Have you ever felt lost amidst life's tumultuous waves, yearning for a beacon to guide you? That's where Savannah Grant and I come in, wielding the illuminating wisdom of Scripture to chart a course toward divine clarity. In our stirring exchange, we unravel the intimate dance of wisdom, discernment, and faith, intertwining personal tales with biblical narratives to shine a light on the necessity of seeking God's direction in every crevice of existence. From threading the delicate fibers of relationships to braving the storm of slander and trials, our dialogue serves as a testament to the unshakable power of divine insight in bestowing peace and protection.
Navigating life's intricacies can often feel like deciphering an enigmatic puzzle, but with the Word of God as our compass, the path becomes clear. This episode delves into the heart of human emotions, unmasking the snares of envy and resentment through the lens of stories as ancient as Cain and Abel, and as contemporary as Salima and her daughter. We dissect how Scripture, like a mirror to our souls, reveals our hidden flaws and equips us with the fortitude to face our inner battles. It's a conversation that rekindles the flame of faith, urging us to anchor our actions in the teachings of the Bible, to be swift to hear, measured in speech, and brimming with grace.
As we bid adieu, Savannah Grant and I leave you with a benediction of self-worth and an invitation to embrace the jubilation and radiance you rightfully deserve. This episode is a clarion call to recognize the divine brilliance within, to let it cast out shadows of doubt and negativity. So, take a moment to pause, reflect, and allow our words to wash over you, planting seeds of joy and expectation for the bountiful prospects of the month ahead. Join us for a spiritual journey that promises not just conversation but a transformation, infusing your spirit with resolve and guiding you to step into the fullness of your divine purpose.
Have you ever felt lost amidst life's tumultuous waves, yearning for a beacon to guide you? That's where Savannah Grant and I come in, wielding the illuminating wisdom of Scripture to chart a course toward divine clarity. In our stirring exchange, we unravel the intimate dance of wisdom, discernment, and faith, intertwining personal tales with biblical narratives to shine a light on the necessity of seeking God's direction in every crevice of existence. From threading the delicate fibers of relationships to braving the storm of slander and trials, our dialogue serves as a testament to the unshakable power of divine insight in bestowing peace and protection.
Navigating life's intricacies can often feel like deciphering an enigmatic puzzle, but with the Word of God as our compass, the path becomes clear. This episode delves into the heart of human emotions, unmasking the snares of envy and resentment through the lens of stories as ancient as Cain and Abel, and as contemporary as Salima and her daughter. We dissect how Scripture, like a mirror to our souls, reveals our hidden flaws and equips us with the fortitude to face our inner battles. It's a conversation that rekindles the flame of faith, urging us to anchor our actions in the teachings of the Bible, to be swift to hear, measured in speech, and brimming with grace.
As we bid adieu, Savannah Grant and I leave you with a benediction of self-worth and an invitation to embrace the jubilation and radiance you rightfully deserve. This episode is a clarion call to recognize the divine brilliance within, to let it cast out shadows of doubt and negativity. So, take a moment to pause, reflect, and allow our words to wash over you, planting seeds of joy and expectation for the bountiful prospects of the month ahead. Join us for a spiritual journey that promises not just conversation but a transformation, infusing your spirit with resolve and guiding you to step into the fullness of your divine purpose.
new, new, new, everything new, new, new, new, new, new, everything new. I'm ready to go. Hello, it is stephanie l harrison and you are now listening into inside beauty inspires, where we motivate, encourage and inspire through biblical principles. I'm so excited about this show. I'm so excited about the reviews. I'm so, so excited because I have Savannah Grant in the studio with me again this weekend. Savannah, tell the listeners what's up, what's up.
Speaker 2:Hello everyone, I hope you've had a wonderful week so far and just stay tuned for a word from God. I hope and pray that it blesses your heart and your spirit and your soul. Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:We're going to jump into this word. So you know, last week we talked about Proverbs, right, and we know that Proverbs is such an important piece of the puzzle. I feel this way so strongly because I feel like it's important to have wisdom. You know, anytime that we're navigating throughout life, wisdom is the most important piece of the puzzle, wouldn't you say so? Yes, most definitely, it's imperative now tell me in your, in your own words, savannah, like why do you think wisdom is important to have?
Speaker 2:for me. I feel like wisdom is important to have, so not just to navigate you through everyday life. But, as we know, the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, and he comes in many forms. Yes, so we need to have enough wisdom to discern who people really are. Yes, I agree.
Speaker 1:I agree. I think that when we started opening it up in January to the book of Proverbs, something shifted and something happened, you know, because again we want to take people at face value. True story, you know. We want to believe that people are who they say they are. But you have to have discernment. You have to have wisdom to know who sent who.
Speaker 1:I say it often on the prayer call. I'll shout out to the ladies of ISI we do get up every morning at 6 am to study God's word. It's helping us navigate through life. But when the enemy wants to destroy you, he's going to send a person. And when God wants to propel you to that next level, he's going to send a person. And you have to have wisdom to know who sent who. You know, I think about your story and I think about how you know the prophet did tell you not to come back and how you know, even despite all of that, it had to happen. We know that to be true. However, you know, it's almost like one of those things where if, even, even if you don't get it right, god is going to still use that to show you and teach you. So I look at those opportunities and situations as learning, learning curves. You know, to be honest with you because, because you know, when he wants to teach us things, we go through it by experience.
Speaker 1:it's the best teacher yes, it is most definitely and so like, even with what, what we're doing now, you know, with you, telling your story with us, you know, tying the word into it. It truly does matter, because I can only imagine people are coming at you wanting to do interviews, wanting to speak to, wanting to speak to you, wanting to talk with you. You know, do you know? You do this? I know she does this job because she's my friend in real life. But do you use wisdom?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely I do I seek God for even that I have. People have reached out to me on Facebook, on Instagram, about doing different podcasts and different shows, and I always reply back. I have to pray first. Amen, amen I have to pray, I have to seek God, because some people have their own hidden agendas.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, and you know, I completely understand that I feel the same way, though you know I can't make moves without putting God in the midst of it. And what I want to let the listeners know today you know, as well as when we get into this word, that you don't want to make moves without God. You don't want to make moves without God. You have to add him to the equation of every aspect of your life. I'm talking about to the people that you have in your circle, to where you're going, you know vacationing, you know wherever you're doing in life. Whenever it comes down to you meeting the people, you need to talk to God. You must. You must consult your father so that he can give you a directive answer to show you which way to go. You know people say God don't speak, or people say they don't hear God, but Savannah, to me, god is speaking all the time, through nature, through music, through billboards, people aren't paying attention.
Speaker 2:Many forms, many forms. They're just not paying attention.
Speaker 1:They're not, they're not paying attention. They're not paying attention and it's disheartening because you know, when you don't pay attention you end up fumbling. You end up fumbling or forfeiting the game. Let's just say God had a position for you over here. If you don't pay attention to the plays, because here's the thing, he's going to ask you to run the play.
Speaker 1:I look at it like a playbook. I look at this Bible like a playbook. Right, and we have the instructions on how to run the place, right, and we don't know when life is going to throw a curveball or throw something at us that causes us to have to go back to this playbook. But when we get into this playbook, it's revealing to us the motives of people. It reveals to us the true nature of those you know, who you know. It's just all motives of people. It reveals to us the true nature of those you know, who you know. It's just, it's just all kinds of people out there in the world.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying. I mean and again, you know you went through this yeah, I followed your name being slandered. You know I'm going to just call it what it is slandered, with people not knowing the true story. You know I'm saying like, since you've been home as well and you've been on a prayer call and you've been in the Word, how has that been? You know, how do you see things now versus how you saw things then?
Speaker 2:So yesterday made four years that I've been home. I'm grateful, I'm grateful, I'm so grateful, and I was just writing in my journal yesterday about how good God is and how he's been. Although it't been easy, it's been obstacle after obstacle after obstacle. And through those obstacles, no matter how it feels or what I don't see, I have to have faith and being on the prayer call. I thank God for wisdom, I thank God for discernment, but it's just given me a peace and it's given me a joy. You know, just getting up every morning hearing the word of God, it kind of sets the mood the day for for me, no matter how I feel, he always reminds me of the goodness of him yes, he's so good, savannah.
Speaker 1:Um, I feel like since I've been seeking God's face, my life did change. It changed tremendously, and so, and so you know what I really truly want to give people like my heart posture is I want to show them that if he did it for me, he can do it for you too.
Speaker 2:Yes, most definitely he can do it for anyone. It's just not giving up.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:No matter what you're going through, and I have those days. I just had a day like that this week where I just had to completely shut myself off from people and things and seek God. And in the seeking he had to remind me. It was times in my life where I thought just everything was at its worst, but he always showed up.
Speaker 1:Girl, there's nothing like God coming to the rescue, sending someone, sending people to take care of, see about you, and it's something that you said. You said something that matters to me so much is faith. My faith matters, your faith matters, and I want people to understand that your faith truly does matter. When I think about faith, I think about how that it's almost like believing that God is trustworthy, believing that his word is true, believing that what you're reading isn't just some words in a book, but these words have power. You know, this week God gave me a word and it's been on me. It's been on me heavy. It was a Hebrews 4, verse 12. And it says the word of God is powerful's active and powerful, and I know this to be true. I'm going to read this scripture out out to you guys, because you know the reason why I want you guys to hear it here is I want you to understand what the word of God is really truly saying.
Speaker 1:Hebrews 4, verse 12. It says here for the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing souls and spirits, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him, to whom we must give an account. I don't think that we understand how powerful and real this word is. Now, that was the NIV. The New Living Translation says For the word of God is alive and powerful. Translation says for the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between marrow and joint. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires and this is the version that I read the other day. That really just pierced my soul, pierced my heart, because people really don't believe that the word does what it says it's going to do. But when I tell you, this word will let you know what's up. It's in the word, it's in the word.
Speaker 1:Before we jump into Hebrews any further, I want to read from this Devotional that I have, and it says Hatred and slander, hatred and slander, hatred. Whoever has hatred has lying lips and whoever spreads slander is a fool. Proverbs 10, verse 18. It says the condition of the heart is a big deal to God. He needs complete honesty for confessions of sin and repentance for it. 1 John 3, 15 says Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that noers has eternal life and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Solomon was also aware of the severe consequences of keeping hatred in your heart while professing otherwise with your mouth. If you are secretly resenting someone, come clean and confess it to God. He will walk you through the process of honest repentance. On the other hand, some people make no effort to hide the conditions of their hearts. These people slander and defame others without hesitation, and they are simply fools. Ultimately, proverbs spells out the consequences of being a fool, and that is death. Fool spread, eternity spent, eternity separated from God, it says. Father, reveal to me any secret hatred and animosity in my heart. Help me be completely honest with myself, but mostly with you, o Lord. May I depend upon you to forgive my sin for my eternal blessing. Now the Father sent me to this word.
Speaker 1:I wasn't going to read that, but hey, this is the page and landed on and I think that this is such an important page because you were slandered. Your name was slandered like you know it really was. It was drugged in my. I know. You know how this feels. It's never fun to hear someone slander your name and say false accusations against you when that wasn't the case at all. And it's surprising on how much the masses will believe a lie before they believe the truth. And I think about that with you because I've been there myself and it hurts. It does, because you know who you are, you know whose you are, but you know, I look at the entertainment and I see like right now what's happening, and we were pretty much. It was like propaganda. They put the things in front of our faces and made people think that it was one thing and the truth was it wasn't what it said it was. And so you know, even within that, god is revealing. I feel like this is the year of exposure.
Speaker 1:Weigh in on this and tell me what your thoughts are, because clearly God is showing something. He's saying something totally different and you have to excuse me because I get a little choked up about it and I can imagine you too, because you know when you're a stand-up person and people have jealousy in their hearts, we don't know all the sins lurking in our hearts, right? No, we don't. So it comes out in other ways and I've experienced that a lot in my life, even up until this day, and this morning, on the prayer call, shout out to Ny'Asia Black. And she spoke life into me. She did yes, yes, yes, black, and she spoke life into me. And she did yes, yes, yes, and she spoke life into me. And then she don't even know what I was going through, and so I know when she was speaking, savannah, I know that you can attest to this as well. So, wait, I want to hear what your thoughts are, what you have to say about this. Very so.
Speaker 2:God will always send someone a prophet, and I tell people all the time if he used a donkey, he can use anybody. But you know it's the hand of God when it's someone that you don't even know, that don't know what you've been going through, don't know all the secret hurts that you've been dealing with, and sometimes it takes somebody outside to make it very clear of what's been going on. And I just thought it was amazing how God used her this morning on that call to pour into you, to speak life into you, because you needed that, you needed that, we need it as a people.
Speaker 2:You know, when you're constantly giving yourself to others, we have to be replenished, and God did that with you this morning. He know how you've been feeling, he knows what you've been going through, so he used her this morning, on that call, to pour into you and I just think it was amazing how she did it. It was a ram of words.
Speaker 1:It really was Savannah, like I wasn't even planning on going here. You know, I feel like God is just like. No, I want you to talk about it because you're not by yourself. You're not, you weren't by yourself. You know, it was even amazing how God brought us together and you know, being that I got to know you for myself, I got to see who Savannah Granny is. I feel like it's important for this world to know who you are, because when someone paints you out to be a monster and that isn't who you are, or someone says things that aren't true, that's not who you are. And of course, you know you want to defend yourself and sometimes you know we get to the place where we don't have to say anything because God will vindicate you.
Speaker 2:Yes, and that's where I am now in life. I am now in life. I'm not going to continue to defend myself to a people that don't know anything about me, only what they've heard in the public from a false narrative. Yes, I did what I did. I never denied it. I called the police and I told them what I did, but yet it was everything that I went through, everything that the, the bullying, the harassing, and even after the, the incident, the lies, the slander, um, it's been a lot. It's been a lot and this is what I know of god.
Speaker 2:We are overcome by the words of our testimonies amen so I have to talk about this thing that happened in my life, this thing that made Savannah who she is today, the 45 year. Um, did it hurt? Yeah, absolutely it did, but I'm grateful for every bit of it, every day that I spent in prison. I didn't think I was going to make it through, but I had to go through. I had to, and some people may say that I'm crazy, but I'm grateful.
Speaker 1:I can understand that because, like we stated earlier, like experiences is the best teacher you know and you find out who you are.
Speaker 1:You know, I believe, that God has people on purpose and I feel like it's a part of his plan. Even though we don't know what tomorrow holds, he holds tomorrow. Don't know what tomorrow holds, he holds tomorrow. And so I feel, like you know, if we seek God, like it says Matthew 6, 33 seek first the kingdom of God. All of these things will be added to you. He's going to show up for you, he's going to make a way for you and he will know he knows how to close the mouths of those who are speaking ill about you. You know one thing that I say, that is god don't play about his children. He really don't. And um, many are called and few are chosen um you know, I often refer back to that scripture.
Speaker 1:It's in matthew 22, I believe, and the reason why I refer to it is because a lot of people don't understand exactly what this word is saying. When I go to Matthew 22, I want to give you guys this parable that Jesus gave and you know, I'm just we're in a flow. We're in a flow because you know what I stated I wanted to talk about what you wanted to talk about, ok, dad. I feel like he's hijacking us and being like no, I want, you wanted to talk about what you wanted to talk about, okay, dad. I feel like he's hijacking us and being like nah, I want you guys to talk about this, but we're here for it. It says here in Matthew 22.
Speaker 1:Jesus also told them other parables. He said the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited, but they all refused to come. So he sent other servants to tell them the feast has been prepared, the bulls and fattened cattle have been killed and everything is ready. Come to the banquet. But the guests he had invited, ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. The king was furious and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants the wedding feast is ready and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone, you see. So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
Speaker 1:When I first read that Savannah, I thought about this world. I thought about how Jesus came to his people first, which were the Jews, and you know they didn't believe. We read the stories and we see the Pharisees, the Sadducees. These people were the religious leaders during this time. So they didn't believe Mary's son was the Messiah, they didn't believe that Joseph's son was the Messiah. But he was and he still reigns today. But he went to them first because they didn't believe. God gave them instructions to go out into the streets.
Speaker 1:And so I feel like you know, when people you know you, you think it's supposed to be this person, but it's not. If that makes you know, you see what I'm saying? Like you were expecting a different type of messiah. You weren't expecting jesus, okay, right, so of course you didn't pay him no attention. You're like that's j's Joseph's Mary's boy, whatever. But what if he was the real Messiah, which he was, which he was, you know?
Speaker 1:It says here. So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, in the banquet hall was filled with guests, and I feel like that's where we are in this world. You know everyone, good and bad alike. In this world there's good and bad. In this world, there's dark and light. In this world, there's blessings and curses. In this world there's two. It says but when the king came in to meet the guest, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothing for a wedding. Now I want to stop right there. When I read that, I'm thinking like what didn't this guy have on? Now I want your thoughts on it. What do you feel like when Jesus says but when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothing for a wedding? What? What comes to mind for you? What do you think about?
Speaker 2:in today's term. I would think um in that particular verse, not wearing the proper clothing to a wedding, um jeans, a t-shirt, not anything casual, maybe sweatpants. Wasn't dressed like everyone else at the wedding.
Speaker 1:And I think it's verse Matthew 22,. Verse not 12, but verse 11. Yeah, verse 11.
Speaker 2:Yes, so it says. When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment, okay, which had not on a wedding garment, okay. And it goes on to say and he said unto him, friend, how cometh thou not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gashing of teeth, for many are called but few are chosen. He was invited into the wedding, everybody was called to come yeah, because the first people that he went to didn't believe.
Speaker 1:So he won't go out to the streets tell everybody, tell everybody about it. But somebody got in the wedding without the right clothes on. Ephesians 6, verse 10, says but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then, after battle, you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness For shoes. Put on the peace that comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet and take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, which is the word of God, which is the word of God.
Speaker 1:So for me, when I saw that they didn't have their right wedding clothes on, I thought. I thought about Ephesians 6, verse 10 well, actually Ephesians 6, verse 14, I thought about what didn't they have on? What could God see and see? You know, even when he says the sword, the sword. The sword is the word you know and I just read what the sword, how powerful the sword is. It's in this word multiple times. But if you don't have on the right attire meaning, if you're not guarded with the word of God, you are a, it's like you don't have any covering. You understand what I'm saying? Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Like, you're like. You're like standing out there and if a stray bullet comes you could be. You know you could be hit. You know, because you don't have any covering. There's nothing there.
Speaker 2:Right, Right. We have to have that full covering the armor to protect us from whatever darks the enemy's sin is.
Speaker 1:Well, it's just. It's just, it's just devices like the strategies, you know, schemes. That's where we come back to wisdom, Because if you don't have wisdom, how are you going to know? And if you're not in this word, okay, for me everybody don't need to be, Everybody say they don't need it like that, but for me I need this every day.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's imperative.
Speaker 1:Because I don't know how I would survive without it. Every day, god life is going to handle something different.
Speaker 2:To be honest with you, it's a really, really cold world Girl and you can be sitting beside a person that you see near and dear to your heart, have love like a sister, dear and dear to your heart, have love like a sister, and you can't even see or know that they have envy and jealousy in their heart towards you.
Speaker 1:That is true, you know. Remember, when we went down to Columbia we met the lady, her daughter. What was her?
Speaker 2:name. Her name was Salima.
Speaker 1:Salima and she spoke about her daughter.
Speaker 2:Yes, and it was so sad my god such a sad story and her mother kept trying to warn her, warn her, warn her. This girl is not your friend yeah, she did and she set her up to be killed, and that's crazy, but that's what.
Speaker 1:Even in the very beginning of the book Genesis we see it with Cain and Abel. Yes, and the Lord told Cain if you just do what is right, you will have the life that you want, if you do what is right. So was he envious of how God looked at his brother?
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, he was.
Speaker 1:Now with Joseph and his brothers, were they envious?
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:What did Joseph have that they didn't have? The coat of many colors, set him up, put him in a ditch, and you know. That's why I know that all things were to the good of those who love the Lord, regardless of where you are, because people are going to try you, people try me, people try you, but this word does not return void no, it doesn't so when you apply the word to those things in life, you know, when that young lady came on there, she said something that made me really, really cry.
Speaker 1:She said you're the antidote. You know how much I say that. That's my word. I say that all the time about the word of god. It's the antidote, it's the prescription. She, that is who you are. This morning, man, savannah, I was like wait, what did she say? But it was reaffirming who you really are, girl.
Speaker 2:I just, man, listen every time I think about it and also reaffirming when people don't see you correctly. God was seeing a confirmation of who you really are. You don't have to try to make people see or believe that you are the real deal, that you are who you are. I refuse to. I really I really don't have to.
Speaker 1:I can't because you spend so much energy. See, the thing about it is that, just like you said, many are called fewer chosen. You know, it's like why spend all this energy here when somebody over there needs me and they'll see me? And once they see me, they'll. They'll see me, correct? Was it Psal? See me, they'll see me, correct? Was it Psalms 19 that you were reading that time? I had you reading on the prayer calls.
Speaker 2:I think it was Psalms 19. I think it was Psalms 19.
Speaker 1:About. Can you pull that up, because there's something in Psalms 19.
Speaker 2:You do not know the secret sins.
Speaker 1:That are lurking in your heart, that are lurking in your heart.
Speaker 1:And Savannah, I don't think a lot of people know. I don't, are they? Either? They know or they don't. They try to say it's not that, but there's all kinds of things Bitterness, jealousy, envy. These are the things that people have hiding, but they come out one way or another. They're going to come out, and that's what light does. Light exposes those dark areas in our lives. It makes us aware, so that we know that. You know. To me it just makes us aware of us knowing who is who.
Speaker 2:OK, so Psalms 19. The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies displays his craftsmanship. Day after day, they continue to speak, night after night. They make it, make him known. They speak without a sound or a word. Their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth and their words are words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
Speaker 2:The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commandments of the Lord are clear, giving insight for the living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever.
Speaker 2:The law of the Lord are true. Each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sin. Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you. Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer. So we do not know the secret sins lurking in our heart? We don't. We don't. So we have to be, have to have wisdom, discernment, all of those things, so we can see and know who is who.
Speaker 1:Well, we gotta have the word of god that's why it's important to get into the word. You know, when you were reading, it's important to get into the word. When you were reading that God told me James, right, he just said James. I said, okay, let me go to the book of James, because I was talking about we started talking about faith, but you got to believe. In order for you to come to God, you must believe that he is real. Whenever you're reading the word of God, he's going to show you how real he is, and so he'll reveal those things to you. When you're starting to talk to him, he'll show you what's up. You know, like he, just he loves his children. He does. He loves us too much to leave us where we are. Right, you know, especially if he's showing us, he's trying to grow us up, and you know we've been talking about it, though.
Speaker 1:You know we were in the beginning of Hebrews, where it was talking about, like the spiritual milk, and you know how. You know babies need milk and it's for your development, right, but that's what we should be doing. We should be growing, and the problem is we're not. We take everything at face value and we believe. You know, if you said that, if you said it happened this way. You said it happened this way. We believe it happens. We don't ask god if it happened, we just believe your word. Right.
Speaker 1:But you can be conniving. You can be, um, a scammer, you know, hitting agenda yes, you can, and so all of those things. And if you don't have the word of god, then you will deceive yourself. You know people deceive themselves every day. Um, I want to go here to james one. First two. It says, brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy, for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and I was going to say father. I was going to say ask daddy, and he would give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking, but when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Make sure that your faith is in God alone.
Speaker 1:Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them, and those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers. The little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away With all of their achievements. God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterwards they receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Speaker 1:And remember when you are being tempted, do not say God is tempting me. God is never tempted to do wrong and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entices us and drags us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions, and when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don't be misled, dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God, our Father, who created all the lights in heaven. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chooses to give birth to us by giving us his true word and we, out of all creation, creation became his prized possession. So you know, even within this stating, either you believe or you don't. That's right. Either you believe or you don't. That's right. And God will give you wisdom if you ask him for it.
Speaker 2:I see. Well, and in your believing you can't just believe. You have to have a relationship, you have to get into this word you do. The word of God says we suffer for a lack of knowledge. You think that I just want people telling me any old thing and believe it.
Speaker 1:No, I need to know this word for myself and it's important to get to know him for yourself. You do know that's what he wants. Yeah, for all of his children. Just relationship. People think that they have to be perfect to belong to god, or um, you don't have to behave to belong, he will fix you, he will show you. You know, um, my cousin, um, josh, uh, shout out to josh, uh know, praise report. You know his life is changing. God is doing some things in his life, him and his girlfriend, daphne and I've had the pleasure of watching God do this Just work, miracles after miracles after miracles, all because of his obedience, savannah. And so you know. I wanted to say that because I feel like, when you get into the word what God is asking of his children, they aren't burdensome. No, they're not burdensome.
Speaker 2:No, and he doesn't ask, care how many times you ask or how many times you have to come to him. He just wants you to come.
Speaker 1:He needs you to come. We're here to help one another. We're here. We're here to get people from where they are to where they want to be. He can use us as vessels. His Spirit will rest on us. But can His Spirit rest on those who are deceitful? Can His Spirit rest on those who have hidden motives and agendas, like when your heart is not pure? He can't rest. People want to enter into His rest and when you enter into His rest, you know that his spirit is upon you. You know you're going to like. That's one thing that I admire about you. You said it earlier, but you do. You pray about everything. You talk to God about everything. You know.
Speaker 1:I remember a couple times people were trying to get you off the call. You know and you know I couldn't understand. I mean of, I knew, but I didn't know, but I could not. It left me understanding. I already knew that if I'm standing and doing what God told me to do and I know that I'm a woman of God and I know that your life is going to improve I don't have to make you stay. You'll know. That's right. You stay. You know what I'm saying. This is like what two years later, but you're still here Now. Hey, you know what I'm saying. This is like what, two years later? But you're still here. Now, some of those people that were on the call aren't. But even in the sense of that, we're seeing the elevation. We're seeing it for ourselves, and so you know, I wasn't trying to throw any shade or anything like that, but I'm just keeping it a G because you do pray about everything. Yes, I do. God will reveal to you what you need to know.
Speaker 1:I'm going to finish up reading in here because I feel like James is one of those. Look, james is a short book, guys. When you get a chance, just go read it. He's going to talk to you about your mouth. He's going to tell you to be quiet. He's going to tell you to watch your words. They have power, but it's the truth. It have power, but it's the truth. It says here in verse 19, james 1, 19.
Speaker 1:Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters you must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. I'm going to say that again. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
Speaker 1:But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says, otherwise you are only fooling yourself. For if you listen to the word and don't obey it, it is like glancing at your face in the mirror you see yourself walk away and forget what you look like. But if you listen to the word and don't obey it, it is like glancing at your face in the mirror. You see yourself walk away and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God, the Father, means caring for orphans and widows and distressing and refusing to let the world corrupt you. When you think about what I just said, what comes to mind?
Speaker 2:what I just said, what comes to mind. I need to be mindful of what I say out of my mouth. Slow to anger, because in anger, in anger, because the word of God says it's okay to be angry, but sin not. So you have to be mindful of your actions, because you don't know what you're going to do out of anger. Right, you don't know what you're going to say. So those are very valid points in James that we should all live by. We don't always, but we should.
Speaker 1:I totally, totally agree. I totally agree. You know, I know today the word. It didn't go off topic, but it did. Well, it did and it didn't. Because you know, we have to have faith to believe that God is who he says he is. You have to have wisdom to know the difference between the two, and slander is a real thing.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is.
Speaker 1:You know, and that's something that you've been through, and that's something that I've been through. So I feel like, you know, I don't know who this word is for out there, but God changed the word for you. He changed the word for you and he wanted you to know that, okay, in this season, in this season, this is a new month, new beginning. Right In this season, be slow to speak, quick to listen. You know, instead of speaking so much, do speaking so much. Do, let your act, let, let, let your, let, let your your life. Be a note, a message to those who don't know whether this word is real or not. You know, I'm here to tell you it is. Check out my footwork, look at my life. My life changed when I added this to the equation, and all I'm saying is that if you add this word to the equation of your life, it'll change your life too. True story you have anything you want to add, savannah.
Speaker 2:I think that the show went in the direction that God meant for it to go in. I do too somebody out there needed to hear what we just spoke on. So be slow to speak and don't be so quick to get angry.
Speaker 1:Grace is important, because God gives grace to all of us each and every single day. Yes, and he gives those people grace as well. He does, he reigns on it just as well as the unjust right.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And you know, all we can do is pray. That's it. It doesn't mean for a back and forth, it doesn't mean for a physical fight or any type of violence. Just pray. Whoever you are, whatever you're going through, pray and talk to your daddy about it. He sent us here today to give you this word, and so, you know, I stand ten toes down on this word. You know, I know that it will do your life good. If you trust it, you know, and really take God serious, He'll show you who he is. Again, Savannah, I want to say thank you. You know we pull cards. We pull cards each and every show. I do this all the time, and so one of the cards that I pulled today says you are being your best thing. You are your best thing. The other card that I pulled says greatness is upon you. You must believe it, though. What were your words?
Speaker 2:So my cards were you deserve to be happy, you deserve to be joyful, you deserve to be celebrated. In these words, this card rings so true to me because I've had people in my inbox. You deserve to go to hell. You should go back where you came from. Those are the things that people have said to me, how they feel about me. But I thank God for the word of God and that I do know him and I know that I am deserving. I am deserving to be happy, to be happy, to be joyful and to be celebrated. My other card says I wish I could show you the astonishing light Of your own being. Sometimes we don't see the gift that is in us. Because of everything that we've gone through, everything that we've had to carry, we don't see that light, we don't see that brightness. We don't see the astonishing you. Yeah, but God does, and I challenge someone to let God be the astonishing light in you. I love that. Try him and taste what is good.
Speaker 1:And he is so good, y'all, he is so good. And he is so good, y'all, he is so good. Listen, I thank you so very much for tuning in and listening in to Inside Beauty Inspires. I pray that you have an amazing week. Hey, let this month show you something totally different. It is the month of May New beginnings, listen, more, speak, less Peace.