Enough!!!

 

Yesterday, a video seen in circulation across media outlets captured the murder of George Floyd, by a white Minneapolis police office. This video showed the moments where this police officer remained with his knee on George Floyd’s neck, as he lay pinned face down to the ground in handcuffs. George Floyd, who is an African-American man, repeatedly cried out “I can’t breathe”, and pleaded for his mother to help him. He remained pinned face down to the ground in handcuffs with the police officer’s knee to his neck. Tears flow and hearts break, as the video captures him now appearing motionless, still pinned face down to the ground in handcuffs.

Anger! Outrage! Sadness! Grief! Disappointment! Lament! TIRED…are just some of the emotions that arise, as a result of the murder of George Floyd, by a white police officer, seen in vast circulation across media outlets.  A great racial divide is once again brought to surface in America. When will this breach stop? When will this trauma end? When will racial reconciliation begin? COVID-19 isn’t the most dangerous virus that currently plagues America. The evil delusion of racial injustice that flows from racial hatred is a virus of the soul that has plagued America for generations. It is a generational virus that requires a healing that only God can bring and requires a work towards reconciliation that BOTH sides of the injustice must take.

It is with the strength of God that a FIGHT in me still rises that will NOT give up. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow”. ( Isaiah 1:17 NIV). This CANNOT be a one-sided fight, a one-sided work, or a one-sided voice! This fight, work, voice has GOT to cross racial lines. It’s a NEED and a MUST!!

This morning, a good friend of mine, who is in the trenches of trauma healing and reconciliation, shared a great work with me. So…in her sharing, I would like to invite my white sisters and brothers to join brown sisters and brothers in the fight, the work, the voice against racial injustice and the fight, the work, the voice towards racial reconciliation. Quest movement (www.questmovement.com) and The Trauma Healing Institute (www.thi.americanbible.org) have partnered together to create, train, and facilitate GENERATIONAL TRAUMA HEALING: THE BLACK AND WHITE EXPERIENCE. 

These small, intimate, healing groups provide a transparent space to look at your own biases, have the HARD but NEEDED conversations that inspect the trauma, shame, guilt, and wounds that racism and injustice have left on BOTH SIDES. This is a great triage and first aid step to to the soul healing and racial reconciliation that is needed. THIS IS THE TIME! This CANNOT be a one-sided fight, a one-sided work, or a one-sided voice! This fight, work, and voice has GOT to cross racial lines. It’s a NEED and a MUST!!

For more information about these generational trauma healing groups, please email: info@renovatehers.com

 

©2020 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

 

MOBILIZED in Prayer!!!

 

Pandemic.Quarantine.Shutdown.

These last few weeks have brought a range emotions for all of us…periods of frustration, uncertainty, concern, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, indifference, vigilance, trust, increased faith, peace, and hope. We see the current challenges in our present world that could have been avoided, if only our government leadership HAD….if only we HAD….if only they COULD…if only we COULD…

We see the failure in the current system, the areas that are broken, the areas that need an immediate fix, the lack of proper resources for people on the front lines of this pandemic, innocent lives affected (newborns, children, elderly, homeless, medically fragile), community engagement that has rapidly changed, the great number of lives that have been lost, the families that are grieving, people and nations dealing with much more than we could ever imagine….so many global needs…physically, emotionally, and spiritually…that lead us into the realm of the impossible. We may feel helpless because this “fix” is not happening quickly enough…lives are STILL endangered…so many are STILL affected! BUT… we do not grieve as those who have no hope!!! Know THIS!!! What mankind can’t do, our God has ALREADY done. What’s impossible for mankind is truly MORE THAN possible for our God!!

He’s given us one of the greatest secret weapons, in the gift of intercession, and one of the greatest solutions to this world’s hopelessness, in Christ Jesus, who is His Promised Word. Our seeking of God through prayer is the base from which we can move forward into action. In prayer, I am reminding our God of what He promised in His Word concerning His Son, Jesus Christ. “For unto US a child is born, to Us a Son is given, and the government WILL be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of HIS government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV)

So as a collective, let’s posture ourselves to place our households, our children, the lives of the innocent, families, jobs, children’s education, communities, leaders of churches, our regions, our government leaders, our nation, our global economy and our global world on HIS shoulders. Christ is the ONLY one that establishes and upholds ALL of it with righteousness, peace, and joy!

We can agree that we ALL have been touched by what is going on with our present world. And it is important, more than ever, that we posture ourselves to seek our God, remain in continual connection with Him, the Giver of all hope, and remain here for one another, reach out to one another, to help meet one another’s needs. Through our connection in prayer, let’s seek our God together and intercede for one another, our households, our children, our communities, our nation, our world…and then be MOBILIZED into His action!!! We ARE His Church, without walls, so ARISE, SHINE, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you!!

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts,  “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come,  he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you. THEN will the eyes of the blind be opened    and the ears of the deaf unstopped. THEN will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water WILL gush forth in the wilderness, and streams WILL flow in the desert. The burning sand WILL become a pool, the thirsty ground WILL become bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus WILL grow. And a highway WILL be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it WILL be for those who walk on that Way. ” (Isaiah 35:3-8 NIV)

 

©2020 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

What am I honestly afraid of ??

 

As the spread of this global pandemic impacts every single area of global life, our response individually, regionally, nationally, and globally is critical! Fear, hysteria, and precaution is prevalent every where I turn…on my job in the hospital, in the supermarkets, in the media, and on social media. Such that I’ve had to pause and assess my own response…what am I honestly afraid of??? Loss of my income or loss of my paid time off because of this 14 day quarantine?? Loss of time in school for my daughter?? The consequences of contracting this COVID-19 virus?? The affects that this pandemic has on my husband, who is considered essential medical staff?? The affects that this pandemic has on the hospital I work for?? The affects of this pandemic on the normalcy of life, as we know it???

What am I really afraid of???

As I pause to reflect, I’ve come to realize that what I personally fear the MOST reveals where I personally trust God the LEAST!! So in the areas I fear the most, Abba, BUILD my faith in You! You promised in Your Word that in times of crises and trouble, You will hide me and my family, so I have NOTHING to fear!!! You promised that You would give Your angels specific charge over my family to protect, guard, and fight for us. You promised that You would provide for us and supply every one our needs, including the needs my daughter has for schooling and the needs I have on my job. So I am choosing to trust these promises and take You at Your Word! I am choosing to give every place I personally fear over to the One who exchanges fear for faith!!!!! This MUST be on repeat for me…In Christ, I stand…In God, I trust!!!

What are YOU really afraid of???

As God reveals your fears, allow Him to build your faith in what He promised you!!!

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust and faith in You. In God, whose word I praise; In God I have put my trust; I shall not fear. What can mere man (this virus) do to me?” (Psalms 56:3-4 AMP)

©2020 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

What’s YOUR prescription???

What does community look like for you?

Connectedness…Belonging…Someone pursuing you…Diverse points of engagement…A point of consistent contact…A safe space to be loved on…An open space to be heard and supported…A confidential space to ask questions about your faith…A trusted space to be mentored…A committed space to be held accountable…A free space to just BE…A sacred space to explore the more that is to you, and the More that is to God…An authentic space to be equipped and released to be ALL that God has designed for you to BE!!!

Community for you does not have to be cookie-cooker or limited to church, habitual activities, and a specific number of people. There IS a prescription for community that is specific for each one of us. It is different, but it is necessary. It can be one on one…a small group….someone checking in on you regularly through a phone call…an invitation to sit down to lunch regularly…a consistent check-in, over coffee at Starbucks….a weekly video zoom call…a weekly dance session…a committed empowerment prayer call weekly or monthly…someone regularly dropping by your house to check in on you…etc. The key is leaning into the specific prescription that answers the question “What does community look like for ME”?

Everyone of us desires a place of belonging, a trusted point of connection, and a safe, sacred space with others to be free to BE!! This is necessary, but different for each one us. But the amazing thing is we can ALL be connected to the One who writes our specific prescription for the specific type of community we need. God LOVES community, and He desires to meet each one of us in the area of community that we so need… in order for us to authentically be ALL that He has designed us to BE! It is not limited or cookie cutter.  Trust and know that there IS a community that God perfectly prescribed JUST for you….to BE open, free, authentic, connected and empowered!!! What’s YOUR prescription???   

#community #belonging #connection #perfectprescription

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT)

I would LOVE to hear all the diverse prescriptions for community that you all have!!! *Comment below with the spaces you find community, belonging, and freedom to BE. Your comments could help that someone who is struggling with loneliness, isolation, and disconnection discover their prescription for community and their sense of belonging.

©2019 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

Sharing is caring

We were not created to remain stale, stagnant, and stuck in mindsets, routines, relationships, circumstances, or places. One of the ingredients in becoming all that God has graced us to be is CHANGE.

God’s Change brings freshness. His Change brings newness. His Change brings transformation. And His Change brings extraordinary growth. If you find yourself in that place of mundane routine, just going through the motions, stagnancy, or stunted growth…invite the Lord to change it up…to do something different. You truly don’t have to remain stuck in the routine, stuck in the stale, or stuck in your stagnancy. Give yourself permission to change with Him. Your circumstance, other people, or the place may not change…but YOU can!!!

#livingempowered #Changeitup #newness #freedom #becoming

 

©2019 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

I wear my crown boldly!!

Thank You Lord for another year of new blessings that You have added to my life!!! In this added year, I grow in grace, wisdom, and revelation in my knowledge of You, as God. I grow in courage, boldness, and confidence in who I was born to be. I grow in my knowledge of who You have created me to be and in my knowledge of what You have created me to do. I walk in authenticity of who You are in me and who I am in You. I DO NOT shrink back for anyone or anything, because of fear, but I stand in the TRUTH of who I am and walk in the TRUTH of what I am purposed to do. I wear my crown boldly 👑 and declare that I AM a voice for You that WILL BE HEARD in the earth! 

I WAS BORN FOR THIS!!!

©2019 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

 

Declaring into the Year!!!

Lord, You are ALREADY ahead of us! You have already gone before us and You are ALREADY far into this year. You have already declared how the year is going to go, so we partner with Your Word and with Your declaration over 2019 and the years to come!

We declare not only that this is the day that the Lord has made and we rejoice in it, but this is the year that the Lord has made and we commit to rejoice in it. We are rooted and grounded in the love of God and the eyes of our understanding are opened to truly see Him. We have a sound mind, we are stable in our emotions, and we abide in Him. Every area in us that is not surrendered to the Lord, submits and surrenders to Him, NOW, so that we hear His voice clearly and we are continually filled with His plans, His intentions, and His promises for our lives. We see the goodness of the Lord and we are surrounded with His favor like a shield. We are surrounded about with an army of angels that protect, guard, and defend us. No harm comes to us or to our families.

Our marriages are rejuvenated, refreshed, whole and bear good fruit. Our husbands seek God continually and stand strong as the spiritual leaders of our homes. We, who are wives, surrender to God and submit to our anointing as helpers, nurturers, and spiritual deliverers of our husband’s dreams, purposes, and Godly plans. We, who are single, experience the depths of God’s love and intimacy while we are in waiting. As singles, desiring marriage, our husbands hearts are knit to our hearts, even NOW, and they hear the voice of God to be drawn to find us…as wives.  As singles, content in singleness, we experience peace that passes all understanding in our relationship solely with HIM!

All of our children are taught of the Lord and GREAT will be their peace. Our families that are broken and lost will be repaired, rescued, and saved. Our broken hearts will be mended and our souls will be filled with joy. We are blessed with trusting relationships and partnerships that help us advance the Kingdom of God! We have spiritual and natural seeds to plant into this year, because He gives seeds to the sower. We will see good ground that we are to spiritually plant and naturally plant into this year, and these seeds will spring up and bear good fruit. We will experience increase spiritually that will manifest naturally. We will walk continually in the plans and intentions of God. We will experience new encounters with God and depths of intimacy with Him that we have never known. His reach in us will expand our reach to others. 2019 is a year that is ALREADY set and ALREADY blessed by God. We expect it, we receive it, we declare it, and we establish it in Jesus Name!

Happy New Year!

©2018 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

Unwrap it!

Some of us have it to give and some of us are in need and can’t give. Some of us are surrounded by family and loved ones and some of us are lonely, with family and loved ones living in other spaces or we have loved ones that are no longer living. Some of our families are unified, celebrating together and some of our families are broken right now, celebrating separately. Some of us are surrounded by happy smiling children, excitedly expecting today and some of us are surrounded by emptiness and wish we could be filled enough to hear the squeals of a child’s excitement. Whatever state you are in, unwrap it!!! Unwrap His presence that has been given to multiply your joy, exceed your abundance, overcome your lack, supply your need, increase your gratitude, overtake your loneliness, overwhelm your brokenness, relieve your pain, bear your grief, fill your emptiness, overflow your peace, and explode His love. This gift He has given levels all of our grounds…levels all of our states…levels all our spaces. This gift levels ALL of us. Whatever state you are in, this is the one gift we ALL need in common. Unwrap It! Unwrap Him! Unwrap Presence….The Greatest Gift! May you all be filled with the Presence of Jesus Christ today that truly makes this a Merry Christmas!
#thepresence
#thegiftweallneed
#thegreatestgift
#livingempowered
#MerryChristmas

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ NKJV)

©2018 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

 

The Pursuit

Don’t you know I will go to the ends of this world for you…even when you don’t want to be found. I still whisper my rhythm to you, even when you put earbuds in your ears to stop my sound.

I pursue after you when you go from relationship to relationship, trying to get that “feel”.  I move mountains that are impossible, just so I can get to you, your brokenness to heal!

Mine is one that you cannot compare…try it and prove me wrong…only if you dare.

Trust me! My reach is so wide, so long, so high, and so deep…so much you can’t deny.  I made it so you can never escape my pursuit, no matter how hard you try.

My pursuit is never ending…long after you leave this earth. This dance of mine with you lasts for eternity…forever and ever I’ll prove your worth!

You can believe in me, trust in me, hope in me…forget me NOT.
I’m yours. Do you hear me? YOURS!
Without end….
Signed forever and always,
The Love of God

#lovespeaks #intimacy
#RESETretreat #livingempowered

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭18-19‬ NLT)

©2018 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com

Thought for the week

I have a simple question to ask you…

Can God trust you?

Can He trust you with His heart…to accept His perfect love in full, as He gives you all He is! Can He trust you with His promises…to be your navigator, your sidekick, your best friend, and your partner to travel this eternal life journey! Can He trust you with His secret whispers…to listen to Him, to hear Him, to yield to Him, to cherish Him! Can He trust you with His intimacy…to be transparently open with Him, unfiltered, uncovered, and excitedly awaiting His deposits! Can He trust you with His seeds…to incubate them, nurture them, grow them, and spread them without end, with zeal and passion! Can He trust you with His protection…to protect you, defend you, and fight for you when life comes to knock you down! Can He trust you with His provisions…to give you inheritances that you have never imagined! Can He trust you with His fire…to do in this earth what He does in heaven…to be the power couple that this world could never duplicate…even if they tried! Can He trust you with His very being…to give you all that He is, so that you become all that you are!

Can God trust you? 

“….Of all my house, he is the one I trust. The one I talk to face to face.” (Numbers 12:7 NLT)

©2018 Hawa Johnson. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions in your e-mail at http://www.livingempoweredblog.wordpress.com