There is no time like the present to level up. What do I mean when I say that? Now is the time for you to be clear on who you are in 2023. This is not the time to show up like someone else but be your authentic self. Be who God has called you to be. I don’t know about you, but at times I feel such an overload of information coming into my personal space. There has been such an increase in emails, advertisement, sales pitches, and commercials that all promise me how I can make more money. How I can attract more clients. How I can build and scale my business to six figures. How I can attract sponsors and partners, and how I can live my dreams by just taking a workshop, investing in a book, paying for a webinar, and/or attending a conference. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s great that people are ready to share information and use that information to help others. I think it’s great that people are not holding back what it took for them to get to their next level.
However, I am convinced that this is a season and a time to level up on what God has called you to do. It is imperative for you to know who you are in this year 2023! Just because someone is joining a venture does not mean you have to be a part of their team. Just because someone is sharing with you how they are investing in a company or a new project that they are working on does not necessarily mean you have to say yes to those objectives as well. Stay true to YOUR God given identity! Remember, YOUR gifts will make room for you! (Proverbs 18:16)
To be honest there were times where I got caught in that cycle and circle of jumping on this idea, and prematurely investing in another without truly asking myself two to three very important questions. Number one have I consulted with God? Number two, does this new project, investment, or initiative align with my purpose, and number three, what is my why? Why am I considering taking on a new assignment or task? Why am I considering making the financial investment into a certain project? What is my why?
It is very imperative that you ask yourself those questions as you move forward in life because at some point pivoting gets old. It’s okay to pivot at times because there are seasons where you may need to rebrand or recalibrate. However, pivoting should not be the norm. When and if you decide to pivot regarding your life, business, or ministry, it really should align with the principle of supply and demand, seed time and harvest, or with the changes in the industry in which you serve. I want to challenge you! Don’t pivot based on an idea, but pivot based on alignment. Does it make sense for you to rotate or shift something if it is not in alignment with your purpose? The answer is no. Even if pivoting might cause a burst of financial increase, I still say do not do it if its out of alignment with God’s intended created purpose for your life. Remember, God’s purpose is that we not only bring forth fruit but that our fruit should remain. (John 15:16)
The other thing I want to challenge you to do as you process what it means to level up, is decreasing your output and increasing your input. It is hard to level up when you have not disciplined your lifestyle to respect patience and time. I listened to a video a few months ago from Bishop T.D. Jakes and he talked about how patience is respect. He talked about how good things, really really good things, come when you give it time. You cannot level up with a microwave mentality. We cannot look at our lives in the same way in which we may desire our food. It’s great to come home sometimes from a long day and have the option to use or utilize a microwave to reheat dinner, or cook a frozen meal, but remember a microwave can also sometimes heat your food unevenly.
That means as convenient as it is, it’s not always beneficial. As convenient as it is, when your food is not cooked well, it is not desirable. If you have a microwave mentality when it comes to your life, when it comes to building your relationship with God, when it comes to your response from affliction and tribulation there is a good chance that you may miss some valuable lessons. There is a good chance of having uneven traits and behaviors of immaturity that ultimately will not give you an advantage.
Finally, to level up when it matters most, we must respect time. Some people have no respect for time. Some people are even oblivious to the amount of time they spend on things that are NOT making a difference in their lives. I know some may cringe when I say this, but the amount of time that we are on social media and watching TV is really scary. There should be some things in your life that are not negotiable when it comes to your input, meaning your growth and your development (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially) as a God-fearing Christian.
That is not to say that you may have days where you miss the mark, we all do but there must be a standard. What is your standard? I personally believe people make time for what they want to make time for, and if you are going to level up when it matters most, you must respect time. What is time telling you to do right now? Is it telling you to rest? Is it telling you to go back to school? Is it telling you to write the book? Is it telling you to start the business? Is it telling you to be still? Is it telling you to wait? Is it telling you to spend a certain amount of quality time with God and your family? Is it telling you to be more dedicated and growing your relationship with God and your family? Is it telling you to go to the doctors? I personally deal sometimes with procrastination and laziness, but what I have come to understand is that they do not respect time! In this year 2023, work on areas in your life, little by little, day by day that will challenge you to be more respectful of time, choices, and decisions.
Let us recap part one as we begin this beautiful journey of leveling up when it matters most. The first thing to remember is we will not say yes or commit to anyone or anything until we have consulted with God first. Some of you may say, “Well, what if I prayed and asked God for directions and answers, and I don’t hear anything?” I will tell you a word of wisdom that my spiritual mother, Elder Joylette Hillard tells me all the time, “Sometimes silence is an answer.” Secondly, we will only pivot if it aligns with our purpose. We are no longer going to pivot based on good ideas, or influence. Third, we are going to discipline our lifestyles in such a way that we have respect for patience and time. We will set healthy boundaries, and let our yes be yes and our no be no. (Matthew 5:37)
I hope you enjoyed part one of our series. Next month we will continue to discover tangible ways on how to level up when it matters most. This is your year! This is our year! I am so grateful that good news located you today. No matter the scars, no matter the hurt, no matter the disappointment or the pain, it’s time to level up when it matters most! Stay true to YOUR God given identity!
Live Life on The Promise of IMPACT!
Min. Carenda Deonne – www.carendadeonne.com
