The Year Of Abudance
It's amazing to observe the many mountain top and valley experiences we go through in life in order to fulfill destiny. The Bible says that it rains on the just as well as the unjust (Mark 5:45) and... time and chance happeneth to us all.( Eccles. 9:11)
God has a set time appointed to bless His people individually and collectively. In desiring to fulfill purpose and destiny, it's important to not only choose a profession, a career or a path in life that you're inter‐ ested in, but it's important to fulfill the path that God has for you. In Proverbs 22:6 Amp, the Word says to train up a child in the way that He should go teaching him to seek God's wisdom and will for His abilities and talents), even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
I recall times when I was a young girl transitioning into my teenage years. I would always sing, worshipping and praising God. It was my outlet from anything that bothered me. My grandmother would encourage me to sing. Once, I'll never forget, I had gotten the flu, which was rare because she took such good care of me. I had an engagement to sing, but I was extremely ill. She nursed me to health and spoon fed me so that I would get better. She looked at me, and said, " You must sing to the glory of God." She was so passionate about every aspect of my development. She knew that God had anointed me for worship, not only to deliver God's people, but it delivered me as well.
She saw greatness in me, when others discounted me. I knew that I loved God and worship has always been my identity. I would sing until my family would "shoosh" me because it got on their nerves to constantly hear me singing all of the time!
My first solo was in Newark, New Jersey at a church where my Uncle, Bishop Boaz Stuppard of Shiloh Compassion Ministries, was preaching. I was four years old, and I sang, " He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." I had gotten saved at age four when my uncle led me in the Sinner's prayer a few months prior. My next big solo was at age six, and I was singing for my uncle again. I sang, "Yes Jesus Loves Me." The church was so encouraging. At first, I was nervous, but as I continued, they were standing and agreeing, so I gained confidence and sang with all my heart and soul. My uncle gave me a dollar, and I felt so special that I was able to encourage hundreds of people by singing my song!
That's been my heart cry, to worship the Lord and to bring life to His people. I have been trying to complete a CD project for years. I've been in and out of the studio with the intent of producing something great for the Kingdom, but it never manifested for one reason or another. I went through a challenging separation and divorce, and the process of healing was necessary and replenishing. I've had financial setbacks and family challenges that delayed my process. I am learning however that the struggle was needful to develop character and cultivate a sense of stick-toit-edness in me. Would I still believe in my dream from my youth that my Grandmother so dearly invested in or would I give up and see myself as a mediocre nobody who lost her song?
At times, life convinced me of the latter, but the truth of God's Word specifically to me kept resonating in my heart. " For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. " (Jer. 29:11, NLT)
Through tears, through disappointment, through rejection, and through heart ache, my heart cry became, "Fill Me Up, Oh God!" When I heard the rendition of that song, "Fill Me Up," by Casey J and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, it blessed me tremendously and it served as a point of release in my dark place. It shone light in the darkness.
When I got to the studio, I gave my producer Bj my ideas. We developed this flow that resonated and has become my anthem in my new season, "Fill Me Up, Oh God!" I believe as I press into the fullness of God's Will for my life, I must allow Him to fill me up until I
overflow with His love, His life, His peace and His joy.
The enemy used to try and torment me with Depression. The Lord told me in a Prophetic Word when I was 19, that I would be called Joy. His joy strengthens me everyday, and I'm so glad that He gave me a song, which has become my Melody.
I believe God strategically had me on the back side of the desert like Moses because He's been pruning me, cleansing me, molding me, and shaping me. You may be in a similar situation. You may be enduring rejection in your relationships, experiencing challenges on your job or in your career, battling with your health, and experiencing setbacks despite your attempts at improving in life. Just know that God has not forgotten about you, and He has a master plan that will cause even the ugly things in your life to develop into a beautiful masterpiece. Even those areas where we disobey and we act in disobedience, God is able to use those areas to develop strength of character and integrity in us. Trust the process and trust that your Father is committed to your success.
God would not release certain blessings into my life until I disconnected from certain people, places andd things. Within months after I married my King, Jamar Yancey and we joined our church, True Love Church, blessings began to flow supernaturally into our lives. It was like the flood gates started to pour in! Things that I had been waiting on God to release for years were opened almost instantaneously! I knew that the season of my life had changed!
My encouragement for the single mother, the loved one caring for a family member with Special Needs, and for the individual who feels like a "Has Been," know that God is faithful, and everything He promised you will come to pass. Get in position because this is the Year of Abundance.
