into the unspoken. I ask you to heal me and fill my heart with compassion for those that have wronged me. Thank you for forgiving me and help me accept your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
One of Satan’s biggest targets in our life is through our mind. If you are not paying attention, he is the fox that spoils the vineyard. He is a master in manipulation, lies, and confusion. In turn, it separates us from God. He is the one that provokes you asking, “Where is your God?” But we serve a God who warns us of our enemy (Satan). John 10:10 says, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
God’s desire for us is life and not death.
The fruit of Satan is: Fear, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, suicide, feeling unworthy, rejection, lies, cheating, murder, addiction, selfishness, greediness, lust, gossip, rage, un-forgiveness, disunity, bitterness, coveting, and rejecting God.
The fruit of Jesus is: Peace, joy, love, forgiveness, kindness, hope, selfless, generosity, holiness, purity, gentleness, and the desire to please God.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Believing lies begins and ends with us not believing God. We are not victims.
Do these thoughts sound familiar? For me, these were the thoughts that went through my mind. A few weeks ago, I made a bold decision to go through my Instagram account and delete over 400 photos. Each photo captured one moment in the past. Each photo held a memory that told a story. 400 photos. 400 memories. 400 stories. Why did I do it? Why did I delete it?
I deleted those photos because it is time for a fresh start. Now that I can focus, my vision became clear. I realized that it was unnecessary to hold onto certain things. Trust me. There is no need to hold onto 400 plus photos that I rarely go back to look at. I am focused on expanding Dayanashiplett.com. A brand that focuses on encouraging others and pointing them to Jesus.
Delete! Forgive! Forget! Move On!
The future, my future, your future, is much brighter than the past.
I felt free after deleting those photos and it inspired me to write this blog. For years, I felt like the photos on social media defined me. I am unsure why, but the feeling was there. At this point, you might find yourself thinking, “Is there something I should delete?” Today, I would like to encourage you to delete the things that no longer serve you.
Delete that number.
Delete the photos of your ex.
Delete those old texts.
Delete that address.
Delete that appointment.
Delete that website.
Delete the things in your life that do not point you to Jesus.
Would love to hear on the comments below what are some things you will be deleting…
I’ve had this revelation recently as to why God doesn’t want us to sin. It’s not because he is controlling; he knows the unfavorable effect of our decisions. In my own life, I have experienced that sin is expensive. Sin causes shame, fear, envy, boasting, lies, anxiety, and so on. Sin separates us from God,…
Why God? It is probably something God hears from me often. As someone who has struggled with significant control in the past, “why God?” is crucial. Some stages of my life in my walk with God have not been ideal or comfortable, so I will ask why to give me some peace in my situation.…
I can be easily triggered and hurt because of things that can look similar to my past or assumption. When I am hurt, I don’t feel like giving my pain or emotions to God; instead, I feel like confronting the person or situation that hurt me. There is a need to do so because, for…
This was the third time in my life where I nearly faced death once again. I thought to myself, “I can’t go out because life is scary.”
Around 9:00AM on February 9th, 2018, I headed off to work. I was only a few minutes away from my exit when I noticed cars began to stop. I panicked because I was going 65 miles per hour (mph) and I couldn’t come to a complete stop in time. As I stepped on the brakes as hard as I could, I heard loud screeching noises. What I thought was my brake pads was the sound of a crash as I had been rear ended. Within seconds, I swerved into the left lane and my car flipped into the air. Within that very moment I thought, “I guess this is how I will die and if I make it out alive, if…. It’s not going to be good.”
I saw the roads beneath me, I screamed, “JESUS!” as loud as I could. I cried my heart out to God.
As I landed, my car rolled on the freeway 3 times and left me upside down. I opened my eyes and noticed a piece of glass that pierced through my head. Blood was dripping… At the time, I was concerned with being was stuck and my head bleeding. I couldn’t take off my seat belt. The scene was so tragic that people would not come near the car (I think they were afraid of what they could find inside… I am not sure). As I waited for the ambulance to arrive, I prayed. I prayed to God and asked him to please help me take my seatbelt off so I could crawl out of my window. At the end of the prayer, I was able to take the seatbelt off and crawled out the window.
I grabbed a sweater and placed it on my head to try to stop the bleeding. I saw that people started to run towards me. A guy ran across the freeway with his friend and held me. He held me in his arms until the ambulance came. Another woman helped me stayed awake and alert by asking me questions.
Every part of me felt weak, I wanted to stay asleep.
With the holy spirit, I sang. I prayed in tongues for healing because I was afraid to discover damage on my brain or body. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. Someone was kind and found my phone. Before the ambulance took me away to the hospital, I was able to take a quick photo of my car for insurance purposes. Doctors and nurses were examining my body to make sure everything was okay. I continued to pray and asked others to pray for me as I waited for the results from my x-ray scans.
The doctor came in shocked. Results showed that there wasn’t a broken bone on my body, and everything looked well with my head scan. I was relieved and thankful to God. I was discharged the same day and made it home. After that day, my life has never been the same. I was filled with love from friends and strangers. People came to visit and dropped me off flowers, gifts, food, and desserts. It was a beautiful thing to be surrounded by angels.
Eventually, I started going through phases of fear. This was the third time in my life where I nearly faced death once again. I was afraid to live. I thought to myself, “I can’t even go out because life is scary.” Overtime, I became sad and angry. A few days later, I started to feel nauseating back pain from the accident.
I was so upset and felt like there was no purpose to live. A part of me was angry at God. But I have learned that even in my pain to seek God.
I was too upset to pray. So, I played worship music and closed my eyes. I had flashbacks of my accident. I saw my car rollover and there was a large angel who placed his hands on me and pushed me towards my seat. With his feet, he pushed away the glass. Then, I had another vision. I was in paradise with Jesus as a 2-year-old. Jesus had me in his arms and rocked me as the car rolled.
These visions overwhelmed me with peace and the feelings of sadness and anger went away. I asked God, “Why was the glass the only thing that went through my head?” A few days later my prayers were answered. Someone told me that if the glass had not gone through my head, I would have become brain dead or instantly died. It was the glass going through my head that helped release the pressure in my head. I was amazed to learn how God saved me.
Today, I am so grateful to be alive! I have learned to not take life for granted because in a matter of seconds, we can lose it. The lessons that I learned from my accident was to let go of control, enjoy life, laugh more, love more, be present, Jesus is real, and tomorrow is not guaranteed.
I did not die that day on February 9th, 2018. I came to life.
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
I usually clean my bathroom on Saturday or Sunday. The toilet calls for help in less than a week, and if I let it go on longer without being clean, it looks gross. As I was about to clean it today, I realized how we tend to be like a toilet; if Jesus doesn’t come…
It makes me sad to see that what was meant to be a peaceful protest around the US turned into chaos. Some people protested with the right intentions, while others didn’t. Some wanted their voice to be heard in order to bring justice, while others went into the protest with the intent to kill, steal,…
Today, I had to get rid of several strawberries. Usually, when we get them, we freeze them right away so that they can last longer. It had been a few days since I said I would freeze them but didn’t, and now I had to throw away several of them. As I was throwing them…
Before she was born, she felt her father’s rejection from the womb. He told my mother to abort her. Regardless of her father’s rejection, her mother chose to keep her. On August 27th, 1993, Dayana took her first breath on this earth.
Growing up, she was known as an odd child. At the age of 7 she was molested by her baby-sitter’s son. From then on, she became a magnet for those who needed a body to use sexually. Even girls and elder women started to sexually touch her. To her surprise, her own uncle kissed her by mouth several times. Even in her own family, she was unsafe. As she got older, she felt dirty and used. She thought all she was good for was her body.
She didn’t have a sense of identity. Her relationships with men was the opposite of love and affection. She allowed men to use her and abuse her. From one man onto the next, she lived a broken life. She was on the search for identity and love. As she reached her glamourized life in Hollywood, the filthy rags remained hidden. Although she felt like someone and was seen by the world, those filthy rags were still there. When she turned 21, she realized that she was only chasing after the wind of fantasies. Eventually she hit a breaking point and surrendered her life to Jesus.
At a young age she always knew God was real. It was something she couldn’t explain but the feeling was so near to her. However, with all the trauma she experienced it made her become angry at God and pushed him away as much as she could. She was afraid of him because she could not understand him nor explain him. She knew, God and Satan constantly battled over her. In 2015, Dayana decided to let God win and surrendered her glamourized life in Hollywood to find God and who he claimed to be.
She moved to San Diego to live on her own. A life that was fully devoted to God. This was the first time in her life she had taken a major step of faith. She wanted to see if God would show up for her. He did. He changed her life for better. She gave God her filthy rags, her shame, and painful past. God began to mold her from the inside out. She exchanged her dirty dress for the reminder that she is pure. God sees her as white as snow. She exchanged her pain for God’s trust to redeem what was stolen from her. She exchanged her shame to see that she is the daughter of a King (God).
God transformed my life completely. I am no longer filthy but know I am royalty. I am dressed in white because He is my Father.
In a matter of 5 years this has been my redemption story:
I am Pure!
I am Unashamed!
I am Forgiven!
I am Loved!
I am Seen!
I am Clean!
I am Accepted!
I am not my past!
Even though my innocence was taken, God blessed me with a husband who was a virgin on my wedding night. My dad and I are best friends now. God has given me a platform to share my testimony all around the world, San Diego, Mexico, South Africa, Dubai, and the internet. I call this redemption! God has never failed me!
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
When I look back into my childhood and I think of the word “mom”, it hurts. Momma, you didn’t seem to be around much nor present. You stole from me those precious moments we could have had. Momma I needed you, where were you? Time has shown me that I am not alone and that…
Have you ever felt frightened, like a bird stuck in a cage? I know I have because of fear. Fear held me back. I was hesitant to step forward. What if I step out and fail? A quote that came to mind that I have heard in the past and still love to this day. That quote is “What if I fall? Oh, my darling, but…
“Interruption from God is not a distraction. It is the call you have been waiting for your whole life.” – Dayana Shiplett Recently, I was reading Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge. In one of the chapters they share the amazing story of their friend Jeanine. Jeanine has been a missionary with OMS for thirty-years.…
Five years ago I was living a completely different life from the life I live today. Time is a beautiful thing. It gives us an opportunity to grow and change. I have changed!
My life before:
I was 21 years old.
I resided in Hollywood with my boyfriend (who was much older).
I had my own TV Show.
I was a model.
I wanted and kept seeking extravagant things.
How I looked had to be perfect. It became a 24/7 job.
I wore heels and fitted clothing.
I was constantly taking selfies.
I was focused on positivity and the law of attraction.
I was self-centered.
I was controlling.
I was insecure.
Achieving goals was important.
Making money was a priority.
I started to drink alcohol to help me cope with my emotions.
I struggled with depression and anxiety.
I visited a psychologist once a week.
I realized…
I didn’t have any close friends.
I didn’t know how to ask for help.
I didn’t know I could ask for help.
I didn’t know much about God.
I didn’t know much about the Bible.
I wanted to grow and improve.
I was afraid to take steps of faith.
Today:
I am 26 years old.
I love Jesus.
I am bold and filled with faith.
I am married.
I love adventures.
Simple things make me happy.
I like dressing comfortable.
I am not focused on my appearance.
I am less controlling.
I am confident.
I love to read my bible and faith books.
I have close friends.
I love praying for others.
I love to encourage others.
I laugh a lot.
I am always smiling.
Life is precious to me.
I have peace in my heart.
It is interesting to reflect on who I used to be compared to who I am today. Would we get along? Maybe. I would have been focused on what I have to do. God didn’t fit in with the life I was living. I would tell the old me, “You are beautiful on the outside and love how I dressed.” In reverse, the old me would think the new me is nice, but nothing more.
Writing about my past and present helps me visualize how far I have come in life and my walk with Jesus. Now when I meet people who are not like me, I still want to connect and guide them to get to know Jesus. However, writing this helps me to be more sensitive for those who are not ready to walk with Jesus and realize that not all people are where I am in life. I am learning to respect our differences and continue to pray for them.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Reflection Question:
Looking back would you get along with your old self?
Once upon a time, there was girl who felt invisible to the world, especially amongst her parents. Her desires as a child to be seen grew. Her soul yearned to hear the words “I see you!” She left her innocence to chase fame and riches hoping to be seen and for the world to worship…
One of life’s challenges that we encounter is forgiving ourselves and others. Many of us, carry the burden from childhood into adulthood. As we get older, the harder it becomes to forgive. Although we genuinely want to forgive, we don’t know exactly how. The moment we feel pain, our instinct is to hold back. Instantly, we…
One of Satan’s biggest targets in our life is through our mind. If you are not paying attention, he is the fox that spoils the vineyard. He is a master in manipulation, lies, and confusion. In turn, it separates us from God. He is the one that provokes you asking, “Where is your God?” But…
My thoughts are like the ocean, crashing back and forth sometimes without direction or focus. From a young age, I have always been caught up in my mind; my safe place, away from the loneliness , abuse, and insecurities. My only way to escape the world was through my thoughts and through this, I learned to make my thoughts my friend. I would direct movies and create elaborate stories over and over. Recently, my once loyal companion seems to be distant, I struggle to be still and to allow my mind to be free and creative as it once was. I think to myself, “How come my brain and I are we no longer friends?” I have been struggling with creativity, I have a mental block and I can’t seem to find a way out. It has honestly been hard, I have cried out to God for help. I know God hears my cry and yesterday he showed me that he does in such a beautiful refreshing way.
One of my friends commented on one of my Social Media posts, it gave me an opportunity to check in with her and I asked her how she was. She shared her struggles about a relationship breakdown and I offered encouragement and support. I shared with her my experience, and assured her that relationships provide so much opportunity for personal growth and she would learn so much about herself including her inner strength. My experience was a blessing, I learned so much about myself, God, and afterwards I ended up meeting my husband. She was encouraged by that and other things I shared. After my reassurance she asked me to reach out if I ever needed anything so I asked her pray for us; what university my husband is supposed to go to and also pray for the home God has for us. As she prayed ,she shared her feelings with me. She told me all of the things that she felt God putting into her heart…. in this season God wants me to be still and that being still is okay. That hit home for me, that is exactly how I have been feeling. I felt as though nothing is happening around me, no progress is being made and this made me freak out. I had been trying to use my writing and video creation as an outlet to keep some momentum, keep on “doing” I was frustrated that I was stuck and felt I had nowhere to turn. After she prayed for me I asked myself; What exactly does being still look like for me? These were the things that came to mind:
Being still is to soak in God’s presence
Not worry if my blog or YouTube is growing
Not get caught up in what people think about me
Telling myself that it is okay to rest
To take more days off from Facebook
To sit in silence and fully enjoy being present in that moment.
Being still will look different for me depending on the seasons but right at this moment in my life, this is what being still needs to look like. The clarity that God has provided me has meant that, being still and allowing myself to be present has enabled my heart to be full and my mind to be clear and free. Writing this blog was made easy, with God’s guidance.
I don’t know what you are currently facing in your life but if this blog spoke to your heart, ask God to show you what being still looks like for you. To help you meditate on how God wants you to be still in this season, I will share below some bible verses:
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Lately my husband and I have been driving by some ecstatically pleasing apartments. I have told him, “Look I really like those apartments.” He said, “just because it looks good on the outside that doesn’t reflect what could be on the inside.” Him saying this caused me to think deeper about what a home is meant to be like, who we are on the inside, and what it means to be good steward of what God give us. Have you ever been in a house that seems cold and uninviting? Unfortunately, I have been to houses like this and it makes me want to leave as soon as possible. On the other hand, homes that provide a more peaceful atmosphere make me feel like I want to stay as long as I can. Homes are meant to be a place in which you feel welcomed, at peace, and a space to warm your soul. A house seems more like a space that is empty, cold, and uninviting.
I have sat and pondered many times why it is that some homes can offer peace and some can’t. While pondering on this thought about homes. My friend Diana came to mind explaining how your car or house looks is a reflection of what is going on in your mind. During that time in my life I was going through so much mentally and emotionally that my room and car always looked like a mess. Once she said that I started being more aware and taking steps to deal with what was going on with my emotions and mind. This helped me to be more organized with my personal life and even organizing the things in my car and room. I share this because when there was no peace in my soul my spaces looked crazy. Eventually I started feeling better with everything around me and everything seemed more at peace.
Going back to what my husband said about, “Just because it looks good on the outside that doesn’t reflect what could be on the inside.” This makes me think about people. How many times have we met people that look good on the outside but yet the more you get to know them the more you realize you know what the inside is not as nice as the outside. Similar thoughts go into where we live, sometimes a home may look great on the outside but is it truly like that on the inside?
I recently heard of a couple who have a church, they began to open their home and invite couples to live with them. I thought to myself why would you do this? You have kids! Aren’t you worried about them and each other. Like what type of people are you bringing into your home? These where my own thoughts of fear. You see so many times we pray selfish prayers and ask God, “Lord bless me and give me more but when the time comes will we be a blessing when someone is in need?”
Austin and I are currently praying for the place we will call our home. When God answers our prayer, I hope it is a home where people feel welcomed, loved, and accepted. A home where they will experience Jesus and not chaos. A home where love runs deep and fear dies out. We are all humans in need of Jesus, a place to call home, and a safe place where we can continue to grow as the people Jesus wants us to be.
There are some great questions to think about your home:
Is this just a house or is this a home?
Is this a cold and uninviting house or is it a home that offers peace?
Is this a home where people feel welcomed and loved or where people want to leave as soon as possible?
Proverbs 3:33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
My prayer for you: May your home be a place of peace and not destruction, a place where love and peace abound. A place where God’s presence is present.
Isaiah 32:18
18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
Have you ever received a gift that spoke to your heart?
A gift that when you look at it, it makes you feel loved and cared for?
I have! And I hope you have too. My most meaningful gifts given to me have nothing to do with a price tag, but with the fact that someone thought about what I needed or what would speak to my heart.
There have been gifts over the years that have spoken to my heart such as:
Worship music: My friend Desi bought me twice out of nowhere worship music that he purchased for me on ITunes. Over the last 2 years that has been the music I go to when I am going through hard moments in life.
Backpack: My two kids, who I used to babysit blessed me with a backpack. When their mom gave it to me she said I would need it for travelling. I had no idea I was going to be traveling that year, I travelled like never before. I wear this backpack everywhere and it has travelled the world with me. It means even more because my two kids chose it. It makes me smile when I wear it.
Heart key necklace: I asked 3 years ago in my heart to God that whoever was my husband would give me this necklace. My husband, without knowing gave me this necklace when we first started dating.
Drawn pictures: Over the years I have had teens and adults draw me pictures. For me knowing that someone went out of their way to draw me something means so much to me that I keep all of my drawings.
Photo taken and framed: My really good friend gave me a framed photo she took and this photo speaks to me because in the photo there is a sunlight where two people are walking at the beach and behind them is the sun and it says, “walk in the light.” It means so much to because it helps me feel close to God when I look at the photo.
A little seal: My brother gave me a seal and if you know me you know that my brother means so much to me. I love this seal because it reminds me of him.
A blanket my dad bought me: Every time I used the blanket it reminded me of my dad 😀
Cards written: I have kept all my cards given to me over the years because words mean a lot to me.
Tiffany’s necklace and bracelet: This story I will save for a blog because it’s a long story but my friend Hannah gave it to me and it means a lot. Not because of the brand but the story behind this.
Lion paw necklace: My friend gave me this with a card and he said he was giving me this because I was bold as a lion and that is how he saw me.
Bracelet made: God’s girl made by one of my rehab girls where I used to work.
Highlighter bag: My friend Josiah and Katie gave me this and it means a lot because I have obsession with highlighters and colored pens.
When giving someone a gift, focus on the person and not trying to buy the most expensive gift just so you can impress. This Christmas season I had focused on a budget for gifts I wanted to give, and my husband challenged me that rather than focusing on my budget, to get out of my comfort zone, and make the gifts because I am really creative and can save more by doing this.
I am not fully making the gifts from scratch, but this made me sit down and think of what gifts I could give my loved ones, that I knew they would make them feel loved or get them to laugh.
For this Christmas season, I encourage you to sit down and focus on each person you will give a gift to. Ask God to help you with ideas.
I remember when one of my friends was going through chemo, I wanted to give her something meaningful, but I didn’t know what. I asked holy spirit for help while shopping and He came through. When I gave my friend her gift, she absolutely loved it.
And to end this I would say the most important gift out of anything is knowing Jesus, and accepting him as your Lord and savior. And once you have accepted Him in your heart, to give those who don’t know Him the precious gift of sharing Jesus with them.
James 1:17
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
So often in life we stop ourselves from doing something great because we don’t believe deep within, we are capable.
What if you had the help to do something great? Would you believe? Would you have the courage in your heart to do what God is calling you to do?
Lately, I have been hearing this, “On the other side of your obedience is other people’s blessings.” I want to be obedient; firstly to bless God and secondly to be a part of seeing other’s blessed. It can be so hard when I start doubting myself and questioning my capabilities.
God is the creator of heaven and earth. He is the One that fearfully and wonderfully knitted us together in our mother’s womb. How is it that we often doubt the one who breathed life into our existence?
As I am writing this, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Moses. My husband and I are currently reading Exodus and in Exodus 4, we see God is asking Moses to do something. Moses doesn’t believe he is capable of doing so, even though God said he would help him. So God sets his eyes on someone who is already walking in how He made them.
Moses 4:10-16 10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
If Moses had chosen to believe God, he would have walked in full obedience even in fear. He would have had the blessing of experiencing that it wasn’t his full capability that allowed him to speak and be understood, but with God’s help, he would have been capable of speaking and getting the message across. In Exodus, as we continue reading, we continue to experience God’s grace over Moses. He uses him as a leader with his brother’s (Aaron) support.
I still wonder what could have happened if Moses would had chosen to trust God with his speech, and would had spoken, fully reliant on God.These are just my thoughts, but we know that God is merciful and no one can stop His plan.
God comes through for us when we rely on him…
I remember during my first mission trip to South Africa ,I had the blessing of sharing my testimony several times. Whenever I share my testimony, I prepare and ask for God’s help to know what else He wants me to share. This helps me prepare. During this particular trip, I started to feel guilt, I wanted others to share and to feel included. I did not want them to think that I was the only one doing the talking, so I asked if they would like to do a speech. I assured them that I would share my thoughts at the end if there was time but I was happy to sit back and listen to other people. I felt God tell me not to prepare my speech for this time and I listened.
The time came, and it was time for me to share. I said “God but I didn’t prepare, I don’t even know what to say”… I felt in my heart that I needed to trust God, and wait for him to give me the words, so that’s what I did. As I waited on God, I prayed before speaking and I felt something powerful came over me… I would definitely say my experience was like in Ezekiel 11:5
“Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the LORD says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.”
As I began to speak, I saw the emotion on people’s faces and tears fell from their eyes.. I can’t take credit for what God did that day but I know He did something beautiful in those peoples’ lives. Afterwards I was reminded that I am not capable because of how great I am, but I am capable because God is my guide. He is there when I need him the most, when I doubt my capability.
I write all of this to encourage you to step out in faith, trust that if God is calling you, do something and do it knowing you can rely on Him..
God equips the incapable to become capable. –Dayana Shiplett
My older brother and sister did not choose me. I always tried to be liked by them but they tried not to see me. I wanted them to like me because I loved them… I mean that’s my older brother and sister I looked up to them.
But they held on to resentment I think because we didn’t have the same mom. It’s not my fault! I didn’t choose my parents. 🤷🏻♀️
I was nice and and kind for years until I grew up and became a woman and rather than trying to seek their approval I began to push them away from my heart and thoughts. They have caused me pain and rejection beyond comprehension but this is not their fault. I mean do they really know any better? In their eyes I am the girl that took their dad away…
A few days ago God brought up my unforgiveness towards them and even though I did not like that, I knew I had to face it. So here I am having God work on this heart of mine to forgive and love them because at the end of the day, they are my brother and sister. And whether they like me or not I want to love them. I am not going to love them from a place of approval but from a place where I just want them to know that the little girl inside of me always wanted to love them from a pure genuine place.
Forgiveness is the best present your can give anyone. Who will you be forgiving or asking for forgiveness this Christmas?
It can be hard to feel valuable when you are constantly messing up. When you fail, you feel as if something is wrong with you. You beat yourself up, and begin to live in a place of defeat.
When people do not know their value, they begin to settle for less.
Settling in places such as a job, romance, friendships, beliefs, and so on.
Growing up, I had social anxiety. The only people I was comfortable talking to were the really nice people, that would go out of their way to talk to me. I didn’t feel worthy, I felt as if I had nothing to say or to bring to the table.
Things began to change for me when I wanted more out of life. I wanted to make a difference, and my heart was to encourage people, in order to do that I would need to be okay with getting over what others thought about me. I started ministry school when I was about 23, and in ministry school they would encourage us to pray for strangers. At first it was so hard for me to have to go up to a stranger and ask them how I could pray for them but then, over time, it got easier.
Whatever you are going through, whether its at work or a relationship and you just don’t feel worthy, I encourage you to go deep into your heart and ask yourself these questions…
Who told me that I am not worthy?
Why am I choosing to believe this?
Do I believe I am here on earth for a purpose?
I want you to know that you are valuable, and that as long as you are alive, God has a great purpose for your life. You weren’t created just to be here, every part of you was carefully created by an amazing God in heaven who sees your value.
You are loved beyond measure; the one that created you sees your value, and He says to you, “My Child do you not see your worth? For I am your creator! I see you far more precious than rubies.”
1 John 3:1“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”
Proverbs 3:15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Psalm 139: 13–14“You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this, I have no doubt.”
Fighting the “I am not good enough thoughts” is a battle between your mind and heart. When your heart and mind have been wounded by the lies people have spoken over you, you remain stuck. I will share with you how to break free from these lies…
There was a study done for two plants at a school to prove a point: The plant that was positively affirmed flourished, and the one that was spoken negatively to died.
I wonder if a part of our heart and mind shuts down when we have been beaten up with horrible words. I am not sure, but I do know that these words affect how we view ourselves and how we live our life. Words have power and I know this too well. I have seen how my words have brought people low, and also how they have brought them up. I used to have a friend in high school who struggled with depression, and when I took the time to call out all the good in her, she began to flourish and make positive choices. But I have also seen how my hurtful words have affected people, and how they keep bringing up in conversations what I said in the past.
When I think about the power words have, I think about the bible verse on Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
As a child, I lived through rejection of not feeling wanted because my dad wanted me to be aborted when he found out about me. Also, I went through sexual abuse at the age of 7 and after that, I was scared of the world. People had a hard time understanding me, and for that I always felt judged by them. As I got older, specially in high school, people began to speak horrible things to me such as “You are not enough”, and I began to believe this lie. I was living my life from a place of not feeling enough, and for that I would make poor choices, such as who I dated, and how insecurely I conducted myself.
Why did I let people determine my worth? Because I saw them as worthy, and I believed them. I wish I would not had given them power over me, but I did because I did not know any better.
When I came to have a relationship with God, I thought He also thought I wasn’t worthy because of my past mistakes (sins), but God isn’t like these people. He picked me up and called out the good in me. He began to reaffirm me in my identity and reminded me that I am enough, because he is my creator. That I am worthy because He died for me, and that I am loved because He is with me wherever I go.
I encourage you to let your battle be in prayer and in surrender. Allow God to be the authority in your life. Give Him the power to affirm you and begin to believe what He says about you….
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Dayana Shiplett 