Waiting on Your Mate With God | Devotional 6

Soulmates and Soul Ties

Sometimes there is a confusion between what a soul mate is and a person you may have soul ties with. Soul ties are demonic strongholds that often time present themselves in your relationships. These relationships often are fueled by heightened emotions. These emotions range from over excitement to love sickness. Along with these emotions they will be accompanied by obsession, confusion, chaos and heart break. This constantl roller coaster of feelings will recycle itself over and over again as long as you have a relationship with this person. But when you find a soulmate this man will always bring a spirit of peace, deep love, spiritual fruit and oneness.

Are there men in your life that brings you pain and chaos?

How many past relationships have you experienced soul ties?

Have you ever felt you were with a soul mate only for them to end up abusive and neglectful?

Do you believe that spiritual influences affect your relationships like the Bible says? Why or Why not?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

When we talk about relationships we cannot ignore the spiritual element of this topic. When a woman is in a relationship that constantly produces chaos and pain the enemy is present in that relationship. This does not mean that the enemy will not attack a God centered relationship but the massive difference in a soul tie relationship and a soul mate one is the soul mate will always produce peace even in the midst of storms. Before I met my husband I was “in love” with a guy and experienced this for the first time in my adult life. Every time I was around him or thought about him I would instantly feel over excitement and love sick. So love sick to the point I could not eat. I had the same experience with my first boyfriend when I was 16 years old. But then I thought it was just a teenage phase until it happened again with the next young man. I was older by then and was spiritually mature enough to know this was not normal. We flirted back and forth often but I always felt he was out of reach. The guy would play mind games and my attraction to him kept pulling me back in. When I realized how this was affecting me I began to pray and ask God to help me. Soon I was healed and delivered but this spirit would not let up that easy. Months later I met my husband and we were in a relationship. They guy I was once interested in was still in my friend circle so avoiding him was near impossible. The guy knew I had moved on and all of a sudden became more interested in me. I completely ignored him but noticed the pull of this spiritually force anytime we were near each other. It got to the point where I could no longer hang out with friends when he was around. With a soul tie it is always a demonic presence involved. It’s not so much the person but there is a spirit dwelling among that relationship to bring chaos and disruption. For your sake let this guy go. He is there by design distracting you from following the will of God in your life.

When a man and woman become one flesh as it states in Matthew 19:6, this is a spiritual connection. When a soul mate enters the scene, you will notice that you are at peace with him. When God is involved the first thing He will want you to know is that you are safe. You will sense this spiritually not outwardly. Safety does not always mean what a man does for you but what spirit he brings with him. This is why we took so much time to address your own spiritual state because it will be the deciding factor in helping you find the one. A man can be nice to you, make you feel empowered and put you first but sometimes those are power plays of an abusive controlling man. A soul mate will put God first in his life and therefore will operate in your relationship that honors God above all else. This is true security with a man not how much money he brings. Life happens and sometimes people loose jobs and miss out on opportunities, but if God is first in a man’s life you can have peace in knowing that man will always be able to provide you with what you may need to keep you secure physically, finically and spiritually. A soulmate will not play games with you. He will be upfront on who he is and what he wants out of your relationship. He won’t float around the idea of marriage he will know if that is in his plans or not. A man of God plays no games with your heart because he understands that your a God’s daughter. My husband and I have had our share of trials as a married couple. One thing has always been true for us is that no matter what we have gone through God has held us together and peace has remained. When you are with the one you were made for, and God bring you both together it is His spirit that holds you as one.

Are you ready to leave behind your soul ties and wait on your soulmate?

Prayer

Pray that the Lord will help you identify soul ties in your relationships even the non romantic ones. Rebuke the enemy from your midst as you have the authority to do so in the name of Jesus Christ according to Luke 10:19. Pray over yourself for healing, restoration and peace. Ask the Lord to give you the gift of the Spirit according to His will and give you eyes that see and ears that hear. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the plans of the enemy and pray against those plans. Pray for protection against those the enemy uses to attack you and keep you in chaos. Pray for them that God will deliver them and set them free of demonic influence. In Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Christ Mindset

According to Luke 10:19 I have authority in Jesus Christ to rebuke the devil, his plans and his cohorts. I want to be set free and I proclaim I am set free in the name of Jesus Christ. The enemy has no authority over me. The Lord in His perfect timing will lead my soul mate to me. The Lord loves me and does all things for my good and therefore anything that comes to me that produces evil is not of Him. Anything good is from the Lord anything bad is from the devil.

Heart and A cross

Waiting On Your Mate With God| Devotional 2

Forgiveness and Letting Go

Sometimes our past haunts us to the point of crippling us. Men of in our past will periodically pop back up in our minds. This often happens when we are the most vulnerable. We cannot erase our past. But in order to go beyond it we must let go of the relationships that went no where and ended. Our first loves, our first kiss and the first time our heart quickened for someone else only to be rejected. The pain or the joy of those moments are like vapor in the wind. There yesterday but gone today. Some of those experiences mattered, some of them not so much. But remember daughter you are not the same as you were then. At least, you shouldn’t be. In order to prepare ourselves for our future we must slow burn our past and say goodbye.

What relationship memories are you hanging onto you need to let go?

How did God heal you from those past experiences?

If He hasn’t healed you, pray for healing. If He has praise Him when the past comes to haunt.

What did you learn from those relationships and how did they affect who you are now?

Reach out and forgive who you need you forgive. or let go of those you can’t contact, give them to God.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

A healed heart has more room to be filled with Joy and love in the future.

Are you afraid to confront your past? If so why is that and what steps can you take to move past it?

Contrary to popular belief, forgiveness begins with repentance. Think of how in order to be forgiven from God, we must first acknowledge we are sinners then ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t something that can be given without the first part happening. Often times people say they have forgiven someone yet they have never actually talked to the person in order to do this. That is why confrontation is so important. The generations of today are afraid to confront people as if it’s a terrible thing. But in reality if we miss the opportunity to talk to the ones who hurt us or whom we have hurt, we are missing a great opportunity of true forgiveness. When it comes to romantic relationships it does not mean we are agreeing with everything that was done to us or we are interested in being in a relationship again. All this does is give you and opportunity to say your peace (not in frustration or anger) and also apologize if you have done anything wrong. This opens up the door on the other persons end to do the same and then comes forgiveness. However if you were in a previous abusive relationship confrontation shouldn’t be considered. Then how do you find peace? Letting them go is an act of surrendering them to the Lord. Do what you can only do by letting go of feelings of bitterness, hurt, anger and shame. Letting these feelings go does not mean the person is absolved from all wrong doing, but allows your heart to truly heal. Doing this ensures that resentment and bitterness will never take root in you creating a mess of problems with your future life.

Will you let God restore you His way?

Prayer

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Pray for wisdom in how you should confront your past and obey the Lord when He gives you the answer. Pray and ask God to show you the parts of yourself that need to be revealed that is harboring the sins of unforgiveness and bitterness. Ask the Lord to heal your broken heart and restore your spirit. Ask Him to fill you again with light, joy and peace. Pray that He will help you keep your thoughts and attentions on your relationship with Him and let go of the past. In Jesus Christ name Amen.

Christ Mindset

I can confront my past because it no longer has power over me. Rather anyone forgives me or not God sees my heart and will give me peace. I can let the past go. The past has no hold on me.

Heart and A cross

Waiting On Your Mate With God | Devotional 1

When I was young I came to a realization that I had wasted much of my teen years chasing after guys and healing from heart break after heart break. So when I see that more and more younger women are choosing to wait on their mates it fills me with great joy! But I know how exhausting it is just trying to navigate life when your just starting to live it and putting relationship drama on top of that makes it even harder. But also for our seasoned women, I know the heart ache of wondering if you will ever find your soulmate, the loneliness and the pain of regret. Many women are full of dread and wonder if they will ever meet the one that God has for them. Lord willing, you will in His perfect timing! So how do we prepare for this future in a spiritual way? Maybe this devotional will help you find those answers, bring you healing and joy as you wait on your mate with God. This devotional will post every Tuesday once a week at 8:00 am for the next 6 weeks. Take a moment to read the word, reflect and center yourself and your relationship with the Lord as you read this devotional weekly. The hope is to begin your week with the devotional and take time to reflect, pray and journal your answers as the week progresses. May it truly bless you no matter where you are in your journey! Today is week one!

Timing and Foundations

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90:12

To be wise is to be wealthy! The main thing I prayed as young girl was God give me wisdom! These waiting days are for breaking down walls, healing bruises and gaining new perspective. All of which leads to gaining wisdom. Don’t waste it. When we give ourselves permission to slow down and breathe something begins to shift in us. In these moments of stillness, reflect on your life and where it’s headed in the next week, two months and even a year. 

How does it make you feel to think about your goals in life? 

How would a mate fit into those goals?

Do your goals need to change?

Are you happy where you are?

God’s timing is perfect. Never too late and never too early. But it can be lonely in the waiting period. The unknown is a scary place to dwell but the Lord’s strong hand is upon you. Hold fast!

Can you trust God to lead you to your mate and your mate to you? If not what’s getting in your way of doing so?

The Lord is patient with us and long suffering even when we turn from Him in the moments we should draw closer to Him. Take it from me. The moment I told the Lord I give up on that part of my life was when it opened up the opportunity for what He had for me to move towards me. That surrender was painful but so so sweet! It came faster than I expected but I was so relieved I decided to trust God! My husband is far beyond what I would have chosen for myself. God did His big one when He made Jimmy Giles for me!  In your singleness do not doubt or fear because God knows exactly what you need. Speak life over yourself and your relationship with the Lord and trust in the one that sees you, knows you and loves you like no one else could.  When the time comes for you and your mate to meet, he will receive a great prize in a shining beautiful wise woman. And your relationship will be starting on a rock solid foundation in Christ. But that foundation must start in you first.

Can you trust Him?

Prayer

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:23-23

Pray for peace in this time of waiting and pray that the Lord may fill you up with wisdom and discernment. Ask the Lord to give you eyes that see so you are not misled by men that disguise themselves as “the one”. Give thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness and promises. Praise Him for being the creator, the author and deliverer of your life. Give Him thanks for your blessed days. In Jesus Christ name Amen.

Christ Mindset

God accepts me as I am and will help me be all that I was created to be. I am not alone. I have living waters flowing within me. Joy lives in me. Peace reigns in me because of Christ in me.

Next: Waiting on Your Mate With God Devotional 2

Easy Breastfeeding Advice: Skip These Foods! Your Welcome!

Need a quick list of foods to avoid during breastfeeding? We got you! 

These foods can be irritating to the baby and you. Some of these foods may not bother you and therefore disregard. But If you’re exipirencing sleep disruption, try elemenating caffeine. Alcohol in general should be avoided as there is not yet any scientific evidence that any amount of alcohol is safe for breastfeeding. Pin, screenshot and save for later!

Dairy

(yogurt,milk,cream cheese, heavy cream, sour cream)

Caffeinated drinks or foods

(coffee, energy drinks, supplements with caffeine in them, dark chocolate)

Egg yolks 

Alcohol 

Onions

Be Bold In The Gifts God Has Given

Every Sunday my family and I gather around the kitchen table to read God’s word and discuss Christian living and I have the pleasure of empowering my children and husband through the Holy Spirit. My husband recently had a stroke so I lead mostly the discussions for now as the stroke affected his speech. He does his best to chime in and I encourage the children to give their thoughts and opinions. In this hard time in our life as a family we are learning everyday how much God’s hand is on our lives and how He provides for us. My children are begging to exhibit great gifts and talents at a rate I have never seen before and God is leading us to everything He has for us.

We read in Isaiah 49 today how God formed him for His purposes, to bless him, for Isaiah to know Him but also for Isaiah to be a light to others. Did you know that God does that with you as well? That the moment that he made Adam and Eve He not only made them to have a relationship with Him but He made them that they may live life abundantly and then turn around in that abundance and give back to others. It’s a constant cycle of giving and receiving. What a massive blessing! But unfortunately we live in a world that wants to constantly take. People create and do so they can get something from someone else and I think we are all realizing that more and more. But I want you to know that God’s people give as much as they receive because that is who God made us to be and if anyone knows that clearly it should be us. Despite what the world is doing we should be following after our savior Jesus Christ and His Father; our Father. Living a life like this is where we can began to live a life of abundance. That circle of receiving and giving shouldn’t feel like a chore but should feel as good as a flowing river of life springing forth nourishing the seeds of faith and love within us. Be bold in the gifts that God has given you when you create. Make sure you do it not only for God’s glory but give to others while your doing what He’s called you to do. And you will begin to see the blessing of God on those around you and in your own home.

The Lord has been speaking to me so much in gardening these days. If you garden this may resonate with you. When you begin to grow a plant the plant has already done all the work that God created it to do to give you the seed. So then you take that seed and prepare it for sleep so that you can save it for sowing season. When it’s time to wake the seed up you do what needs to be done by rehydrating the seed then planting it. It’s up to you to nourish, water and make sure the seed is given plenty of sunlight. The seed begins to do what God created that seed to do. And eventually because of you giving your time and abelites that seed gives back to you ten fold. Now you have fruit to eat and to live off of. The world wants us to believe we live in a dead world but in fact we have life all around us. This world is overflowing with life! But in order for God to give the increase you must give as you have be given to. May God be with you Kingdom family!

xoxo

Johnnatta Giles

Practical Ways To Get Your Pink Back!

Practical Ways To Get Your Pink Back After A Baby 

The days of just surviving after having a baby is over! A new trend called “Getting your Pink Back” is in. As a mother of 6 children I can tell you this is something I have struggled with maintaining and have tried many different ways to getting myself back after each child. Here’s my advice!

Wait.. what does getting your pink back even mean?

Many influencing mom have their own takes on it including one of the first referencing flamingo’s and their offspring. Look that up later! But here’s my take on things. As mother’s when our babies are first born our instincts are to nurture our new life in the world. It can take a lot out of us as we focus on our baby’s needs and in some areas we do the bare minimum for ourselves just to get through the day or even years. This isn’t a bad thing but after a certain period there comes a time where we gain a little more sleep and get small bits of time back in our day. The problem is the latter part when we tend to find ways to fill up the new recovered time with everything else but ourselves. We go back to work, we give our kids more of us as they grow and if we have them, our spouses and partners more time as well. That’s when we find there’s little time for ourselves and so the neglect continues when it doesn’t necessarily need to.

I’m always going to advocate for both mom health and baby health. But one doesn’t have to be without the other. You can nourish your body even in the “healing” phase of motherhood which is postpartum and beyond to get your pink back so to speak. Here’s a few ways to do that from my own experiences.

Begin the Healing

Yoga may not be your thing but some form of stretching works wonders. You can take 15 to 20 minutes everyday and become stronger with little effort by doing stretch exercises. I call them my lazy workouts though there’s nothing lazy about them. They really do work if your goal is focused on healing instead of immediate weight loss. Focus on abdominal repair work outs and check if you have diastasis recti .This is a common condition post pregnancy but also can be healed naturally. Wear your belly support bands ladies during pregnancy and get ones for postpartum too they really work!

Clean eating can be as easy as switching from fast food hamburgers to nutrient dense soups and casseroles. WHAT I can eat a healthy casserole? Absolutely! Change your basic cheap macaroni full of preservatives to ones with better whole ingredients and Voila! Carbs are not always your enemy. It’s what the carb is made of that is!

Start A Natural Beauty Routine

Your skin needs you babe! Our hormones are fluctuating during the first few weeks to even years after having a baby and it’s not the time to experiment with chemical ridden cosmetics. Get to know your skin by investing in natural products or go the DIY route. A face mask daily refreshes the skin and gives you a little treat. My favorite masks are mud and charcoal. Begin a morning and night routine and do your best to stick with it!. My favorite two cleansers are raw unfiltered honey and castle soap. Moisturizers I live by is aloe vera leaf (from the plant) and olive oil. If these natural products don’t work switch up and find ones that work. Natural soaps like goat milk soap is great to cleanse the skin with. Coconut oil and caster oil are great oils for moisturizing to try as well. Don’t sleep on the ice! It really does work! Use ice cubes or ice rollers to shrink pores and improve circulation. It’s not just a beauty routine but a self discovery journey as well!

The Mama Clothes May Have To Go!

From maternity clothes to the clothes you bought just to exist in during the 4th trimester, it’s time to let them go! It’s okay to freshen up your closet to match your current season. You don’t have to throw them away but you can save them for future pregnancies or donate them. Find clothing that flatter your body and make you feel good instead of going by trends. Trends can be exciting but also very disheartening if what’s on trend doesn’t look as good on you as it does on everyone on social media. Have a friend, spouse or family member go with you shopping to help with the baby while you try on new clothes. Or browse the Internet during nap time and shop from your own style board you made on Pinterest. This is one of my favorite things to do after having one of the kids to get my “pink” back! 

Mom Hair But We Do Care

We are at that point, in society that we just don’t give a you know what. We’re doing our best and it’s become very popular to just accept others as they are and ourselves. Which I love! But at one point we have to rise up out of the “it is what it is” survival pit. It has it’s place but we are moving on. Rather we want to admit it or not there’s something powerful about our hair. It can change everything about how we feel about ourselves and in fact sometimes one of the first things we do when going through a big change is we change our hair! I was notorious for big chops when I was younger. And if you’re ready for it girl do you! But you can also go in for a refresh hair cut to clip your ends or try a new layering style. It doesn’t even have to be a hair cut. When I was pregnant with my last munchkin, my goal was to grow my hair after she was born. I’ve been trying new routines to see which one worked with less effort as having 6 kids ain’t no joke! But I am determined to find time to give to this goal. I wash my hair once a week, deep condonation with one leave in product after washing, style my hair once, do an oil treatment before shampooing and repeat.  This protected my hair from shedding too much during the dreaded postpartum shed and my hair is healing and growing! Getting a fresh start with our hair feels like letting a load off and it’s very refreshing.

Girl YOU MATTER So Act Like It!

You gave life to someone else now you must give life back to yourself. You don’t have to go to the gym, take a bunch of supplements or spend a bunch of money to get your pink back. The natural ways are always cost effective and the most effective from experience. But remember don’t be so quick to jump on this trend right after birth because at the end of the day you and your baby’s bond is what matters the most. Enjoy the newborn phase because it’s the quickest of them all! 

xoxo

Johnnatta

A Mother’s Worship

Pitter patter pat. I look up from my work on my queen sized bed and notice little black hairs escaping a head full of long silk curls. Someone’s coming to give me a kiss goodnight and to tell me something funny her baby sister just did. She climbs onto the bed and I open my arms for a tight hug. I then bring my hands to her face, cupping her sweet golden brown cheeks. Two kisses for each! As she climbs down to tell me something, I listen and respond but also take a moment to worship the Lord. I’m in awe that such a beautiful being could ever come from my husband and I. In silence, I’m thanking the Lord for it and committing myself deeper to His plan. Because this little one was born out of a promise between Him and I. And I’ll never forget it.

The power of in the moment worship

In the last few months, I have had a really rough time. My husband just went through a medical emergency and that has made me the primary caregiver of everyone in the house. He’s gaining his strength back but It’s going to take time. Sometimes I don’t realize just how tired and stressed I am. But in that moment I stopped and worshipped the Lord. Doing that took a tired and worn out mama and spread peace throughout my being. It was just what I needed after the se last few months of hardship. Many people view worship as a way to spend time with the Lord. But in reality there are many things worship is for and actually does. Worship also is a way the Holy Spirit rises up in us and gives us what we need in that moment. Do you need strength? Peace? Rest? Wisdom? Answers. Take a moment to Worship. Worship is a place of surrender so that the Lord can have space to give you exactly what you need in that season of your life. What around you can you give God praise for? What in your life can you give thanksgiving? Is there something that just happened that you can be humbled in gratitude about? Take e beat, and worship at His feet! People tell you to pray often but I’m telling you mama, to worship. Worship as often as you pray! There’s healing in that small moment of praise.

No matter what life throws at you, God can breathe life back into you again. And He does it a lot of the time in the smallest ways. Will you give Him just a moment so He can fill you back up again?

xo Johnnatta

Womanhood in Motherhood

One topic I would love to dive deep into on MFS is my experiences with motherhood. I cannot even begin to count how many times strangers have come up me (and still do) and tell me how beautiful and well behaved my children are. Deepening on the conversation and the time I have I kindly thank them and tell them it’s because I do my job. with a lot of hard work. Once my mom asked me how I did it with all the children I have and I told her point blank, THE LORD. Although these explanations can be seen as generalizations, in reality these simple responses hold much stories, revelations and true spiritual maturity on both my part and my husband’s.

Is Womanhood and Motherhood two separate things? In reality the are one and the same

I heard a saying, maybe a few, that motherhood and womanhood are two different things. Have you heard the whispers of this belief? It was loud and clear in my teens and even as a young woman. But I don’t hear it as much around me as I used to. But everyone once in awhile it pops up online. Oh the world of technology where nothing is really forgotten!

I’m a bit rebellious against the world, doing the opposite of what I’m told to do and instead embarking on journeys to figure things out for myself. I have been called stubborn and I have bluntly agreed. I can be taught but I’d rather do the teaching. In order for me to impart wisdom I have to seek truth for myself. And this was one of those things.

Was I no longer a woman when I became a mother?  As I raised the first when she was my only, I came to the realization that, a full womb does not mark the end of me but creates a stronger me, if I let it. Motherhood has raised a lionesses on the inside of me I never thought I could be. It taught me in fact how powerful women can be. How powerful I can be. Motherhood is an added bonus to womanhood. In order to become a mother you must first be a woman. It’s apart of the journey for those who choose it and it can take on many forms.

I never had to give up all of me to be the best mother I could be. Things change like they do with any life decision. I shifted, I molded and even sometimes I had to go into a type of metamorphosis. Becoming something new so I could expand my view on life and my capacity to love and learn. The parts of me that died away after I held those small fist and counted every tiny toe were replaced with fresh new eyes that saw wonder in a new way.  I had changed for the better. But much still remained and I still remain true to those things that will always be apart of who I am.

Don’t be afraid to be who you are in front of your children. In truth we should be growing with them while raising them but not in self denial. Self sacrifice is good for the common good of you both. But if you find the need to make changes that surly is for the best for your child just know that is not a form of self denial. Too often women fall into this trap and warrior women it brings on nothing but regret shame and unfulfillment which inevitable trickles over into to your mothering.

My children created the woman I am today. I have watched them grow and they have seen me at my rawest truest form. They know full well that I am their mama but I am also my own separate person. Sometimes as women we need to remember that for ourselves. I am proud to be both a woman and mother. They are apart of who I am and always will be.

Be proud, stand tall.

oxoxo

Johnnatta Giles | Owner of VC

Where I’ve Been

It’s been a long time since I’ve written on My Father’s Symphony. I’ve welcomed a new daughter, opened a brick and mortar store and I’m continuing preaching the gospel while being a homeschooling mom and homemaker!

There are many things still yet to come for me as I continue to let God pour into all the vessels He has given me. But now in one area of my life I’m coming back full circle and that’s writing. I have a beautiful teenage daughter that is an amazing artist and becoming a writer herself. We have decided to work on a few projects in the coming year. One of them is a children’s book for me and hers may be a tween novel from what she’s been sharing with me.

Writing and music have always been a part of who I am as an artist. While away from this blog, I longed to be back doing this very thing. Stay tuned, there is much more to come. Catch up with me on living woman ministry channel on Rumble, where I discussed two doctrines every Christian should be careful with. Write you soon!

What Pregnancy Centers Actually Do

This Monday instead of sharing my next episode for Christ & Culture I am sharing a video that I just made giving real facts about what the pregnancy center I volunteer for actually does. From my research, this is what a lot of pregnancy centers do around the country. Many people are not fully informed on what it is that we do and therefore there is a lot of misinformation that create confusion and fear in women and men. Unfortunately many who need what these centers offer don’t reach out it because of being told false information about how we operate. The good news is the community that my center is in is starting to understand what it is that we actually do because of us reaching out to the community and educating people on what we do. The growing interest to get involved is inspirational and now more referrals being made to our center. Knowledge is truly power so please share it with others. You never know who it may come by that really needs to hear it! Click the image to watch below!

The Culture & Christ Series will return next Monday!