heart · soul · Spirit

Rule & Reign

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Corey Rives Visual Art

Dominion… Dominion, power and authority… The constant, active and alive keys to the present world and age we’re living in. We won’t survive and thrive, spirit, soul, heart and body, without them. They are essential to moving forward as children of God who are cultivating life within the Kingdom of Heaven.

You see it’s just not enough anymore… It’s not enough for those who believe in Jesus to live and dwell from a place of sonship and daughtership alone. Instead, we must rise to the occasion. We must rule & reign as Kings and Queens from our spiritual positions. We must take our rightful seats as heirs of Christ and focus in on the work He needs us to do in the heavens and the earth.

And I know what I’m saying might sound strange to some of you. Which is why you should know, you are a spirit, with a soul and a heart… Inside of a body. And those four components, they want… No they need to connect to the Godhead and then work together in unison with them for daily living. They need to work in unison for healing, wholeness and restoration to flow into our lives and the lives of others.

And so, wherever you are in this very moment, I hope and pray you are encouraged in your very being to examine your life as a whole. To ask yourself, “Am I ruling and reigning in life? Am I living from a place of dominion, power and authority? Am I exercising the power Jesus has given to me to constantly speak to death, darkness and decay and see that they are canceled, overturned and uprooted? Or, am I sitting back? Going through the motions of life… Living a languishing lifestyle of the spirit, heart and soul because I don’t know how to access and activate what God has given to me fully and properly? 🌱👑⚔️🛡 #cultivatelife

Confidence · soul · Spirit · truth

The Steal Can’t Be Real If You Check the Roots

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I had a dream Friday night. I saw the enemy of my spirit, heart and soul stealing an inheritance that didn’t belong to him. My human spirit even spoke to me in the dream and said, “This isn’t holy, divine or pure.”

When I woke up from the dream I thought about it and prayed deeply. I asked God to help me decipher what I had just seen. He said, “Amanda, the inheritance you saw in your enemies hands is healing and restoration, and your spirit was right… It does not belong to him at all. That healing and restoration you saw is MINE. And My plan is to release it in a very different way. So be bold. Be courageous. Stand against this counterfeit that would like to mock Me and the healing and restoration I am bringing forth.”

From that point I moved forward. I knew I had to pray deeper than ever before.

But… Before I could… I began to feel my enemy reminding me of my past. He started tearing me down about my body image, the unfortunate loss of my father and some tremendous heartbreak. All of these areas are places where (in the past) my enemy has stolen large portions of life.

However, every time my enemy reminded me of destruction and loss, I reminded him of my current root system. I looked down deep into my spirit and saw my sturdy roots, and they screamed from the top of their lungs, “WE ARE ROOTED IN GOD. WE CANNOT BE SHAKEN OR MOVED.”

And so, I picked up my head and I moved forward with that truth in hand. I moved forward knowing that my life has been healed and restored. And, because of this healing and restoration, I contain the boldness, confidence and courage to stand against my enemy… Reminding him that the steal can’t be real if you check the roots. 🌱 #cultivatelife

Confidence · Spirit · truth

Wall Street

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It’s been a year and a half since I started taking the train down to Wall Street to pray for the nation. In some seasons I’d go once a month. Others once a week. And then in one particular month, I went twice a week.

Why? Well because God asked me to.

He showed me some really powerful things about Federal Hall and it’s foundation, and then asked me to empty myself of myself and follow Him into a greater lifestyle of supernatural power, authority, dominion and prayer.

So now you might be wondering why I’m sharing this. Well… If I’m honest, I wouldn’t share this unless He asked me to… Which is why I’m going to say this….

In the eyes of this fast paced world, I’m a nobody. No fame. No fortune. No concrete success to write home about. However, in the eyes of God, I’m His child… A Queen who is richly blessed with a great inheritance, that is readily accessible, in the Kingdom of God. I’m also a faithful follower who is simply willing to let Him continuously empty me of death and decay so His Kingdom can advance far past the kingdom of darkness.

And you know I believe it’s vitally important to rest in what He’s asking of us, rather than what our world is constantly telling us to do. I believe it’s important to listen to His voice and allow it to speak louder than the others. Because, when we do… When we truly, wholeheartedly listen and follow Him… Well He will lead us into a lifestyle that will move spiritual mountains and change the course of the supernatural realms and dimensions of life for the better.

And so I hope… I truly hope you feel so compelled to just follow Him and keep moving forward with each step you take together. 🌱 #cultivatelife

Spirit · truth

Heaven’s Pace

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Last week I told you that God was examining my heart again…

Of course, in the moment I didn’t really understand what the examination was all about. I mean… He does inspect it quite often, but this time… This time felt different. 

So, in true “Amanda form,” I questioned Him about it.

His response, “I’m checking out your capacity. You’ve been asking me for two months to increase your capacity, and I’m ready to do it. So, here I am inspecting the middle ground of your being to make sure it’s prepared to handle the increase of responsibilities I’m sending your way.”

Okay… When I heard this, I was truly excited!

You see over the years I’ve learned that God will not give us more than we contain. Sure, the world’s system has a way of offering us piles of things we aren’t prepared for, but God… God is unique in the fact that He never wants to overwhelm our refinement, development, maturity and growth. Meaning, we can incessantly ask for things, but He’s probably not going to hand them over until we’ve matured into the version of self that He needs us to be.

His process is holy you know?.. It offers us the grace to go at Heaven’s pace. And sure… Sure it takes times to get where we’re going; however, when we do get there, we are able to contain the weight of the responsibilities He’s entrusted us with because we have the capacity to hold it.

And I don’t know if I’m making perfect sense when explaining this; however, I do hope and pray you are inspired to remain focused with where He has you right now. I hope you don’t settle and begin to chase after systems that will ultimately lead to death and destruction of your spirit, soul and heart. Because, I believe, the refinement, development maturity and growth He’s taking you through will provide you with the capacity you need to move forward in every aspect of life. 🌱 #cultivatelife

soul · Spirit · truth

“Bettering” My Heart

Amanda1 Comment

Oh boy… I hear it again, “What’s in your heart Amanda? I’m searching your innermost parts to see what’s planted there and what kind of ground it’s growing on. Are you going to let me have the things that are languishing? Are you going to surrender the fear that’s keeping you from moving forward? And what about the healthy roots that have been established on good ground? Are you going to focus on them and the life they’re giving, or are you going to disregard them because you desire growth in other areas you aren’t ready for yet? Tell me what’s happening inside of you.”

Yes, it’s true. God examines my heart a lot. He inspects the middle ground of my spirit, soul and body more times than I’d like; however, His inspection is always for good measure. He’s always looking to refine areas in me that are broken, afraid and seemingly a little lost. And then He’s constantly prepared to show me other areas that have grown beyond my wildest comprehension.

And, to be quite honest, it’s challenging to listen to God’s plan for “bettering” my heart. But it’s also so good. So good that I have to say, “Okay God, let’s do this! Bring inner healing and deliverance to these areas. Oh, and please teach me how to increase here. I want to thrive at a higher frequency so that I may cultivate a greater capacity for life.

You see I’m sharing this because I hope you have a similar relationship with Him. I hope you live and operate from a real, true spiritual reality, rather than the false reality that’s marketed to us on the regular.

Because living through the lens of God’s reality means that we are constantly and consistently willing to lean into the Kingdom of God and all it has to offer us. It means we meet every challenge He presents us with with gladness in our hearts. Because, when we do… When we truly begin to live from His perspective, well I believe we will cultivate lives (spirit, soul, heart and body) beyond our wildest dreams. 🌱♥️ #cultivatelife

Spirit · truth

Don’t Stop. Do Wait.

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Corey Rives Visual Art

About two months ago I wrote about a spiritual mountain I didn’t want to climb. I explained that the mountain would require me to exercise more faith in God and His ways than ever before. I also shared that more faith required me to exchange more of my selfish, stubborn wants and ways for His path forward.

Well, I’m truly happy to report that the climb up is going VERY well.

You see with each step I take I am reminded of the truth that faith… Faith is a lifestyle.

To me faith isn’t simply believing in God and His Kingdom. Instead, it’s an action. It requires us to continuously and consistently step outside of our comfort zone to do the things He’s asked of us, even when we don’t see immediate results in the physical.

And sure, it’s very easy to do what works for us because we’re selfish, stubborn people who like the idea of having control over the situation; however, if we can’t fully follow through with where God is leading and be patient in the process, then we will most definitely become stagnant, frustrated and completely overwhelmed with “why” things aren’t “working out.”

And I guess I’m sharing this because I want to encourage you to keep moving forward in the things of God, but also to be very patient with His leading. A lifestyle of faithfulness doesn’t produce a harvest overnight, especially if He’s asking you to do big things for His Kingdom. Instead, it takes many, many moments of stepping out and stepping forward before we reach the destination He’s promised us.

So, if you feel like I have, please don’t stop, but do wait. 🌱 #cultivatelife

soul · Spirit · truth

Power Source

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Is the world dark? Is fear an absolute in the minds and hearts of multitudes? Does it seem like there won’t ever be an end to the chaos, confusion and division in our current world?

Now… If you answered “yes” to my questions, then answer this: What perspective are you viewing life from? Are you looking from your spirit or your soul? And, if you’re looking from a spiritual plane, is it broken and imbalanced, or have you allowed the Godhead to restore it while bringing new life and health to you as a whole?

You see I’m asking these questions because I’ve opened my heart and allowed God to refine my spirit and soul. So, what my spirit perceives is from the Kingdom of God, where power, glory and goodness reside. And, honestly, it’s very challenging for me to believe darkness will win because I believe in and actively use a power source that is stronger than what the physical world is currently experiencing.

I believe in the supernatural power of Jesus Christ.

And, in this eternal moment, He is King; and He has given every single person that calls out to Him power, authority and dominion to trample darkness and every evil agenda that comes his/her way.

You see Jesus isn’t an act, a game or a religious pursuit. Instead, He is entirely alive, real, active and close to those who are accessing Him through his/her human spirit.

And my God, why wouldn’t we want to access Him? Why wouldn’t we want to pursue an agenda that offers us the ability to become a new creation: spirit, soul, heart and body? Why wouldn’t we want to thrive in all that we’re doing, saying and thinking?

And I’ll end with this… I understand Jesus is 100% misunderstood. I get that He’s been misconstrued by religious heads and figures of our days. And honestly, I am very sorry for that. I’m sorry that He’s been given a pathetic, heinous reputation; however, it’s time to do away with the way He’s been perceived. It’s time to lean heavily into the power coming from the Kingdom of God. Because, I truly believe with my entire heart, we won’t make it in the days that are coming if we are living without His great power. 🌱 #cultivatelife

 

Confidence · Spirit · truth

Are You Ready for It?

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When I write, I try to give the most accurate view of what’s happening in my heart in that given moment. I mean… That is the goal of this blog. To stay as vulnerable as possible with the ups and downs of my life as I follow Father God, Jesus and Holy Spirit’s lead.

So today… Well today my heart as been focused on how grateful I am for 2020.

And I know a lot of people might disagree; however, this year has been a good one because my strength to withstand the waves is found in Him.

You see the past 7 years of my life have felt like a constant and at times violent push from God. He’s single handily walked me up and down mountains and valleys of life and into a place where I can’t rely on anything but Him for everything. Which means my life, my family, my career, my ministry, my finances, my entire world has landed in His hands for protection and provision.

He’s actually allowed the past 7 years to become a place where the waves of life have knocked me down, drug me under and forced me to learn how to get up and stand firm and strong in the face of death, darkness, turmoil, chaos, adversity and division.

And because of this… Because of His training, molding and refinement… Well I’ve been able to truly and heart-fully say, “God is at my right hand. I will not be shaken or fear anything dark that comes into my spiritual realm and dimension of space and time.”

Because you see I believe the shaking and transition that’s happening is good. I believe, beneath all of the politics and opinions, God has a plan to bring repentance, restoration and healing to our broken nation and world. And as people begin to wake up and focus their attention on Him… Not on political parties, disasters that have overtaken us or arguments that divide us… I believe we will begin to truly see a new world that reveals the Kingdom of God and the glory of His Kingdom on this earth.

And so… The question is, “Are you ready for it?!”🌱 #cultivatelife

Confidence · Spirit · truth

Year 32

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Photo by: Corey Rives Visual Art

Year 32… I’m looking at you.

But seriously… The other day I was zipping through Manhattan, watching the buildings pass me by and that’s when God began to remind me of a time… A time when I was 22 yrs old, on a plane, headed somewhere beachy.

As I looked out the plane window, I saw everything below me and I heard Him say, “Take it. Everything can be yours because I’ve given you power, authority and dominion over it. You just have to take it.”

That phrase… What He said to me 10 years ago… It struck me so hard on my subway ride the other day.

Actually, it struck me so hard that I could actually feel this new sense of confidence rise up inside of me. Almost like my human spirit was about to bust out of the seams of my body and take over the world in an effort to spread the most enormous amount of life and love to everyone I encounter. Almost like… Almost like I’d be insane to believe what He told me could ever be a fib.

And in that moment… In that moment I decided, “Okay God, all my cards are on the table again. You lead. I follow. And as always, I don’t know where we’re going, what we’re specifically doing or how we’re going to do it; however, as long as I’ve got You, Jesus and Holy Spirit with me, I know we can conquer everything.” 🌱 #cultivatelife

Spirit · truth

The Thrill of Peace

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You might oppose me when saying this… But there’s something so thrilling about darkness. Yes, it’s uncomfortable and intolerable. Of course it can feel like a constant circus of chaos and a cave of deep despair. However, in the midst of the darkness, I’ve learned that it is COMPLETELY possible to be fixated on peace and immense joy.

You see I’ve learned surrendering our current darkness to God in exchange for His peace is possibly one of the most powerful things we can do.

We’re literally saying, “Hey God, I am not smart enough, wise enough or understanding enough to carry or solve what I’m experiencing… So I’m gonna give it to you. I’m gonna leave my current circumstances in Your hands. And every time I think of them, I’m going to remind myself that I’ve given You the reins to craft up a solution.”

And sure… Sure sometimes His solutions take many moments to become tangible and complete; however, His solutions always offer up abundant life, light and immense amounts of joy.

And it’s also so comforting to lean into the truth that a being far greater than us loves us, cares about us and is willing to stand up for us when life is caving in at every corner.

So, if you are or have ever experienced darkness so black that you can’t see your hand in front of your face, then be encouraged. Be encouraged because you’re not alone. Many people have walked this road before, and I’ll bet that the ones who’ve trusted in God’s ability to provide solutions have found peace and immense amounts of joy in the midst of the chaos. 🌱 #cultivatelife