Podcast Transcripts

When God has called you to do something and you can’t believe that it’s really what He wants you do, then what do you do? Do you: 

• Say, “No way. I’m not doing that.” 
• Embrace it and get started 
• Ask everyone their opinion 
• Go and do 
• Say you will begin tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes 
• Other 

• God has a plan for you 
• Hard to Trust God 
• Let God Led 
• 5 Ways to get Through 
• Conclusion 
• Podcast audio 
• Podcast Transcript
• Resources Mentioned on Podcast, Blog and Guest Speaker

God Has a Plan for YOU 

No matter your choice (although b and d are the best choices) the point is that God has a plan for you. Life may not be what you think it should be now or your interpretation of what God’s calling you to do, but… 

One thing is for such, God has a plan for you. Even the mess that you are in, the mess you came through, and the mess that you will meet up in the future, it’s all going to be for your good. Because “…we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 

We also know that God is the God of impossibilities. What seems impossible or unrealistic to us, if we put our trust, faith in Him, then there is no glass ceiling to stop us from moving up, out or forward.  

Hard to Trust God 

I know there are times when you struggle and doubt God’s calling or something He’s asking you to do. There are times when you are being asked at an inconvenient time, but still do it. Kathie Lee Guilford’s book, It’s Never Too Late, shares a time when Kathie Lee stopped her makeup artist/hairdresser from preparing her for an interview just so she could go downstairs and tell Howard Stern (a person who only said negative things about her) that she wished him well on his new show. All because God impressed on her heart in that preparation chair to go do so. This resulted in Howard Stern apologizing. Check out her book because it is a good read or my Goodreads.com review.  
 
Here are some reasons why you may be struggling and doubting God. 

• You are looking at where you are in life now instead of focusing on God’s promises. If God said it, then it’s in you ready for you to work it out. Think of it like this, God knows your future better than you so why not pray for the strength to do it and guidance on where to start. 

• Sometimes, our past and the past of others can interfere because we may have tried something similar and it didn’t go well, or saw all the problems another person had and we don’t want to go down that same path. One thing you, and I, must always remember. There are not two people exactly alike, therefore, everyone’s journey is not the same. They might be similar, but not exactly the same. You were made for such a time as this to reach a specific group of people. They are waiting. So go and support whom God’s calling you to support. 

• Then there are the “what if’s”, “I can’t”, “no one will believe me”, “I can’t quote scriptures like…” , “I’m sick more than well…” or “I’m too young.” None of that matters. Really, it doesn’t. The thing you think is holding you back is a part of your testimony that will catapult you forward. Don’t get hung up on the drama created in your mind to hold you back. Get caught up in the scriptures God has placed on your heart to support what He wants you to do. Now if you don’t have any, then time to talk to the Lord about that. You need His word to hold on to, especially when looking for direction. 

• Lastly, you don’t feel that God really loves you. When you really love someone, you trust them. You begin to trust them with your life, like in a marriage relationship. You have always been a part of God’s plan, because you are the temple of the Holy Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 3:16 – 17). He not only sent His Son to save (John 3: 16) you but His Spirit to guide you (John 16: 13 – 14). You are so loved until it’s mind bobbling. Also the angels are her to minister to you. Love is your God. Time to embrace that. Think of it like this, you test the waters of love so why not do the same for the one who is love…God (1 John 4:16). 

Now that you know what some of the reasons are that hold you back or stopping you in your track. Let’s move on to how to let God lead when it’s hard. 

 
Let God Lead 
 
Letting God lead is simply believing His word until it becomes natural. How you do that? The Six Ways below can help. If you scroll down you will find a podcast episode from Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast below where the guest speaker, a breast cancer survivor shares encouraging word about the power of putting your life in Christ, even when you are struggling. Natalie Smalley, author of, I Have Breast Cancer, Now What?: A Cancer Support Tool has much to share.  

Six Ways  

Here are five ways to get you through tough times and walk by faith when it seems God’s calling on your life is impossible.  

1.   Praying Scriptures – The Psalms is a good place to start. It has scriptures that start with “Give ear to my prayer, O God” and “O, LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me”. They can be a prayer starter. Try write out your prayers, looking for verses that speak to your heart about a certain matter. This allows you to search the scriptures, take time with God, and find words that will help you say what is on your heart. 

Join Prayer-A-Week to get started.

2.   Memorize Verse(s) – Find one verse like, John 3:16 – 17. If you already know John 3:16 then adding verse 17 want feel as intimidating. So begin there by writing it on a notecard to carry with you or on your phone. When you are waiting in line, recite it. When you are doing your exercises, recite it. When you are at a family or friend’s event, recite it.  The point is keep reciting it until you can say it without looking at the card. This leads to the next step. 

3.   Meditate on Verse(s) – Take 15 minutes to just sit with journal and pen by your side, as you ponder the meaning of each word in your head. When you are filled to the point you have to write down your thoughts then begin doing so. Also remember, to invite the Holy Spirit into the mediation, so you will stay focused and Christ-centered 

• 3 scriptures for when doubting: 2 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Peter 1:19; Matthew 21:21
• 3 scriptures for tough times: Psalm 50:15; Joshua 1:9; Roman 8:28
• 3 scriptures for your calling: 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Thesalonians 5: 24
• 3 scriptures for letting God lead: Proverbs 16:9; Philippians 3:13 – 14; Isaiah 26:3

4.   Bible Study or reading – Daily take time to read your Bible even if it’s one chapter a day. A good Bible to start with is called, The One Year Pray for America Bible, NLT (Paperback) – Inspirational Daily Bible with Non-Partisan Prayer Prompts by Tyndale. It will provide you with a prayer prompt and as you read each section, rather am, pm or midday, you will begin to see who your God is, the people of the Bible and yourself in it. You’ll also begin to ask God questions, praying for an answer and in due time receiving an answer. 

5.   Practice the Spiritual Discipline of Silence & Solitude – Get away for 15 minutes or up to seven days or more and just sit still listening for God to speak through you. Remember First Corinthians tells us in chapter three verses 16 to 17 that we are the temple of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. This is why you listen from within instead of from without. You can have your eyes open or closed, but you make no judgements, cast all your cares on Jesus, embrace the silence of hearing “white noise” and just relax, which I call Chilin’. 

6.   Fellowship – Hang around Christians who will speak with God on your behave. Christians who are growing in their faith and walk with Christ. It is during fellowship that you get to converse with others, share testimonies, support each other’s journey, talk about God’s word and blessing, chat and chew, and more. Never cease being around the saints. Make sure you pray before becoming a member of any church or Christian organization to be clear why you are going and if this is the place for you to grow, serve or both. 

Conclusion 

Now here’s the beauty of all this. It may seem hard to do. So many pieces coming at you all at one time. There’s a way to simply the above process. It’s called Create Space. It’s a newsletter that arrives in your email the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month around 10:30 am. You will receive, memory verses, words of encouragement, Bible readings, updates of believers sharing their experiences of starting and doing what God’s called them to do, and more. Once a week you will receive Prayer-A-Week which will come Thursday’s at 6 am. For you to pray with another believer as you read and/or read their prayer. Create Space is designed to help you live a disciplined life where you use the spiritual disciplines to help you create space to commune with God and grow in your faith. 

God has a plan and YOU are in it! Time to let go of what’s holding you back to being all God’s called you to be and do. 

Blog Writer 

Lyvita Brooks, is the author of The Me Project: Who I Am and Whose I AM, a 7 week Creative Bible Study for the growing Christian that wants to know God’s next step to doing what you are called to do with boldness and confidence. You can get started with subscribing to Create Space at lyvitabrooks.com/subscribe. 

Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast transcript below featuring:

God has a plan and YOU are in it. It’s time to GO and Do. Even when you don’t understand the struggle. This is when you begin to walk by faith and not be sight. God’s plans are to prosper you , give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Keep the faith and here are some ways you can do just that.

Please enjoy this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Although efforts were made in editing, this transcript may include a few typos. It’s difficult to catch some minor errors. Enjoy!

Intro Begins

This is Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast. The place where we help you develop spiritual disciplines, which create space, for you to grow in love with God, your neighbor as yourself. Life can get messy affecting your joy and passion for the things of Christ. It’s through instilling some basic disciplines into your daily lifestyle that can keep you focused and grounded in your faith. And here is the place you can learn to do just that. 

Well Hello Saints! I’m Lyvita, your host founder of The Me Project Academy and producer of Create Space, on a mission to help you, the believer focus on developing disciplines that allow you to fulfill God’s call on your life with boldness and courage as you stand for Christ in a fallen world. 

If you are new to this podcast…WELCOME! And consider subscribing at lyvitabrooks.com so you can receive resources to help you live a more disciplined life that has meaning. And for the Saints of Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast who regularly listen in…thanks. I truly appreciated your support and hearing how this podcast has been a blessing to you. Please don’t forget to share with podcast with others. 

So stop what you are doing and come walk with me, where we intentionally practice being in the presence of God. 

Saints, it’s time to hang out with Jesus and me, Lyvita. 

Let’s pray…. 

Lyvita: Saints, we have my cousin from California here with us Natalie Smalley.. Welcome Natalie! 

Natalie: 

Lyvita: I am so happy to have you on the episode. We are double cousins.

Natalie: Yes two brothers married two sisters.

1:30 - Lyvita: Let the saints know a little bit about who you are because you have an awesome testimony of blessings and healing.

Natalie: I wear many hats.

3:00 - We are focusing on the spiritual discipline of Bible Study this year, especially looking at First Corinthians. Specifically today, chapter 2:6-9. Let me read it to you so we can all get on the same page. If you can open your Bible to First Corinthians 2:6-9, please do so. I’m reading from the ESV (English Standard Version): 

3:56 – 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, 

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him” 

As I study God’s word, different things stand out at different times. I’ve read these verses before but this time, it’s verse 9, “what God has prepared for those who love him.” Sounds like to me God has a plan. Now, I’ve discussed an overview of First Corinthians 2 with Rev. Anthony Wilson in episode #50 the one before this one. So take some time to listen to it. But briefly the second chapter of First Corinthians is about having a clear understanding of what the Christian message is. The Church at Corinth has been including philosophy, other “schools of thought”, political opinions, man’s knowledge and understanding into God’s Word. They were melting all of that together with God’s Word in order to push the gospel message as they see it, not how it is intended. Natalie do you have anything to share about the chapter? 

Natalie: 

Lyvita: There is so much I want to talk with you about Natalie and I know our listeners have questions of their own. Especially around man’s knowledge vs God’s Wisdom and why did God have certain things as mysteries in the Old Testament that He’s revealing now. But our focus today is clear.  

The gospel is part of the Father’s eternal plan. As stated in verse 6.  
God’s plan included a written Gospel for the mature to impart wisdom. 
God’s plan included me receiving the Gospel. 

Highlights from the conversation. Quotes:

5:28 – Natalie’s dad, my Uncle Matthew who passed in 2021, often said, “Don’t live below your privileges.

7:40 – “When you are in Christ the impossible is possible,” Natalie Smalley

7: 58– “In Christ, there is no glass ceiling,” Lyvita Brooks

8:39 – “We have to chase after God,” Natalie Smalley

10:58 – God has a plan.

11:10 – “God didn’t promise us a bed of ease”, Reverend Matthew Richardson

15:52 – “Our hope is in Christ.”

16:19 – “Everyone has a beginning and an ending. Everyone has a path,” Lyvita Brooks

17:29 – Follow me as I follow Christ

18:39 – “God gives you warnings,”

21:16 – “Prayer is a big part of my life.” Natalie Smalley

22:33 – “Keep the faith,” Our Uncles often say.

22: 53 – “I’m always praying scripture.” Natalie Smalley

27:22 – Just do it.

29:25 learn more about the 21-Day Challenge

30:19 – “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

31:55 – God is the lover of out soul.

31:25 – Don’t take for granted the gifts and talents God’s given you.

32:03 – Nothing is impossible for God.

32:38 – But God

34:32 – We have a plan because God has a plan

36:00 – Natalie shares her journey from breast cancer to being on a board to support women with breast cancer.

41:57 – Put God’s word in you

45:05 – We live in a world of sin

48:51 – “God’s a Gentleman” Natalie Smalley

Help for getting start on finding out your next step after knowing what God’s called you to do

So until we meet again over the airwaves, intentionally and daily, hang out with Jesus. 

Lyvita and Natalie: Shalom! 

Resources Mentioned on Episode:

• I Have Breast Cancer, Now What? A Breast Cancer Support Tool by Natalie Smalley
• 21 Day Challenge - for spending time with God focused on His word
• The Me Project: Who I Am and Whose I Am by Lyvita Brooks
• Create Space - bimonthly newsletter for growing Christians

Before you go, check these out: 

• Silence vs Meditation
• Developing Disciplines: Relationship With Holy Spirit 
• What’s In Your Heart?