"Eyes Wide Open: Journey into the Spirit: Ep:2: Unlocking Divine Presence"
Welcome to Episode 2 of our devotional series, "In the Spirit, the Place Where God Speaks," hosted by Connie Morris on the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. Dive into this spiritual journey as we explore the profound difference between praying around the Spirit and being truly immersed in it. Discover the powerful realization that proximity to the divine isn't enough—true transformation comes from being positioned in the Spirit.
Through scriptural insights from Revelation, Ezekiel, and Acts, Connie unveils the secret to hearing God's voice and responding with immediate action. Learn how to foster a continual connection with God, beyond the confines of time and place, and how this deep spiritual alignment can guide everyday life decisions, from job opportunities to seemingly mundane tasks.
Gain practical advice on nurturing an ever-present spiritual awareness and living a life led by divine intuition. Whether you're new to this spiritual walk or seeking a deeper connection, this episode encourages you to slow down, listen, and align with God's perfect timing.
If today’s episode moved you, stay connected:
➤ Visit www.diaryofablackwomanllc.com
➤ Follow us on YouTube at @DiaryOfABlackWomanTV
➤ Watch us live on Twitch: Tuesdays & Fridays at twitch.tv/DOBWTV (July 2025)
➤ Email your thoughts or prayer requests to diaryofablackwomanpodcast@gmail.com
00:05 - Welcome to the Podcast
00:57 - Activating Prayer and Presence
01:49 - Proximity vs. Presence
03:40 - The Role of the Holy Spirit
05:08 - Hearing and Responding
07:07 - Familiarity with God’s Voice
11:00 - Daily Life in the Spirit
12:38 - Availability to God
16:04 - Real Life Meets Revelation
17:37 - Posture in the Spirit
19:27 - Surrendering in Prayer
22:48 - Living in the Spirit
27:12 - A Surrendered Life
28:14 - Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
00:00:00.557 --> 00:00:05.337
Welcome back to Diary of a Black Woman podcast with our devotional series.
00:00:05.557 --> 00:00:10.257
I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today we'll continue our eyes wide open with
00:00:10.257 --> 00:00:15.937
episode two, In the Spirit, the place where God speaks.
00:00:16.217 --> 00:00:20.757
But before we go there, I want to activate you with the prayer of Jabez.
00:00:21.177 --> 00:00:26.217
And it says, Jabez, we pray that God's hand will be upon us,
00:00:26.217 --> 00:00:30.157
that you will keep expanding our territory, that you will keep us from harm,
00:00:30.397 --> 00:00:33.777
that you will hear our prayers and you will answer our prayers,
00:00:33.817 --> 00:00:36.097
as we know Jabez's prayers was answered,
00:00:36.337 --> 00:00:38.257
and that we will rise from pain,
00:00:38.717 --> 00:00:44.997
walk in truth, and return to God with a deep intimacy with Christ,
00:00:45.417 --> 00:00:49.537
healed, empowered, and walk boldly in divine purpose.
00:00:49.837 --> 00:00:51.397
So let's get started.
00:00:51.977 --> 00:00:56.457
Episode two, in the spirit, the place where God speaks.
00:00:57.237 --> 00:01:01.337
So, you know, sisters, let's get started here. Let me ask you something real.
00:01:01.577 --> 00:01:04.177
Have you ever been doing everything right?
00:01:04.497 --> 00:01:06.277
Praying, fasting, showing up?
00:01:06.657 --> 00:01:13.877
Yes, things still feel, you still feel like you are not hearing from God.
00:01:14.397 --> 00:01:18.957
You know, that was me. I was praying around the presence of God.
00:01:19.177 --> 00:01:22.477
Listen to the key word here. I was praying around the presence of God,
00:01:22.637 --> 00:01:25.357
but not in the presence of God.
00:01:25.597 --> 00:01:28.657
And the Holy Spirit lovely corrected me.
00:01:28.957 --> 00:01:35.237
He said, you're praying around me, but not postured to be in me.
00:01:35.657 --> 00:01:42.517
Oh, wasn't that a revelation? You're praying around me, but not postured to be in me.
00:01:42.837 --> 00:01:46.037
Sometimes we think it's like maybe, I don't know if it's you,
00:01:46.217 --> 00:01:49.357
a scary thing to be caught up in the spirit.
00:01:49.357 --> 00:01:52.277
We think it's going to take us somewhere we don't want to go,
00:01:52.717 --> 00:01:58.257
somewhere unsafe, where we're not protected by the Holy Ghost or by our Heavenly Father, right?
00:01:58.457 --> 00:02:02.657
We always say, I'm praying in the Spirit. We think it's like just something that we do.
00:02:03.557 --> 00:02:07.817
You know, some people get so super spiritual that they really don't know what
00:02:07.817 --> 00:02:12.477
it is to be praying in the Spirit or in the posture of the Spirit.
00:02:12.637 --> 00:02:17.857
But when God says that you are praying around me, that you are not in me,
00:02:18.677 --> 00:02:22.157
You know, you're praying around me, but you're not postured to be in me.
00:02:22.317 --> 00:02:24.137
That moment changed everything.
00:02:24.377 --> 00:02:30.317
But it taught me something. It said, proximity isn't the same as presence.
00:02:31.241 --> 00:02:35.041
It says, you're praying around me. And I was still, even today,
00:02:35.161 --> 00:02:39.201
I'm still imagining, like, what does that look like in the spirit?
00:02:39.441 --> 00:02:43.201
Like, you show up for prayer and you're praying to God. And God said,
00:02:43.281 --> 00:02:45.261
you're not even, you're not nowhere near me.
00:02:45.461 --> 00:02:51.121
You're praying and you think you're getting through, but you're not really getting through.
00:02:51.921 --> 00:02:55.381
You know, we have that five minute of prayer. And we think, Lord,
00:02:55.701 --> 00:02:57.261
bless me. And then you run off to work.
00:02:58.041 --> 00:03:04.581
Lord, I need your help. Boom. No relationship. Nothing, just like he's a robotic
00:03:04.581 --> 00:03:10.921
guy that you just punch a number and then he shows up because you say something, right?
00:03:11.661 --> 00:03:16.121
But it says that moment changed everything. It says, because it taught me that
00:03:16.121 --> 00:03:21.841
proximity isn't the same as presence and being close to spiritual things doesn't
00:03:21.841 --> 00:03:25.341
mean that you are truly in the spirit.
00:03:25.881 --> 00:03:30.061
So let's get in the word and let's just kind of go through this very slowly
00:03:30.061 --> 00:03:32.861
so you can understand what I'm talking about.
00:03:33.101 --> 00:03:39.161
I don't want to lose you here because, you know, we spiritual people don't be
00:03:39.161 --> 00:03:40.321
like, well, she's going too deep.
00:03:40.441 --> 00:03:46.121
No, I want you to make sure that you can stay with me so that when we speak
00:03:46.121 --> 00:03:50.741
to God, that we as spiritual beings can connect with God spiritually.
00:03:51.241 --> 00:03:55.521
And so let these words you read kind of stick with you.
00:03:55.581 --> 00:04:00.581
Let's go to Revelations 1.10 in the NIV. It says, on the Lord's day,
00:04:00.781 --> 00:04:06.581
I was in the spirit and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.
00:04:06.961 --> 00:04:13.681
So John didn't step into the spirit after he heard the voice. He was already there.
00:04:14.443 --> 00:04:20.243
So position precedes revelation. If you want to hear God clearly,
00:04:20.243 --> 00:04:26.303
you have to be in a position before he speaks.
00:04:26.503 --> 00:04:30.663
What position is he asking you to be in?
00:04:31.123 --> 00:04:37.363
Ezekiel 3, 14 to 15, it says, The spirit then lifted me up and took me away,
00:04:37.403 --> 00:04:43.883
and I went in bitterness and in anger of my spirit with a strong hand of the Lord on me.
00:04:44.443 --> 00:04:50.763
I came to the exiles, and I sat among them for seven days, deeply distressed.
00:04:51.383 --> 00:04:55.603
Wow. We see Ezekiel didn't prophesy immediately. He sat.
00:04:55.923 --> 00:05:02.063
He carried the weight of the word in silence before he ever released it in public.
00:05:02.543 --> 00:05:07.983
Sometimes God will move you into a place not to speak, but to discern.
00:05:08.503 --> 00:05:13.803
That's what happens when you're in the spirit. You don't get the instructions.
00:05:14.443 --> 00:05:19.043
You receive divine restraint. So we see here two different ways here.
00:05:19.303 --> 00:05:25.243
We see that John, who in Revelation, that he was in the spirit on the Lord's day.
00:05:25.583 --> 00:05:29.763
We see Ezekiel, if you read a book, Ezekiel, it's a very, very prophetic book,
00:05:30.103 --> 00:05:33.663
that he, God moved with him in a different way.
00:05:33.823 --> 00:05:38.723
So a lot of times we want to compare, I like this because this is what's coming
00:05:38.723 --> 00:05:42.723
up for me, is that we want to compare how God moves with someone else,
00:05:42.763 --> 00:05:45.603
how he moves with us. It's a different, it's different.
00:05:46.365 --> 00:05:50.365
And so we have to kind of understand how God wants to move with us.
00:05:50.425 --> 00:05:52.185
And that comes out of a relationship.
00:05:52.425 --> 00:05:57.385
Let's continue here. In Acts 8, 29 through 30, the Spirit told Philip,
00:05:57.605 --> 00:06:00.865
go to the chariot and stay there. Then Philip ran.
00:06:01.285 --> 00:06:04.665
Because Philip didn't hesitate because he was in the Spirit,
00:06:05.045 --> 00:06:08.725
the voice was familiar and not foreign to him.
00:06:09.125 --> 00:06:14.405
And that's what happened when you walk with God daily. You start moving without overthinking.
00:06:14.585 --> 00:06:17.445
You don't second guess. you respond.
00:06:18.065 --> 00:06:23.985
So we see here three different people respond to the Spirit in three different
00:06:23.985 --> 00:06:26.825
ways, but it's still the same Spirit.
00:06:27.065 --> 00:06:30.725
We got Revelation where he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,
00:06:30.765 --> 00:06:32.625
and we read the book of Revelation.
00:06:32.625 --> 00:06:37.965
We see, we don't know what happened before the recording started with John in
00:06:37.965 --> 00:06:42.185
the book of Revelation, but he says, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.
00:06:42.185 --> 00:06:47.205
So we knew that in that time that everything he saw that happened in the heavenly
00:06:47.205 --> 00:06:48.985
realm, he was in the spirit.
00:06:50.105 --> 00:06:54.805
Ezekiel stayed in the spirit. Everything he saw and done was in the spirit.
00:06:55.325 --> 00:07:00.385
And we see here that Acts and Philip, Philip heard the word of the Lord and
00:07:00.385 --> 00:07:01.945
what? He was in the spirit.
00:07:02.105 --> 00:07:07.025
So we see there's a hearing in the spirit, but there's a natural action in the natural.
00:07:07.225 --> 00:07:14.785
So we hear and then we do. We hear and then we do. And I love that Acts 8, 29 through 30.
00:07:14.965 --> 00:07:18.785
I want to just take a moment because that was just a quick blurb.
00:07:19.025 --> 00:07:23.645
And if you don't have your Bibles, that's okay. I will read it.
00:07:23.745 --> 00:07:28.885
And I'm just pulling it out now because I felt like I should read it now. Let me find it.
00:07:31.145 --> 00:07:39.525
And it's in the book of Acts, verses 29, chapter 8, verses 29.
00:07:40.805 --> 00:07:46.385
That's in the NIV. Let me find the right translation. I'm going to probably read it in the NLT.
00:07:46.685 --> 00:07:50.445
But we're going to do an... Oh, we better find the right translation. NIV.
00:07:51.085 --> 00:07:53.805
So, the NIV.
00:07:55.065 --> 00:08:03.065
Okay. All right, this is, I'm recording it as I'm doing it, so sorry for the silence.
00:08:03.625 --> 00:08:05.645
We'll go back to NLT.
00:08:06.285 --> 00:08:09.105
It just came now, International.
00:08:13.075 --> 00:08:21.755
Okay, here we go. We got the New National Version, and it's going to be verses 29 and 30.
00:08:22.235 --> 00:08:27.375
And we see here that he ran. He did it immediately because he was familiar.
00:08:27.635 --> 00:08:32.775
It said, the Holy Spirit told Philip, go to that chariot, stand near it.
00:08:32.975 --> 00:08:36.415
Verse 30, it says, so Philip ran up to the chariot.
00:08:36.895 --> 00:08:40.115
He heard the man reading Isaiah, the prophet.
00:08:40.655 --> 00:08:44.095
Do you understand what you're reading? Philip asked. So right away,
00:08:44.135 --> 00:08:45.975
he knew that God was speaking to him.
00:08:46.115 --> 00:08:51.155
So as you pray in the spirit, you get very familiar to what the voice,
00:08:51.475 --> 00:08:54.295
familiar with the voice of God.
00:08:54.515 --> 00:08:59.635
And so you don't have to ask, is that you give me scripture to support that? You know, that's him.
00:08:59.855 --> 00:09:04.015
So you saw Philip says, he heard the spirit of the Lord say something.
00:09:04.215 --> 00:09:05.675
He responded immediately.
00:09:05.955 --> 00:09:09.035
Let's go to first Corinthians two verses 10 through 14.
00:09:09.555 --> 00:09:12.695
I won't look that one up. So the Spirit searches all things,
00:09:12.855 --> 00:09:14.475
even the deep things of God.
00:09:14.715 --> 00:09:19.255
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the
00:09:19.255 --> 00:09:23.655
Spirit of God because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
00:09:23.775 --> 00:09:25.875
We see we're still talking spiritual things.
00:09:26.015 --> 00:09:28.355
And how do you understand spiritual things?
00:09:28.555 --> 00:09:32.915
You have to be able to read your Bible because when God speaks to you.
00:09:33.855 --> 00:09:36.575
He's speaking directly from His Word, right?
00:09:36.735 --> 00:09:41.895
So let me break this down. You can't discern spiritual truth from a carnal space.
00:09:42.155 --> 00:09:48.075
Carnal means in your own flesh. You can't expect deep revelation when you live on the surface.
00:09:48.635 --> 00:09:56.055
The spirit is where we access mysteries, strategies, and timings.
00:09:56.295 --> 00:09:59.835
If we stay shallow, we may stay stuck.
00:10:00.295 --> 00:10:04.395
No, we stay stuck. So let's kind of do a quick review.
00:10:04.575 --> 00:10:09.675
I went through that really quick. We talk about hearing, staying in the spirit.
00:10:10.464 --> 00:10:17.084
It says, in the Spirit is the place where God speaks. So we see here in Revelation, God spoke to John.
00:10:17.284 --> 00:10:20.104
We see in Ezekiel, God spoke to Ezekiel.
00:10:20.364 --> 00:10:25.504
In Acts, God spoke to Philip. And here in 1 Corinthians, he's speaking to us.
00:10:25.644 --> 00:10:30.104
He says, the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
00:10:30.364 --> 00:10:34.664
The person without the Spirit does not accept things that come from the Spirit
00:10:34.664 --> 00:10:38.584
of God, because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
00:10:38.584 --> 00:10:43.204
So he's telling us that when we become spiritually discerning,
00:10:43.364 --> 00:10:49.304
that we can really understand the mysteries, the strategies, and the timing of God.
00:10:49.464 --> 00:10:55.064
But if we stay in a carnal place, we will only understand the surface things.
00:10:55.264 --> 00:10:59.944
And when we only understand the surface things, that we will stay stuck.
00:11:00.284 --> 00:11:02.364
So what does that mean to you?
00:11:03.004 --> 00:11:07.604
It says being in the Spirit is not a church moment. A lot of times we think
00:11:07.604 --> 00:11:12.424
that we'll have that moment in the church and we have to be at church to have that feeling again.
00:11:12.924 --> 00:11:16.064
No, it happens in your daily realm.
00:11:16.224 --> 00:11:22.904
As you pray in the Spirit, you can begin to discern every single day.
00:11:23.064 --> 00:11:28.024
Most of the time that I'm writing my devotionals or I'm praying, I'm at home.
00:11:28.284 --> 00:11:33.804
We're only at church, if you really calculate it, maybe four hours a week if you're serving.
00:11:34.504 --> 00:11:37.304
And if you work at the church, that's a different story. But if you're serving,
00:11:37.464 --> 00:11:40.744
you're getting there maybe 20 minutes ahead. The service is about an hour and a half.
00:11:40.864 --> 00:11:43.664
So you're two hours, two hours, and that's it.
00:11:43.824 --> 00:11:48.364
So if you're waiting to have a spiritual moment at the church out of all the
00:11:48.364 --> 00:11:51.284
other times in your daily life, then you're really missing it.
00:11:51.624 --> 00:11:57.084
God wants to be part of your life 24-7 all the time, not just at church.
00:11:57.264 --> 00:12:01.584
He wants to be part of your life 24-7 every single day.
00:12:02.353 --> 00:12:07.033
Another thing you want to know is that it's not just goosebump in the worship music.
00:12:07.893 --> 00:12:11.133
It happens. When does it happen? Yeah, we get those feelings,
00:12:11.173 --> 00:12:13.753
but it's also based on your availability.
00:12:13.793 --> 00:12:17.373
Are you available for God on a 24-7 round?
00:12:17.933 --> 00:12:21.193
Yes, it can happen at the church, but can it happen to you daily?
00:12:21.453 --> 00:12:25.273
Yes, it can happen when the worship music is playing, but are you available?
00:12:25.533 --> 00:12:29.113
It can even happen at church and you're not available, right?
00:12:29.113 --> 00:12:34.193
So it's the posture that says, Lord, I'll go where you lead,
00:12:34.393 --> 00:12:37.813
even if you just whisper it.
00:12:38.093 --> 00:12:43.533
That means being available, being in tune to the spiritual realm when God just whispers.
00:12:44.213 --> 00:12:50.693
Many times God whispers to me and maybe to you at the least convenient moment.
00:12:51.073 --> 00:12:55.873
He's giving you the answer to a question that you had at the time where you're
00:12:55.873 --> 00:12:58.413
not even expecting him to even talk to you.
00:12:59.113 --> 00:13:03.133
But he's still thinking about that, that question that you had in prayer.
00:13:03.393 --> 00:13:07.933
But he picks a time and he speaks to you that answer.
00:13:08.093 --> 00:13:12.553
It's just a powerful time because you are available. You're waiting.
00:13:12.873 --> 00:13:16.433
Even though you're still going about your daily business, you're driving to
00:13:16.433 --> 00:13:20.833
work, you're on your way to do whatever you need to do that particular day,
00:13:21.553 --> 00:13:24.113
you're still available spiritually.
00:13:24.553 --> 00:13:26.493
And that's when God speaks.
00:13:27.253 --> 00:13:31.753
You could be washing, doing dishes, and you get a download. You could be walking
00:13:31.753 --> 00:13:34.873
into work, and you get a nudge, and you pause.
00:13:35.413 --> 00:13:39.413
This is the life in the Spirit. This is what the life of the Spirit looks like.
00:13:39.573 --> 00:13:42.253
It's your availability to God.
00:13:42.733 --> 00:13:44.593
It looks different to everyone.
00:13:45.628 --> 00:13:49.808
You don't just chase moments. You walk in that movement.
00:13:50.528 --> 00:13:54.968
God just wants to see if you're available. And one thing that I do is,
00:13:55.208 --> 00:14:00.108
and this can be the oddest times, we know that, I like to say this,
00:14:00.228 --> 00:14:01.668
our mind can play tricks on us.
00:14:02.068 --> 00:14:06.828
Once I get that nudge, I go write it down. I grab my pencil, I write it down.
00:14:07.008 --> 00:14:11.788
Then I transfer it to my journal so I can keep track of what God is saying.
00:14:12.368 --> 00:14:16.708
Because many times it is an answer to what we've been waiting for.
00:14:17.428 --> 00:14:20.968
And a lot of times for me, it's like I wanted to, maybe I want,
00:14:21.048 --> 00:14:25.348
I'll give you one example. I wanted to buy a camera because I want to go live.
00:14:25.868 --> 00:14:32.548
I'm going live on Twitch, Dyer of Black Women TV, DOBW TV coming in July.
00:14:32.688 --> 00:14:36.168
And I wanted the right camera, but I also wanted the right price.
00:14:36.788 --> 00:14:40.168
Can we just be real? And so I'm sitting there one day and I'm thinking like,
00:14:40.308 --> 00:14:42.968
okay, I looked around. And I said, okay, this is that price.
00:14:43.388 --> 00:14:46.628
And I'm waiting for it to, is that a good deal? I wait, I wait.
00:14:46.708 --> 00:14:49.368
And I just kind of look around. I'm a shopper, online shopper.
00:14:49.908 --> 00:14:52.668
And all of a sudden the Lord said, today I want you to buy that camera.
00:14:53.148 --> 00:14:54.848
And I'm like, where, which one?
00:14:55.268 --> 00:15:00.488
Boom, that's the one. And I'll go buy it. Boom, it's happened to be on sale that particular day.
00:15:01.348 --> 00:15:04.988
And it was, you know, it's like happened to be on sale that particular day at
00:15:04.988 --> 00:15:08.428
that particular price. Not that God is on a budget, but you are.
00:15:10.428 --> 00:15:14.828
So he says that's it right there buy it today those little things,
00:15:16.082 --> 00:15:19.862
Paying attention to those things, the timing of when, right?
00:15:20.382 --> 00:15:22.522
Are you available when he speaks?
00:15:23.182 --> 00:15:26.082
Even it happens when it's time to buy clothes. I'd be like, I'm going to buy
00:15:26.082 --> 00:15:27.622
these clothes. And he said, not today.
00:15:27.942 --> 00:15:32.362
Then I'll say, buy them today. And I'll go back and somehow you leave them in
00:15:32.362 --> 00:15:35.902
that basket and something there on sale and they might be half price.
00:15:36.382 --> 00:15:40.062
And I'm like, whoa, I didn't know they were going to go on sale. But God did.
00:15:40.562 --> 00:15:42.922
Just paying attention to those things.
00:15:44.322 --> 00:15:48.702
Yes, he's concerned about the spiritual things, but he knows you live in the
00:15:48.702 --> 00:15:50.502
natural, the natural world.
00:15:50.622 --> 00:15:54.862
And so he will give you, I call the hookup in the natural world.
00:15:55.142 --> 00:16:00.682
It's all about the availability, walking in the spirit and being available to God.
00:16:01.122 --> 00:16:03.422
You know, he hooks you up everywhere.
00:16:04.022 --> 00:16:09.022
So when real life meets revelation, have you ever had that one time moment?
00:16:09.642 --> 00:16:14.702
And this is a moment that I remember when you know you have this delay.
00:16:14.822 --> 00:16:19.222
I'm going to give this story, but it happens to us when we have this delayed moment,
00:16:19.802 --> 00:16:27.042
but it becomes a moment of, dang, you didn't expect it, but you get this blessing
00:16:27.042 --> 00:16:30.482
because you happen to be at the right place at the right time.
00:16:30.842 --> 00:16:34.502
And so I'll tell you this quick story. A woman once told me that she felt led
00:16:34.502 --> 00:16:37.662
to stay home one morning instead of rushing out.
00:16:38.262 --> 00:16:41.362
Nothing dramatic happened, no lightning bolt, no booming voice.
00:16:41.602 --> 00:16:46.242
But around 9.30 a.m., she got a phone call offering her a position she thought she had lost.
00:16:46.982 --> 00:16:51.162
The person on the other hand said, I'm glad you answered. I was about to call someone else.
00:16:51.582 --> 00:16:55.362
If she hadn't slowed down, she would have missed her opportunity.
00:16:55.862 --> 00:17:00.202
And so those little nudges of a slowdown, those little nudges of when you pray
00:17:00.202 --> 00:17:03.642
and God says, can you sit here just for another few moments?
00:17:04.442 --> 00:17:09.182
Or maybe he doesn't even say that. You just sense that, I don't sense I need to go.
00:17:09.522 --> 00:17:13.682
I sense I just need to just be here in His presence now.
00:17:14.062 --> 00:17:15.822
Right now, I'm not ready to go.
00:17:16.222 --> 00:17:22.422
You know, can you do that? Can you just slow your pace just for a few minutes
00:17:22.422 --> 00:17:24.222
to spend a little bit more time with God?
00:17:24.482 --> 00:17:28.002
He might have something extra for you.
00:17:28.622 --> 00:17:31.362
So being in the Spirit isn't about volume.
00:17:32.142 --> 00:17:36.482
It isn't about location. It's about your posture.
00:17:37.002 --> 00:17:40.122
What is your posture in the Spirit?
00:17:40.462 --> 00:17:44.822
Are you always available to hear from God?
00:17:45.082 --> 00:17:49.902
We spoke in the last episode about praying in the Spirit, seeing in the Spirit.
00:17:50.442 --> 00:17:56.762
And even though you might have prayed in the morning, He might show you this vision in your dream.
00:17:56.962 --> 00:18:00.882
He might show you the vision as you're on your way to work. But are you available
00:18:00.882 --> 00:18:05.562
or do you go into prayer and then you pray and then when you're done,
00:18:05.742 --> 00:18:07.122
you turn them off for the day?
00:18:07.562 --> 00:18:10.842
So learning how to stay plugged in throughout the day.
00:18:11.978 --> 00:18:17.618
I think that's powerful. And I think we just covered nice long episode series
00:18:17.618 --> 00:18:19.178
of the games we play with God.
00:18:19.538 --> 00:18:23.838
And this is a whole different tone. Even my voice seems different.
00:18:24.078 --> 00:18:27.058
It's like God wants us to stay plugged into him.
00:18:27.238 --> 00:18:31.478
We're done playing games. But he said, if you can just stay plugged into me,
00:18:31.698 --> 00:18:35.798
you're going to see a whole different side of you through me.
00:18:36.118 --> 00:18:42.358
A whole different side of him through you. So it works both ways. Right.
00:18:42.758 --> 00:18:46.698
So let's just pause and just reflect for a moment. So here are some things you
00:18:46.698 --> 00:18:50.098
can think about, some prompts you can kind of add on later.
00:18:50.518 --> 00:18:57.898
So, so am I, you can ask yourself, am I walking in the spirit or just rushing past him in prayer?
00:18:58.478 --> 00:19:02.478
And I laugh because, you know, I just had a quick vision. You going into prayer,
00:19:02.858 --> 00:19:06.838
Jesus is there, you know, in the spirit waiting for you.
00:19:07.058 --> 00:19:11.718
You rush You don't even talk to Jesus. You're talking around him like we just mentioned.
00:19:11.938 --> 00:19:15.138
You don't even say hello to Jesus. You just kind of run in there,
00:19:15.318 --> 00:19:17.438
say your three words, and you're out.
00:19:17.718 --> 00:19:19.918
And Jesus is sitting there looking, shaking his head.
00:19:20.398 --> 00:19:25.618
Boom, you're gone. What is your response in the spirit? Do you wait for a response?
00:19:25.658 --> 00:19:27.178
Or do you just pop in and pop out?
00:19:27.798 --> 00:19:32.598
What areas of life have you rushed in that you need to surrender?
00:19:32.858 --> 00:19:37.438
Because many times when we stay in the presence of God long enough,
00:19:37.878 --> 00:19:39.958
There are some things we have to give up.
00:19:40.298 --> 00:19:43.638
And if you're like me, sleep is going to be one of those. You're going to get
00:19:43.638 --> 00:19:44.918
up early and you're going to pray.
00:19:45.698 --> 00:19:48.518
You're going to have to give up some food. You're going to have to fast.
00:19:48.798 --> 00:19:52.298
You're going to give up a lot of things walking in the spirit.
00:19:52.918 --> 00:19:55.918
You'll find out that you're not that hungry as you thought you once were.
00:19:56.478 --> 00:19:59.138
You're more hungry for the spiritual things of the Lord.
00:19:59.718 --> 00:20:07.178
And the third one, what would my days be like if I truly waited on divine direction?
00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:13.119
And, yeah, what would it look like? What would it be like if I waited on divine direction?
00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:19.279
You're just zigzagging all around all the time, and you're not really getting
00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.139
nothing done, but you look like you're busy.
00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:27.059
You look like you are busy, but you're not getting nothing done.
00:20:27.699 --> 00:20:32.619
What would it look like if you just asked for direction? I always start my prayer off.
00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:36.939
Lord, thank you for this day that you have made, and I will rejoice and be glad
00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:39.359
in it. So that means I'm not going to walk in a fence today.
00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:43.679
I'm not going to look at people differently. I'm going to walk in gladness today.
00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:47.239
Then I ask you, Lord, to order my steps, and my steps be ordered,
00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:48.659
and let my day be productive.
00:20:49.699 --> 00:20:53.899
And then what else is on your mind? I want to pray your perfect will be done
00:20:53.899 --> 00:21:00.399
today in my life and in the lives of others that you have that's going to come in connecting with me.
00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:05.759
And that's been my new prayer for 2025. I don't think it sounds the same like that every day.
00:21:06.439 --> 00:21:11.219
But lately, with my new job that I've had, led two people to Christ.
00:21:11.479 --> 00:21:14.439
Did I do that in any other job? My police job, I did.
00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:21.059
But I'm one-on-one with these people, and they're either coming from jail or going to another spot.
00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:24.599
And I always ask them, I said, what's your story?
00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:29.779
Are you interested in meeting Jesus? And they can say yes or no. I don't press it.
00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:35.379
And most of the time, they are. And so there's two people, destination heaven.
00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.659
One person, Destination Heaven,
00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:42.439
he decided that he wanted to cut off his bracelet and just be free.
00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:48.599
But the Lord told me it's not my responsibility to be concerned with after I
00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.979
pray what happens to them.
00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:52.919
My prayer is that they meet to heaven.
00:21:53.499 --> 00:21:58.339
Anything between what happens after that is on, it's the responsibility of the Lord.
00:21:58.899 --> 00:22:02.619
A lot of times I think we, well, this is extra. This is coming up off the press.
00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:06.799
A lot of times we believe that when we lead someone to Christianity,
00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:10.799
that we've got to hold their hand and we're responsible for them.
00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:16.039
We may be, if we're in a position, if we are a discipleship of them and God
00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:19.219
has put us in that role in their lives.
00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:26.979
But if we are not, our goal is to introduce them to Jesus and let Jesus do the work.
00:22:27.499 --> 00:22:32.839
And we know that when we first became saved as a Christian, did we run and do all the holy things?
00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:39.059
We got to be real. So let's not be holding people hostage or in bondage because
00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:43.299
of what we know now. We didn't know that when we were saved.
00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:48.119
Let's plant the seed. Somebody else is going to water it. Amen?
00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:51.419
So that's good. That's good. That's good. Let's keep going.
00:22:52.560 --> 00:22:54.680
So I want you to write this in your journal if you have a moment.
00:22:55.040 --> 00:22:58.660
Holy Spirit, I want to dwell, not visit.
00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:04.320
Interrupt my pace, correct my hearing, and anchor my heart in you.
00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:09.980
Holy Spirit, I want to dwell, not visit.
00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:15.580
Interrupt my pace, correct my hearing, and anchor my heart. I want to share
00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:16.860
with you how that's going to feel.
00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:22.560
So for those who does the, I call it the popcorn prayer, Hello,
00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.780
Lord. Thank you for this day. Can you bless me? Bye.
00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:29.800
Those kind of popcorn prayers. Just, Lord, can you bless me? Help me.
00:23:30.020 --> 00:23:34.200
Like Jabez. Jabez, to me, I believe, prayed a popcorn prayer.
00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:38.800
But we don't know what he was doing before that day. We don't know what he did after that day.
00:23:39.020 --> 00:23:44.480
But he wanted God to be with him. What he did say, Lord, let your prayer I prayed
00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:47.100
in the beginning, put your hand upon me.
00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:51.600
You know, keep me from evil that I may not sin against you.
00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:59.760
So he wanted to partner with God with his life, right? And so we want to partner with God for our life.
00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:05.320
So as you, if you are a popcorn prayer and you don't know how to sit in his
00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:09.760
presence, I recommend you even just put a timer on. Everybody got a phone.
00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:16.440
Set your little timer. Pray a prayer. Ask God to lead you somewhere and listen
00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:18.280
quietly to that still, small voice.
00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:23.720
Take that scripture he gives you and just marinate on it. Meditate on it all day long.
00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:30.480
Ask him to expand it in your heart and watch how you grow in the spirit. Just by that.
00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:33.600
Don't try to do the big thing. I'm going to pray for an hour.
00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:35.660
I'm going to get up at five in the morning.
00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:39.220
I'm going to get up at three in the morning. Do the basic. One thing you're
00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:46.020
going to find out from God, he's not going to force you, but he will definitely lead you.
00:24:46.020 --> 00:24:51.320
So you might start out getting up in the morning enough time to do a five-minute prayer. That's fair.
00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:57.440
Maybe five-minute prayer, five-minute wait, and maybe five minutes to maybe write down what he said.
00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:59.900
That's 15 minutes extra on your show.
00:25:00.300 --> 00:25:04.440
And then once you get going, then pretty soon you'll be setting the time because
00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:07.240
you're going to be like, I need more time. It's not enough time.
00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:10.300
You'll see how that hunger begins to build.
00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:14.120
And then he might challenge you to set an hour.
00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:18.660
You'd be like, wow, I got to get up an hour early. And you're going to be surprised
00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:26.800
how your life changes because you have dedicated that morning time just to listen to him.
00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:31.880
Once again, Holy Spirit, I want to do well, not listen.
00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:37.720
Interrupt my pace, correct my hearing, and anchor my heart in you.
00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:41.040
I want to do this decree with you.
00:25:43.549 --> 00:25:47.529
I don't visit the Holy Spirit. I live in Him.
00:25:48.049 --> 00:25:53.209
My heart, my ears, I'm sorry. I don't visit the Holy Spirit. I live in Him.
00:25:53.509 --> 00:25:57.149
My ears are tuned. My heart is available.
00:25:57.649 --> 00:26:04.749
I welcome divine interruption. I move at heaven's pace. I am in a position.
00:26:05.329 --> 00:26:11.969
Whenever He whispers, move, or sits, I respond. Can I say that again?
00:26:12.729 --> 00:26:17.549
I don't visit the Spirit. I don't visit the Spirit. I live in Him.
00:26:17.829 --> 00:26:18.689
That's what you're saying.
00:26:19.069 --> 00:26:22.189
My ears are tuned. My heart is available.
00:26:22.649 --> 00:26:25.549
I welcome divine interruption.
00:26:26.249 --> 00:26:30.049
I move in hearts at heaven's pace.
00:26:30.529 --> 00:26:36.009
I love it. I move at heaven's pace. I am in a position, whether He whispers,
00:26:36.249 --> 00:26:38.849
move, or sits, I respond.
00:26:39.369 --> 00:26:43.409
I'm going to say it one more time. I don't know why this is so powerful. Three times is a winner.
00:26:43.989 --> 00:26:51.769
I don't visit the Holy Spirit. I live in Him. My ears are tuned. My heart is available.
00:26:52.229 --> 00:27:00.069
I welcome divine interruption. I move at heaven's pace. I am in a position.
00:27:00.509 --> 00:27:06.249
Whether He whispers, moves, or sits, I respond. Let's pray.
00:27:07.387 --> 00:27:11.707
Holy Spirit, I yield, not just today, but my life.
00:27:12.047 --> 00:27:16.647
I repent for walking by assumption instead of alignment.
00:27:17.127 --> 00:27:25.267
Teach me how to sit, how to hear, how to wait, how to move only when you say move.
00:27:25.707 --> 00:27:32.107
Make my life a sanctuary you're pleased to dwell in. I surrender my routine.
00:27:32.507 --> 00:27:34.287
I surrender my timing.
00:27:34.727 --> 00:27:39.627
Let me hear the whisper. Let me sense the pause.
00:27:40.007 --> 00:27:46.707
Let me keep me, I'm sorry, keep me in the spirit and never again attend.
00:27:47.467 --> 00:27:52.707
Never again content to be near, but not within.
00:27:53.087 --> 00:27:57.647
Let me hear the whisper. Let me sense the pause. Keep me in the spirit and never
00:27:57.647 --> 00:28:00.867
again content to be near, but not within.
00:28:01.167 --> 00:28:07.367
In Jesus name, amen. I hope this episode woke every something up in you.
00:28:08.127 --> 00:28:14.547
The Spirit is speaking. The Spirit is moving. You need to be in position.
00:28:14.987 --> 00:28:20.227
You need to be in position. Don't forget to subscribe and share this with a
00:28:20.227 --> 00:28:26.847
sister and join me for the next devotional, Discerning the War Behind the Delay.
00:28:27.107 --> 00:28:33.667
Until next time, stay aligned, stay available, and keep your eyes wide open.
00:28:34.127 --> 00:28:39.727
Allow me to pray the promises of Jeremiah 29, 11 through 14 over you.
00:28:40.207 --> 00:28:44.407
God knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you,
00:28:44.967 --> 00:28:46.727
plans to give you hope and a future.
00:28:47.007 --> 00:28:50.787
And when you seek him with all your heart, you will find him.
00:28:51.447 --> 00:28:56.827
He will bring you back from captivity and restore everything that was lost.
00:28:57.567 --> 00:29:04.167
Hold on. Your healing, your clarity, your breakthrough are closer than you think.
00:29:04.507 --> 00:29:08.467
This is more than a podcast. It's a return to God's plan for your life.
00:29:08.707 --> 00:29:10.727
Let's keep walking it out together.
00:29:11.267 --> 00:29:17.427
Stay connected with the website, www.diaryofblackwomenllc.com,
00:29:17.647 --> 00:29:21.267
and watch out for Twitch TV,
00:29:22.007 --> 00:29:26.367
Diary of Black Women TV, D-O-B-W-T-V, that's coming in July.
00:29:27.407 --> 00:29:30.747
Look forward to seeing you soon on our next episode. Goodbye.