Presence Led Surrender | June Blog

Trust and Obey
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3.5-6

Obedience to God looks differently in different seasons. Sometimes, it looks like being compelled to start something or step out in faith. When I (Anne) started The Crowning Jewels, I didn’t have some big vision in mind. I simply felt a stirring inside of me to start. I wanted a way to remember the truth of my identity in Christ. So I created jewelry for myself and then others. For two years, I worked as a full time nurse and then worked on my small jewelry business until The Crowning Jewels eventually grew enough for me to quit nursing. I didn’t have a huge vision when I started, rather I took a small step of obedience, then another, and then another. 

Many years ago, I (Katelyn), was in a relationship that I knew was not God’s best for me. At one point, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and showed me what it would cost me to stay in this relationship–and it was a price I did not want to pay. When I ended things, the Holy Spirit said, “you cannot out-give me. You gave me this relationship, now I am giving you the most creatively fulfilling season of your life thus far.” Nine months later, I was in acting school and experiencing a powerful life transformation. 

God doesn’t always give us the whole picture when He asks us to take a step of faith. Often, He simply asks us to trust Him and step out. Sometimes following God means laying down our understanding and even our right to understand. Surrender to God’s leading even if you don’t fully understand. He is cultivating character and trust inside of you. Lay down your own agenda. Lay down your timelines. Step out in faith and trust Him. Even if you don’t fully understand, lean into His Presence and trust. 

Cultivating the Presence
Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Exodus 33.15

Have you ever noticed that you’re drawn to some people because you feel peaceful and calm when you’re around them?  You feel hope?  Have you noticed how you feel during worship where you often feel lighter afterwards? Sometimes, we’re drawn to certain people because of the way they host the Presence of God. 

However, hosting the Presence of God is also available to you; it’s not just for a select few! God wants to walk with you in intimacy and close connection. He is looking for people who want to know Him deeply and cultivate a deep friendship with God. God is looking for people who want to host His Presence, who want to make walking with Him in closeness and trust their main focus. 

How do you do this? Well, a relationship with God is just that…a relationship! How do you create connection with people? You talk to them. You tell them about your day. You ask questions. You ask their opinions. In the same way, we can talk to God like a friend. Invite Him into the ordinary moments of your day. Create special times of connection with Him. Go on a walk and pour out your heart to Him. Notice His beautiful creation and than Him for it. Put on worship music and sing to Him. There are so many ways to connect with God! And He is looking for people who want to stay in close connection to Him. Invite the Holy Spirit to teach you how to become His friend and He will teach you.

In Service of the King
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
Genesis 41.41

The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.  In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
Daniel 1:19-20

God cares about people in every sphere of influence and society. There isn’t one area that God doesn’t want to impact, there isn’t one person that God doesn’t want to touch. Many times, Christians have called various realms of society unholy and have distanced themselves from the people in these arenas. However, God isn’t calling us to distance ourselves but to love and influence. 

God is giving His people authority to walk in areas the church has deemed unholy. However, the key is to still live according to God’s standards, not the world’s. Joseph sought the Lord and continually gave God credit for his ability to interpret dreams. Daniel and his friends refused to eat the king’s food. In doing so, they were set apart, yet they still served the king with humility and honor. That said, while they chose to live differently than those around them, they weren’t criticizing or condemning those who made different choices. Rather, they chose to honor their convictions and live according to God’s standards. 

We can both walk in holiness and go to the arenas God is calling us to go, to places, people groups, and areas of society that the church has called unholy. We can live lives set apart to the Lord and love people with completely different worldviews. In order to do this, God’s opinion has to be the loudest and you must be willing to remain uncompromising in your values to Him. That said, you must also live a life of humility and honor those around you. Daniel and Joseph both served pagan kings…and they served wholeheartedly with honor. Love and serve those in the arena you’re called to go to, even if they don’t have your same value system. God will honor you as you follow Him, submit to His ways, and love those around you.

Influence Surrenders Judgment
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14

One of the things that has often grieved my heart is how much judgment is often in Christian communities. Christians–who are called to love the way Christ loves–are often the first to point fingers, cut off relationships with people who think differently, and blare political opinions on social media. 

Yes, as Christians, we’re called to be the light of the world. But being the light of the world isn’t about shoving your ideologies in everyone’s face. Rather, it’s about loving your neighbor as yourself, as Jesus commanded. Becoming the light of the world is, in many ways, more about doing good works than it is about convincing someone to think like you. Many years ago, the Lord highlighted an area of judgment in my heart. He spoke to me and said, “you cannot influence someone you’re judging. As long as you have judgment towards the choices other people make, you nullify your ability to influence them.” I repented and asked God, “how can I see and love the way you do?” Judgment automatically isolates people and it isolates you from the people you’re judging. Right now, many people are holding so tightly to their opinions that they’ll sacrifice relationships for the sake of agreement.

Think about it. When was the last time someone judging you changed your mind on something? Probably never. However, you’ve likely had an experience where someone was kind and presented a different point of view that caused you to think differently or reevaluate an idea you once fully believed. 

We are called to be the light of the world, it’s true. But there are different kinds of light. There’s a flashlight shining directly in your eyes which actually blinds you. Or there’s a candle providing soft, gentle, peaceful illumination. One actually prevents people from seeing. The other is inviting. When we judge, it’s like shining a flashlight in someone’s eyes–they’ll never see clearly. But when we love like Jesus loves, we can speak truth with His heart in a way that invites people to encounter Him. 

It’s time to pick up humility. Lay down the need to be right or perceived as right. Ask God for His heart for others, specifically others who think differently than you do. You don’t have to agree with someone in order to love them. In fact, God will often ask you to serve those you’ve previously judged. Ask God for how to serve and love without needing to be heard or share your opinions. Love simply for the sake of loving. 

At The Crowning Jewels, it's our desire and our mission to bring encouragement, to build others up, and to bring comfort to people’s lives (1 Corinthians 14.3). Each month, our founder, Anne Jackson, and our main writer, Katelyn Alexander ask the Lord what He’s doing in the coming month and for any words of encouragement He might have for His people. We believe that prophetic words need to be encouraging and edifying. Moreover, with a corporate prophetic word, not all words are applicable to all people. If our words bless you, please take hold of them and apply them in your own life. If it’s not specific to you, please pass it on to someone else who might be blessed.

As always, the prophetic is a free gift from heaven and will always be something we freely share. As a prophetic business, it’s our mission to bring encouragement and edification to people through the free gift of prophecy, with our product being jewelry.

We at The Crowning Jewels believe in the absolute, transformational power of declarations. We know that truth comes by hearing (Romans 10.17), and speaking truth is an active way for us to renew our minds (Romans 12.2). We invite you to partner with what God is doing and say these declarations for the remainder of the month. We would love to hear what God does! Please email us your testimony at hello@thecrowningjewels.com.

Declarations

1. I step out in obedience even when I don’t understand. 

2. I boldly go where God leads me. 

3. I spend time in the Presence of God everyday. 

4. I lay down judgment and see people through God’s perspective.

5. God is increasing my influence as I surrender to Him.

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Blog written by Katelyn Alexander with Anne E. Jackson

Each month we design limited edition pieces of jewelry, only available for that month, handmade with words and charms that reflect the monthly prophetic word. If this word resonates with you and you'd like to wear a reminder of its truths, click the pieces below to shop!