Obedience: The Prerequisite

In Exodus Chapter 33, we find that while Moses was with God on Mt. Sinai for forty days receiving the Ten Commandments and the laws God wanted them to live by, Aaron, under pressure from the people, created a golden calf for them to worship. Just that quickly they resorted back to their sinfully familiar ways. The people were in a state of complete chaos. The end result was Aaron and the Levites slayed 3,000, God struck them with a plague, and he refused to travel with them to the Promise Land. In fact, God was so angry with them he said he couldn't travel with them, because he might kill them on the way. Moses, who was called a friend of God because "God spoke with him as a friend," pleaded with God to travel with them because he didn't want to go without him. The Lord said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." God finally consented. "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Wow! God consented to Moses' request of traveling with them to the Promise Land, despite his anger with the Israelites. He changed his mind because he was pleased with Moses. Moses did exactly what God requested of him. What God requested of Moses wasn't simple simple or easy to do. He requested Moses to lead his people from Egypt and into the Promise Land. Let me reiterate, Moses' job was by no means simple or easy. He had to leave his home of forty years, go back to a land that he was forced to flee, tell them what God said, and listen to the Israelites complaints on a consistent basis. At times, I wonder if Moses thought, "Why me?" It was his job to lead the people that God called "stiff necked people," the Israelites. One minute they said they would do exactly as God requested of them and after forty days they were doing as they were requested not to do and what they said they wouldn't do. So Moses' job was definitely not easy even though God raised him up for it. His job was a continual pressing for him. Everything that Moses had done up to that point wasn't simple, in fact, it had been quite a challenge. God rewarded him by honoring his request of traveling with them when he first said that he wouldn't. If we want God's presence, we must honor him with our obedience as Moses did, not some of the time, but all of the time. Obedience isn't an option. It's a prerequisite to fellowship with God. Obedience is key in honoring God. In order to obey God, the flesh has to be killed. After fleeing Egypt, Moses was a sheep herder in the desert for forty years. Any no good thing that was in him at the start of that period had to be worked out of him by the close of that forty years in order for God to use him to lead his people (the killing of his flesh). A chore that some would have looked at as menial was his training ground for leading the Israelites. God had to make Moses into a vessel that he could use. Over that forty year period, he reworked him. Remember, Moses killed an Egyptian when he saw him beating an Israelite. That temper and anger had to be pressed out of him. Just as Moses had to under go a transition period, so did the Israelites, and so do we. Consider this...Moses went from being a murderer to being hand picked by God to lead his people out of Egypt. How awesome is that? What did it take to get Moses to that point? OBEDIENCE! What will it take to get us to that point? The same Obedience. There is no way around it. If we expect to get the same results that Moses did that day, than we have to put forth the same obedience that he did prior to that point. First, we need to find favor with God by being determined to be obedient to his Word even when it's not easy to do. We must submit ourselves to the Word of God. We must tell him, "Lord your will be done and not my own." Next, we must pray what Moses said to God in verse 13, "Lord, if you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you." That should be our prayer, meditation, and confession. You will be amazed as God grows you up in his Word. Our level of obedience is directly connected to how God can use us in his kingdom.

Drowning in Excess

As Christians, our minds should constantly be renewed to the point that we are foreigners to our old selves. The world should become a foreign place to us. It should become but a distant memory. We are set apart from the world's way of doing things (thinking, acting, speaking, dressing, looking, tasting, feeling, hearing). The world's way is out of balance. There is no discipline, no self control, or no moderation in the world. Everyone does what works for them with little to no consideration for anyone else. It's all about self. When I was in the world, my number one goal was to make myself happy at all costs; however,I found that my happiness was fleeting. It was unsustainable, because my happiness was based on acquiring things. If I wasn't getting things, I wasn't happy. I was over the top. I constantly fed my flesh whatever it wanted, but it was never enough. I chased everything I could find thinking it would make me happy but with no success. All of that chasing left me an emotional wreck. I remember finding peace for the first time in a very long time. It was in church. All of my worries, concerns, and fears seemed to fall from me. That day marked the beginning of my exodus from the world. Since then, the Lord revealed to me that the world is full of dangerous excess. An excess of entertainment to keep you lulled into a mindless state...movies, Internet, video games. An excess of stuff to make you feel important but keep you in debt...the newest cell phones, big houses and cars, latest technology, designer clothing. An excess of food to keep you over weight and too unhealthy to carry out your God given assignment..., a McDonald's on every corner, super size menus, movie theaters that sell food. An excess of time spent away from home...mom works weekends and then goes out to lunch with her girls, dad works over time and plays golf on Saturdays, and the children are home alone. An excess of sex.. it's everywhere all the time.. music, music videos, movies, cable, Internet, suggestive kid's clothing. In the world, there is an excess of everything, and no one has joy. People are duped into thinking that things will make them happy, so they go after more things, yet they have a fleeting happiness but no joy. They are attempting to fill the God hole in their lives with things that can never give them what they truly want. So they continue to chase. They think, "If I try this one, then I'll be happy." If I buy this designer dress, drive this type of car, and party at this club, then I'll be happy. Still, these things don't bring them that which they are seeking. They chase, they run, they chase and still no joy...no peace. They have been deceived. People are drowning in excess. Drowning in debt, drowning in drugs, drowning in food, drowning in sex, drowning in deception. They chase and they chase. They are lulled in by deception. It backfires, and they are drowned by the excess. I have to thank the Lord that although I came close a couple of times, I didn't drown. If you can identify with my testimony, know that you don't have to remain where you are. You too can return to the Lord. Tell him you're sorry for going off on your own, but now you're ready to come home. Ask the Lord to remove you from your present state. Renew your fellowship with him. Put him first and he will give you his very best.

Why Did I Get Married?

Why did I get married? When I didn't know any better, my life seemed much simpler before marriage. No cooking dinner if I didn't want. I could come and go as I pleased. I didn't have to call and check in while I was out. I could change my plans whenever I chose and never had to confirm it with anyone. If I wanted to leave the house at 11:00 pm, I could. I had complete freedom. Not to mention, I didn't even have to make the bed if I didn't want to. I was free to come and go as I very well pleased. That was the life or so I thought. I was the BOSS! Boy, once I was married that was over. There was no more coming and going as I pleased. No way was that going down. If I told him I was going to the store up the street, guess what I had better be going to the store. There was no way in the world I could come back four hours later and say I had changed my plans without calling. If I said I was going to the mall and would be back in a few hours, I actually had to be back in a few hours or call, which I could never remember to do. Too bad, because I learned that one the hard way several times over. In the beginning, it didn't seem to me like I was marriage material. I was a total mess up. It was as if I would wake up and say, "Let's see what I can mess up today." I would just pray, "Lord please don't let me mess up today." It just seemed that my husband and I were never on the same page at the same time. I would be on one page and he would be on another. Sometimes, I felt like we were in totally different books! Boy, that was a rough period. I prayed for my husband constantly as if he was the problem. I should have been praying for myself. I knew I wasn't as right as I could have been, however, I didn't know where to start, so I felt that he could give me a break. He didn't have to be on my case all day, every day. I felt like he should be the bigger person and cut me some slack (not!, no way! never going to happen!) I was doing the best I could. The point of contention in my marriage was my selfishness. That's really what it boiled down to. I didn't treat my husband the way that I wanted to be treated. I thought it was all about me, so that's how I acted; however, I didn't reach this conclusion over night. I was so used to doing my own thing that I continued to do it even after we were married. This is all that I knew. Here I was a grown woman, yet I walked around like a baby who considers no one but herself. Whatever the baby sees, she wants. Whatever the baby wants to do, she does. When the baby is opposed, she cries out. Like a baby I was crying out, "Give me a break! What's the big deal? Stop trying to change me." I never considered how my husband might have been feeling due to my behavior, because I was too busy considering myself. I gave myself an out in this area, because this new way of "being" was foreign to me. To actually consider someone else's feelings, other than my own, all the time now that was new to me. My husband came into the relationship doing these things, so I felt that he should continue to do them, and at some point, I'd catch up. Well, he wasn't buying that. He felt that he deserved the same treatment that he gave, and he wanted it right then. God is good. He gave me just what I needed...a strong man who would not, adamantly refused to budge on this issue. I did give it the old college try. I did have a few moments where I did the right thing. I would call if I was going to be late. Sometimes, I would even remember to make the bed. Every now and then, I would even consider the time and we'd make it to church early. It seemed like I just couldn't do all of these things on the same day, day after day. I wasn't doing them consistently. I had to plan to do the right thing, before I actually did it. Man, talk about pressure. I was under pure pressure. After I did all that I knew to do, I prayed for myself. Until this point, I had been praying for my husband (praying that he would cut me some slack). I prayed that if I was wrong that the Lord would show me. I prayed for eyes to see and hears to hear what he would reveal to me. That didn't take very long. Immediately, he showed me that it was I who was wrong. Then, I prayed for him to show me how to be right consistently, because I had no clue of how to do this. He did show me. By no means was it quick nor easy, but he did show me. It wasn't one of those miraculous things where I was instantaneously delivered from my selfish ways. Nope, I had to walk this one out. I had to get my mind right. I had to change my thought process. It wasn't all about me, nor should it have ever been. It was about the Lord being glorified in my marriage. I had to treat my husband the way that I wanted to be treated. I had to do all that I did as unto the Lord (period.. No excuses). I had to begin by thinking the right thing, and doing the right thing, day after day after day. Was this easy? No! It was incredibly difficult. I ranked it right up there with when I did my student teaching when I was in college. I thought it was the most challenging thing I ever had to do. No textbook ever prepared me for what I encountered in the classroom. It was sink or swim. I became a fast swimmer. This was the case for adapting a right mind set in my marriage. I didn't know it at the time but I was disciplining my flesh, and it was screaming and wailing out under the pressure, because it was literally being crushed. It was being crushed out of existence. I must say that once I sincerely gave it to the Lord, real change began in me. I grew to begin to consider my husband the way that he had been considering me all that time. I can finally say that this is a lesson learned. It is a lesson that I must continually apply throughout my marriage. This married life...,this is the life! Why did I get married? So, I can become what God wants me to become. So, I can grow up in God. So, I can see that this life isn't about me. So, I can have one of the greatest testimonies ever (it's not finished yet). So, I can experience how Christ treated the church. So, I can see how much my husband loves himself (because he is commanded to love me the way that he loves himself). So, I can be a blessing to my man of God, my husband. So, I can train women how to love their husbands. So, I can become a Proverbs 31 wife. So, I could become a we. So, we can raise Godly children. So, we can be an example of a marriage that is rooted in God. So, we can further the kingdom of God. That's why I got married.

20 Ways to Grow Up in God

I've compiled a list of "Ways to Grow up in God." Please don't think for one minute I only did this list for my readers. This list is compiled of the Ways that I've addressed, am addressing, and need to address consistently. So, by no means is this list just for you. Read the list slowly. Actually ponder each Way. Consider whether or not you need to incorporate a Way into your life. Pray about it. Ask the Lord if you need to incorporate a Way. He always knows best. Your starting point should be the answer to your prayer. If the answer to your prayer is, "Yes," ask the Lord to reveal to you which Way you should apply first. Ask him for the motivation to want to apply the Way, and then for the determination to hang in there during the application of the Way. Also, pray for the success in the mastery of the Way. After you've completed the prayer, confess the way in your life (speak it out loud). For example, I would confess, "I treat others the way I want to be treated." I should confess this at least daily, but it would be even better to confess it several times throughout the day. Romans 4:17 states that God calls those things that do not exist as if they already exist. We are to do the same. When we do this, we are aligning ourselves with the Word of God and allowing his plans to come to pass in our lives. Repeat this process for each Way the Lord reveals to you to apply until he reveals to you that you're finished with this list.



Think before you speak, instead of giving everyone a piece of your mind.


Exercise discipline and self control in every area of your life, instead of being slothful and out of a balance.


Pray for the needs of everyone, instead of just yours and your family's.

Look for ways to serve others, instead of trying to run everybody and everything.

Treat others the way you want to be treated, instead of reserving good treatment for family and friends.

Choose to live by the Word, instead of your emotions.

Realize that your pastor's sermon is for you, instead of your friend.

Ask the Lord to see your spouse the way that he sees him, instead of complaining about what you think is his every shortcoming

Take responsibility for your actions, instead of blaming others.

According to Pastor Michael Freeman, "Do not paint the wrong picture of sin."

Admit when you're wrong and say sorry, instead of acting like you're always right.

Choose to keep a positive perspective, instead of being beaten by worry.

Admit that you don't have to know every thing about everybody and turn a deaf ear to gossip, instead of being an "Enquiring Mind."

Pray everyday, instead of only when you need something.

Be a good steward over all that you have, instead of only those things you deem important.

Receive correction and instruction, instead of being unteachable.

Believe God for what you can't see, instead of limiting God to what you can only see.

Increase the time you spend reading the Bible, instead of only reading it during Sunday School and church as instructed by the teacher and the pastor.

Live up to those high expectations that you set for everyone else, instead of giving yourself an out.

Extend the benefit of the doubt to everyone again and again, instead of being so quick to make an assumption about them.

Exact Imitation

Have you ever seen a knock off handbag? Some people love them because they can get a designer look without paying a designer price. I've actually seen a few, and I have to admit the few that I saw did look real... from afar. Upon closer inspection, the fake bags didn't stand a chance. They were of poor quality. The stitching was crooked, the leather was cheap, and the designer stamp imprinted on the inside of the bag was weak. Some just can't afford the real thing while others with the money are unwilling to pay the steep price. But one thing is for sure, there is a price to pay if you want either bag. Which ever you choose, you get what you pay for. Be glad this is not the case for our salvation. The costly price of our salvation has already been paid. Jesus Christ paid the price. Good thing, because no matter how badly we may have wanted it, we could never afford the price of salvation. God knew we could not afford it and had another plan in place since the very beginning. We are not resigned to accept a "knock off," salvation, but the real thing. In this case, we got what we didn't pay for! Ephesian 5:1 calls Christians to be "imitators of God." We are to "live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us." We are to fashion ourselves after the example that God gave us in Jesus Christ. Unlike the production of an imitation bag, imitating Christ is by no means a small assignment. It comes with a sack of other assignments. We must first acknowledge his Word as truth before any imitation can take place. In order to imitate him, we must first know exactly how he acted. The only way to know how he acted is to spend time in the Word of God by studying or listening to it. Before the creation of the fake bag, its maker spends a great deal of time examining every inch of the real bag in order to produce an exact replica. We should conduct that same type of examination of the Bible, so that we have the knowledge of the scriptures that we need for the imitation of God. Once the bag maker has completed his examination, he's ready to begin the building of the bag. He sits down at this sewing machine and applies all that he's learned about the real bag to make the fake one. Before we can apply what we've learned, we have to undo what we've been doing. That's right, we have to undo the mind sets that we've held for a lifetime. Those mind sets must be undone, because those mind sets are what caused our evil ways (greed, bitterness, rage, impurity, brawling, slander, foolish talk). We should pray that the Word of God takes root in our hearts and changes us from the inside out. Then, we have to patiently practice the Word of God over and over and over again to renew our minds. Our minds will become full of God's Word. We have to practice speaking it, practice reading it, practice writing it, and practice applying it. The renewing of our minds will cause a new thinking pattern that lines up with the Word of God. This new thinking pattern will then produce new behaviors that line up with the Word of God. Then we will be exact imitators of God. Despite his best efforts, the bag maker's attempts will be flawed. Although his outcome may look similar to the real thing, we know that upon inspection its over for the the knock off. Its maker never had the original design. He was at a loss before he ever began. Here's an opportunity for you and I to rejoice! We have been given the original design. We have the blue prints for becoming like Christ, the Bible. Not only do we have the instructions, we also have examples of how these instructions look upon application. We can be as Christ was in this world. We don't have to settle for "knock off" status.

PROCESS 101:IT'S GROWING TIME

When my daughter was younger, she wanted to be a cheerleader badly. She couldn't wait for the little league football season to begin. She soon realized, however,that she didn't like practicing. When the other girls were stretching, she would be looking off across the field. If the team was jogging, she would be walking as slowly as she possibly could. When it came time to actually cheer at a game, she found that she didn't like that either. All of the other girls would smile brightly and were enthusiastic, not my daughter. She was always frowning and a few moves behind. She really didn't like anything about cheer leading other than the uniform. She absolutely loved wearing the Inkster Raiders uniform. It finally dawned on my husband and I that our daughter just wanted the uniform with no strings attached. She wanted the uniform without enduring the process to get it. I'm sure many Christians can relate to my daughter's situation. Because at one time or another in our lives, we too wanted something that we did not earn. We've seen Christians with the results of their harvests... cars, careers, jobs, husbands, health, houses, faith, or relationships with the Lord that we wanted and became angry, because we didn't have them. We had the nerve to want what they had (their harvests), even though we didn't do what they did (process) to get those things. In order to get those harvests, we have to put God first all the time, even when its not convenient. We shouldn't put him first to just to get things, but to get to know him. What better way to get to know him then by spending time with him praying and reading his word? Mark 6:33 clearly states, "But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Some of us were seeking things when we should have been seeking God. When we put Him first, he gives us his very best harvest. The Lord revealed to me that the Kingdom of God is a process that must be endured. There is no such thing as a short cut in God. This process is stated in Mark 4:26-29, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, the the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." These verses in Mark describe the process of the kingdom of God in us. It starts small as a seed but grows to full maturity as a full kernel of grain that is ready to be harvested. If you want to go to the next level in God, you must go through a similar growing process. The seed went through stages of distinct growth. It all starts with the seed. The seed has to be planted. The stalk first appears, then the head, and the kernel. Notice, this growing period doesn't happen over night. It happens over time. This process was probably more than a little uncomfortable too. Imagine, that first sprout attempting to make its way through the hard soil. That sprout patiently displaces the soil that is directly in front of it a little at a time so that it can inch its way to the surface. The entire time growth is taking place although it is not obvious to the eye. Once close enough to the surface, the tiny sprout bursts through. That part of the process is probably shocking, maybe even stressful to the sprout's system, however the process isn't over yet. That sprout has to grow into a tall wheat stalk that has a head that contains a full kernel of grain. Wheat is measured in stages from 1 (sprout) to 11 (fully mature stalk of wheat). So, the growth process of the sprout must continue until it reaches full maturity as a stalk of wheat at 11. This is the very same process that Christians must endure if we want to grow up in God. Growing up in God happens gradually in stages. I heard Pastor Michael Freeman say it best, "The Kingdom of God is a process not an event." Do not despise the process. I know...I know the process isn't easy. But, what some of us are doing isn't easy either. It's just familiar. Really, I was tired of being in the same place for so long, and I was wondering when the Lord was going to move me to another level. All the while he was showing me what to do, but I wasn't listening. He was waiting for me to make a move in him. When I did, he began to reveal to me what I needed to do. Many times we want God to do the very things that we should be doing. Was this process easy? No. I can't lie to you. It was quite uncomfortable, but well worth it. I can't believe how much my perspective on life has changed. I always wanted to be a writer, but I couldn't seem to find any time to write. The Lord revealed to me that I had as much time as everyone else. I just had to use it properly. That meant becoming an early riser. Before, I never made it out of the bed before about 10:00 am. Now I'm up by 7:00 am, sometimes even earlier. Before, I ran late all the time. Now, I plan to be early. Before, I read the Bible a few times a week. Now, I study it daily. The process called for me to trash some of my old ways, because they were preventing me from doing the very things that I wanted to do. Do you want a harvest? If you answered yes, get ready to grow. Ask the Lord to reveal to you how his kingdom works. Then, ask him to work his kingdom principles in your life.

What Is Your Report?

Two people can see the same thing and give two totally different accounts of it. The accounts can be so very different that you wonder if both individuals actually saw the same thing. For example, if two individuals saw a glass of water, one might say, "My glass is half empty. It's almost gone." While the other might say, "My glass is half full. I have plenty." Another example can be found in the book of Numbers the thirteenth chapter. The Lord told Moses to send some his men to spy out the land of Canaan which he was going to give to them. It was a land that flowed with "milk and honey." He was told to send a leader from each of the Twelve Tribes. Before deploying the men, Moses told them to check out the land and the people. After checking out the land and the people for forty days, they returned home. Upon their return, the twelve all agreed that the land did "flow with milk and honey." That's where their agreement ended, and the negative report began. Ten out of the twelve went on to say that the land's inhabitants were powerful and strong. They said the inhabitants were much stronger than they and thus infected the Israelites with their bad report. Caleb, one of the two who had a good report, said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." The men who had gone with Caleb became instantly enraged. They basically said, "Are you crazy? They' ll kill us. They are a bunch of giants and we're not. We couldn't possibly win against them." That was the beginning of the end. The bad report spread and infected the Israelites. The Israelites became distracted by the giants they saw in the land and failed to remember that the Lord was giving them that land. They were looking at what they couldn't do when they should have been looking to the Lord to see what he would do. Caleb and Joshua, the two who had good reports, attempted to tell the Israelites how great the land was, and that if they obeyed God he would protect them and give them the land. Unfortunately, the Israelites didn't make it into the land at that time. The end result was the Israelites were punished for their disbelief. They were punished for not trusting God. The same God that delivered them from Egypt with miraculous signs and wonders. They were made to wander in the wilderness for forty years, one year for each of the forty days they spied out the land. During this time, every man over the age of twenty would die in the desert except for Joshua and Caleb. The other ten with the bad reports were "struck down with a plague before the Lord." The Lord gave the Israelites a preview of the good land he was going to give them. The land was great! Instead of seeing this great gift that the Lord was giving them, they were distracted by the giants. They allowed the giants to block their view of the land's goodness and the Lord's greatness. The Israelites really should have seen the giants as God's problem, because God was giving them the land. Since he was giving them the land, he would have made the proper provision for them to receive it. God would have dealt with the giants if the Israelites had allowed him . Instead, they grumbled that they couldn't possibly win against them. They never even asked God how they should proceed. What is your report? Will you walk away from your blessing because of giants, or with the Lord's help will you take the land? Will you be like the ten out of the twelve with a negative report, or will you be like the minority,Caleb and Joshua, the two out of the twelve, with a positive report? Remember, when the Lord gets ready to bless you, he will make the provision for you to receive the blessing. What is your report?

Flourishing Under the Hand of Adversity

I will never forget my college years. They were one of the most STRESSFUL times in my life. They were just plain difficult. I was a young, bitter, broke (financially and emotionally), divorced mother attempting to get a degree, so that I could support myself and my child. During that time, nothing seemed to go my way. I had a work study job and at times worked two jobs, but I still didn't have enough money. Although I was blessed to be given a car free and clear, it seemed to break down all the time at the most inopportune times. I never had enough time. I didn't have enough time to spend with my child. I didn't have enough time to do homework. I didn't have enough time to have down time. I was always in a rush. Time seemed to be a rare commodity then. The odds seemed to be against me. Each morning I prayed for the Lord to keep me in my right mind. I hoped every day would not be the big day...the day I lost my mind. To the physical eye, I probably looked like a basket case. What the enemy meant to destroy me, the Lord used to build me. Spiritually, the Lord was growing me (Although, I didn't know it then). In the first chapter of the book of Exodus, the Israelites were growing in the midst of a horrible situation. They were forced into labor by the Egyptians. The Israelites became the slaves of Egypt. The Egyptians worked them unmercilessly. It seemed like the odds were against them. However, the Egyptians found that the more they "...oppressed the Israelites, the more they multiplied and spread..." Here Pharaoh and the Egyptians were trying to break the Israelites with hard labor, but all the while they were growing, multiplying. Under Pharaoh's oppressive hand, they were increasing. While under the strongest of adversities they were ever increasing. The Egyptians made their lives bitter with hard labor and worked them ruthlessly and still they grew. How great is that? In the natural, I'm sure the Israelites must have looked like they were at their lowest point. They probably looked like they wouldn't make it another day. What the enemy meant to destroy the Israelites, God used to expand them. In the spiritual, they were huge! In the spiritual they were, multiplying, growing, increasing, gaining, and spreading. God was preparing them for where they were going. Wherever we may be in life, God is there. When a situation may seem dismal, bleak, or just plain bad, God is there. He is there turning that situation around and working it out for our good. God is using it to grow us and expand us. He is processing us for the next level. He is sending us through a process, so that we will be prepared for that next level. We have to experience some things that will grow us up in the Lord. Is this a comfortable process? No. Is it necessary? Definitely. Although those college years were rough, I learned so much. Now, I know those years served as my growing time. I was being trained. I had to grow. I couldn't go to that next level in the state that I had been previously. It wouldn't have worked. I wouldn't have had what it took to be successful. I learned to trust God. Those times taught me to be diligent, determined, motivated, brave, strong, committed... and the list continues. I took all of the training I received with me to the next level, and I was successful. I continue to be successful because of what the Lord birthed out of me then. If you find yourself in a situation similar to this, ask the Lord what you need to learn where you are.