Don’t look back

How often have you been on the edge of a breakthrough but you just can’t let go of the past? Are you still answering those U up texts?

In Bed Reaction GIF by grown-ish
giiphy.com

Do you hold on to bad habits because its more comfortable? Bad relationships? Do you keep from making the leap because the unknown is scary? Do you talk yourself right out of your blessing? I have definitely done the majority of these things. The unknown is scary. How do I know I’m going to like it? Will this be as good as I expect?

Another biblical woman had the same problem. Lots wife. Genesis 19:15-26. God told her and her family to run from Gomorrah as it was burning down and don’t look back. However she couldn’t help herself. She looked back and she turned into a pillar of salt.

giphy.com *Lot’s wife*

Poof! She was gone just like that. *snaps fingers*

Thankfully God doesn’t turn us into pillars of salt when we try to hang on to the past or when we want to bring the past with us into the next stage of our life. I certainly have done that. I want to do all the things. I never want to leave anything behind, I just want to carry everything that I collect into my next space.

christmas shopping GIF by Target
giphy.com -me carrying all my old stuff to my new blessings

We aren’t supposed to do that. Sometimes God wants us to leave things behind. Sometimes he wants us to not look back and just go forward. We don’t always know why God wants us to leave things behind, typically when he asks us to take a leap of faith he doesn’t give us all the steps first.

We can learn some things from Lots wife. She may have had good reasons for looking back but when God asks you to move, you move. Doubts are ok, we learned that lesson from Eve but ask your questions as you go forward.

Looking back at the past or trying to bring it with you is trying to assert a sense of control of your life. I understand wanting to have control. It makes us feel more comfortable, it makes us feel like we have some say so in how things turn out. God wants us to remember that HE is in control. We don’t control our outcomes, he does. We don’t want to put more trust in ourselves than we do in God.

As you walk into the next season of your life, remember that God is not going to ask you do something that isn’t for your good. Romans 8:28 It will be hard but go forward and don’t look back.

You can do this and it will be easier to focus on the next thing if you aren’t focusing on old things. Pour all your effort into your future, not the past.

taylor swift beyonce GIF
giphy.com-this is how to walk into your future

Until next time,

Dominique

Great Podcasts from Women

All month we are talking about women and how awesome we are, I thought it would be great to share some podcasts that I listen to hosted by women .

Therapy for Black Girls-Dr. Joy

Podcast — Therapy For Black Girls
The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. (from their website)

Jesus Calling-Sarah Young (there is a devotional by the same name. Excellent read! The best devotional I have read to date.)

Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith Podcast - Listen, Reviews, Charts -  Chartable
Every week on this podcast she meets with different guests to discuss faith, courage, encouragement, love and trusting God.

Nona Jones Podcast-Nona Jones

The Nona Jones Podcast – Podcast – Podtail
The Nona Jones Podcast explores how many of the most admired leaders, business executives and public figures turned trauma into triumph and built purpose out of pain to emerge from their greatest struggles undefeated.  from Apple Podcasts

The Suga-Tika Sumpter and Thai Randolph

The Suga – Podcast – Podtail
Each week, listeners can laugh, learn, love and (instead of spilling the tea) share THE SUGA by celebrating sisterhood and motherhood. TheSuga.com

For The Love With Jen Hatmaker

For the Love Podcast - Jen Hatmaker
For the love of … People. Home. Stories. Shoes. Family. Jesus. Community. TV. Accessories. Food. Culture. The New York Times best-selling author and star of HGTV’s “My Big Family Renovation,” invites you to drop by and catch up with her friends as they laugh and share about all the things we love.  From For The Love podcast website

Unlocking Us- Brene Brown

Podcast Recommendation- UNLOCKING US by Brené Brown – MURDERINO READS
Join researcher and #1 New York Times best-selling author Brené Brown as she unpacks and explores the ideas, stories, experiences, books, films, and music that reflect the universal experiences of being human, from the bravest moments to the most brokenhearted. from BreneBrown.com

Brown Ambition-Mandi Woodruff and Tiffany Aliche

Brown Ambition Podcast – Brown Ambition is a weekly podcast about career,  business, building wealth and living in this brown skin.
A weekly podcast helping you unapologetically build wealth by saving, investing and making smart career choices — on your own terms!

Baggage Reclaim-Natalie Lue

The Baggage Reclaim Sessions on Apple Podcasts
Natalie Lue expands her popular blog Baggage Reclaim into podcast form with a weekly show about how to live and love with more self-esteem by unpacking, decluttering and tidying up our excess emotional baggage. It’s time to reclaim yourself and experience more love, care trust and respect. from Apple Podcasts

Enjoy,

Dominique

Who are your heroes?

The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! Psalms 16:3 NLT

I came across this the other day and it was a great reminder. Who are the godly people you look up to? I’m not talking about just surrounding yourself with godly friends but actually having people around that help you grow. Do you have a Christian mentor? Do you go to Sunday school or do a bible study? Who is helping you in your spiritual growth? Who is pouring into you and encouraging you? Do you read books or listen to podcasts that help in your growth? What music are you listening to? Who are your heroes? Who do you look up too?

One of my heroes is Michelle Obama. I know I don’t know her personally, but it feels like it does. She is the epitome of style, grace and class. She is so smart and knows how to handle adversity with a smile on her face.

Black Michelle Obama GIF by Democratic National Convention
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I don’t look up to Michelle Obama because she is so Christian per se but she certainly embodies many of the qualities of our beloved Proverbs 31 woman. She was a woman who has her own career, her own thoughts and feelings outside of her husband and children. She also supported her husband when she didn’t necessarily agree at first. She trusted him and his vision. Even though she is out of the White House she continues to give back to the community and empower young girls. She is a strong, educated, impeccably dressed, black woman and I aspire to be like her in many ways.

Barack Obama Walk GIF by GIPHY News
Barak and Michelle Obama at the Inauguration. Look at this hair, outfit, walk. *chefs kiss* giphy.com

If you haven’t read her book Becoming it is great. Long but great. She has a Netflix special by the same. Becoming also has a journal that you can use. The journal is cool because it helps as you discover your own voice.

Continue to take pleasure in godly people and godly things. https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.16.3.NLT

michelle obama turnip GIF by Obama
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With it being Women’s History Month, I thought it would be good to highlight some of the women I admire today who are making history. I am also going to highlight some biblical women so we can learn from their experiences.

Representation matters and you may not have people in your direct life that you can look up to. Thats ok. I certainly didn’t always have people around that I could look to for guidance. It’s definitely easier now then it was when I was a teenager or even a young college student to find people, especially ones that look like me to look up to. It helps if that person looks like you, but even if they don’t you can find some things from their life you can use for guidance and motivation.

Our next profile will be on the first woman: Eve.