Blog - Yolanda Gray

This time…

June 13, 2023 By Yolanda Gray Leave a Comment

Have you ever signed up for something you know is exactly what you need to get you to wherever you want to be, whatever it is you want to experience—a lifetime dream, a long-term goal?

You are so excited knowing that this program or plan will finally take you to your goals—personally or professionally?

You may have been this way before and never quite achieved the desired results. Okay, you quit. But this time, you tell yourself, it’s going to work.

This time it will be different.

Sure, there was a big-money investment (and money was tight), and the amount of time required would cost you. You may have to put other activities (even people) aside for a while. But it would be worth it!

Then, something happened.

And doesn’t it always happen? You blast off like a rocket, and halfway to the target, you lose propulsion. You begin to feel the tug back down to where you started.

Those voices start up again.

The ones that tell you, “Stop, don’t do it, you always start and never finish, it’s a waste of money, you’re ignoring the relationship….” You sense that feeling again of giving in, giving up. It’s just too hard.

And, so you stop.

You begin the descent back to earth, to reality, where you are comfortable–comfortably miserable.

But the longing for that thing doesn’t leave.

I know—I lived in fear of the future, maintaining the status quo, listening to the voices keeping me from God-implanted dreams. Finally, I realized that the only voice I needed to listen to was Holy Spirit. And then I had to commit to the process—putting my hand to plow, no looking back. (Luke 9:62)

Begin again; hand to the plow:

Pray each day to get clear and stay focused on the vision—Habakkuk 2:2-3
Believe by faith for God’s perfect wisdom and His outcome (Isaiah 48:17)
Have courage; take action. (Joshua 1:9)
Get help for the guidance and strategy you need to see the plan through (Proverbs 15:22)
Don’t give up! Never give up! (Galatians 6:9)

What the Lord is calling you to will stay in your mind and heart.

If you are frustrated by the starts and stops, determine to put your hand to that plow, and then get in the flow of God’s wisdom, grace and guidance.

Beyond the Pivot of Post-Pandemic Times

May 11, 2023 By Yolanda Gray Leave a Comment

The post-covid years have brought residual changes. It’s good that we are back to socializing, being with friends, and fellowship in our church, no longer confined by the lockdowns. That’s good.

Some of the changes we are experiencing today may not be so good.

The world is different; it isn’t business as usual.

We aren’t going back to normal.

The intensity of learning to navigate these new times has left some overwhelmed and anxious.

While we learned to “pivot” in our resilience and resourcefulness during the crisis, it still takes a toll on our bodies, our minds, and our souls.

In the continual call to shift or “pivot” into the new, have you found that you lack the sustained motivation to keep going?

Do you feel burnt out?

Do you wonder, “What’s wrong with me? Am I lazy? Am I just a procrastinator? Everyone else seems to be doing okay.”

We can all suffer at times from the lack of focus, drive, and energy to keep going no matter what we experience in life—pandemic or post-times. No matter our physical and mental stamina.

Each one of us handles conflict, crisis, and change differently.

What transpired over the last almost four years changed all of us, and certainly, it changed our lives.

What hasn’t changed is your identity in Christ, your God-given purpose, and all the resources you have to rise above the world’s drama.

I work diligently to remember who I am, whose I am, and where I’m going. Prayer, meditation, and putting my body where it needs to be–it can be challenging to take the right action.

Sustained motivation presents challenges, but like all mountains, it (you) can be moved. (Matthew 17:20)

Where are you these days? Moving mountains or staring at them?

All Is Not Lost

April 13, 2023 By Yolanda Gray Leave a Comment

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, I wondered how many followers thought, “Is this it? Has everything– He was, the teachings, the healings, the power of His love—been lost?

Has death finally overtaken the Promise of the new life Jesus shared with us?

Looking around at the never-ending onslaught of bad news, I sometimes wonder, has all been lost?

Then I think it feels like it.

We see humanity’s struggles every day in the fear-invoking news reels.

Confusion, hopelessness, grief, and wondering, has all been lost?

Is it too late?

How am I supposed to live in a world not of my making?

Where are you, God?

You promised us a deliverer. You promised us Hope, new life, and abundance!

Thankfully, for us who believe, we look beyond what’s happening in the natural. We know why it’s happening and Who is in charge.

As believers, we don’t see in with a natural life-death perspective

We know that all things are working together for our good according to HIS PLAN. (Read Romans 8)
That is the PROMISE. ALL IS NOT LOST.

So how do we live in the Promise (John 10:10)?

More than any other time in the history of this world, this should be top of mind in our hearts and souls. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Fighting Fear is a Spiritual Battle

January 31, 2023 By Yolanda Gray Leave a Comment

Recently, I woke up with these words: “Move forward, unafraid.”

I went to Isaiah 41:10 and these words jumped out, “Fear not!”

Then I opened my devotional for the daily reading, and there it was, “Move forward, unafraid!”

I know this word was for me, but not only for me.

Fear is a spirit instilled in us from the devil to keep us from moving out into an abundant, purpose-filled, and power-filled life.

Fear unhealed can look like procrastination, lack of motivation, and low-grade sadness, causing doubt and despair.

Fear is probably one of the single biggest obstacles to peace, joy, and all that Jesus died to give us.

Getting rid of fear doesn’t mean “feel the fear and do it anyway.”

As Christians, we are not to be in fear.

My dear sister in Christ reminded me that God’s “perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18). We lean into the word—the truth. Our Father loves us. We tell the Truth to the lie.

“Fear not,” God said, “I am with you, I will strengthen you, I’ll help you, I’ve got you.” (my paraphrase) Isaiah 41:10

When fear arises, we tell it to go until peace comes.

Oftentimes we may have been “out there” on our own trying to control everything and everyone, fearful that things won’t go our way. This is sin; we can get to the root, repent and get right with the Lord again.

Our transformation from overcoming fear changes EVERYTHING!

I know. I’ve been delivered from panic attacks caused by incapacitating fear I lived with for years.

Remember, “God has not given us a spirit of fear.” So, you know where it comes from.

Cast it out!

Don’t spend another day in fear.

If you struggle with debilitating fear, worry, and overwhelm, reach out, get help, get free.

Forgetting the past, looking to the future

January 10, 2023 By Yolanda Gray Leave a Comment

The often-quoted passage of Paul writing to the Philippians that he is “forgetting those things which are behind” has been shared to encourage us to let go of the things of the past.

What things?

In verses four through 11, Paul speaks of his credentials, his standing in the Jewish community, all he had known before He met Jesus, and what he calls “inferior stuff.” He now dedicated his life to knowing only Christ and everything God had for him, “the upward call.” (v.15-16)

We often point to this passage as leaving our past in the past—it’s done and over. And this is true. As we repent and turn to God, our history becomes inconsequential to the Lord’s higher purpose for us. We are new in Him. (Isaiah 66:22, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

We don’t bring the past into our present or future unless there is some use in it to keep us on track or show others the Way.

We can do this through the spiritual discipline of Reflection. You can listen to a video where I shared on this subject. Click here.

Reflecting on the past is different than ruminating on it.

Reflecting can be a powerful tool in guiding us ahead purposefully in faith.

It can help us stay focused on the Lord and His leadership in our daily lives.

Take some time to look at the past year.

• What did you plan at the beginning of the year?
• What happened as the months went by?
• How did you respond?
• What did you learn?
• How will the past year affect (or not) the new year?

Reflecting on the past year can show us what we learned from the past and reorient ourselves to True North—what Paul called the prize—on the right track to life in Christ.

You can go to my Facebook Group—#takebackyourlife—to hear the short video I shared on Reflection.