Finding His Rhythm for My Life
Hello M.L.A.M Fam! It's been a minute (more like several months) since you last heard from me. God called me into an extended season of consecration. It was much needed and immensely pleasurable for more reasons than I could possibly capture in this blog post. However, trust, you will be hearing much of God's revealings to me during the past season woven throughout M.L.A.M.'s varying ministry channels (i.e., devotionals, podcasts, prayer calls, video teachings, etc.). For now though, there are some things God is leading me to share that will prayerfully find its way into your spiritual arsenal for your own enrichment, as you further in your pursuit of Christ. I declare it so. In Jesus' name. Before we go any further, I would like to update you to let you know, going forward, you can expect to see blog posts from me monthly. At least for now. Of course, should the Spirit of God lead me to share more frequently at varying points, which is not unlikely at all, I certainly will. It is important, however, that I set the precedent now, so you know when you will be hearing from me. Now on to this month's blog post!
When God called me to begin building M.L.A.M. in 2017, I experienced a swarm of conflicting thoughts and emotions. I was excited and afraid. I was grateful and humbled. I was overwhelmed and relieved. I was hopeful and apprehensive. Once I received God's confirmation this was what I was supposed to be doing, I immediately went into execution mode. Remaining prayerful and purposing to be led by the Holy Spirit every step of the way, I organically resorted to drawing upon my well of education, ministry training, and corporate/business experience to help me plan and strategize how I would tackle this massive vision God had entrusted to me. It would not be long before I began to recognize the work I had been called to required a spiritual depth and rhythm I had not yet been conditioned for. I possessed all the needed components, but I had to rely upon God to draw them out of me and properly order them so I could function in the capacity my Kingdom assignment demanded. I was no stranger to the hard work that goes into true ministry. In fact, I had served in varying ministry leadership roles over the past two decades, for which I was often entrusted with leading large initiatives and shepherding diverse groups of people. God had always graced me to do ministry well in these capacities, so I was very comfortable with what I thought would be required of me going forward. That is, until I started recognizing asynchronicity in the Holy Spirit's leading and what my years of education, ministry training, and corporate/business experience had taught me I should do. I wish I could tell you I quickly adjusted when I recognized it, but I did not. Despite the rapid incline of inefficiencies, frequent overcommitting and underdelivering, and heightened stress I was experiencing, none were a match for my determination to make it work anyhow. So, I did what any self-willed, overachiever, who prided herself in being a perfectionist (and calling it "excellence"), would do. I persisted. Surely, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit would bring everything in alignment as I went, right? Not so my dear. Not so. This went on for months. Despite remaining prayerful and purposing to be led by the Holy Spirit (because my heart motives were pure), my approach to doing what God had entrusted to me had become, "God, I am doing this, and I need you to bless it." This was not good. Not good at all. He let me go on like this for some time, then He stopped me in my tracks. There is a major lesson to be learned in this. We can pray and do, but not be listening. Mainly, because our overzealousness causes us to only hear what WE want to hear. The result is graceLESS doing which is not sustainable. Are there any areas in your life in which you are hearing God, but not listening? God’s way of stopping me in my tracks was to dry up my resources which forced me to slow down and hear what His will for me was to do. For those of us who are doers, God often must remove the thing(s) that enable(s) our doing to stop us in our tracks, so He can get our attention. That He did.
Now that He had my attention, He let me know the reason I was experiencing fragmented fruitfulness, was because He and I were not rhythmically synchronized. That while I was no stranger to the pace, I needed to get in step with His rhythm. There were areas I was attempting to operate ahead of Him, and others in which I was lagging. One thing I had learned from my years of walking with Christ and serving in ministry leadership was that equally important to knowing what do is knowing when to do it. Although I knew this, seems it got lost somewhere between me trying to conquer all the mountains I had been allotted, and tackling the day-to-day tasks of operating a ministry. Once God told me this, I was determined to find His rhythm for my life and this ministry He had graciously entrusted to me. My immediate response to His instructions were to aggrandize my time with Him immensely in prayer, being intentional to listen actively and completely, studying His Word, fasting, and worship. I spent more time with Him than I did working on M.L.A.M. Per His orders, I willingly laid down the work of the ministry for the sake of ensuring He and I were good, and that I was building as He instructed. Hence, my extended season of consecration. During this time, God began changing me and my perspective about stewarding the ministry He entrusted to me. This is how all transformation always begins, right? God transforms us, which then shifts how we live, move, and exist within our assigned territories. He reminded me this was His ministry, and I was not to rely upon anything other than Him to build it. He let me know that while my education, ministry training, and corporate/business experience were all tools He would use at varying times, and in varying ways, I must totally depend upon His leading, guidance, and direction to do as He wills. I was not to rely upon industry or culture's practices for strategy, branding, building a following, or raising funds. He let me know, with certainty, He had taken full responsibility for the construction, operation, and funding of M.L.A.M.’s vision. My part was to simply follow His lead. His instruction was not only given verbally, but He even required me to go through some simulation training, to ensure it was engrafted in my mind, heart, and spirit. He knows me so well. 😊 So, for months, God processed me through developing the spiritual discipline of waiting on Him for EVERYTHING. It was highly uncomfortable, painful at times in fact, but I admit, it was very much so needed. Today, I am reaping the rewards of having surrendered myself wholly to His process in this area. More to share in a bit.
So, what exactly does it mean to find God's rhythm for our lives? Well, I think the best place to start is to define the word rhythm. When we think of defining the word rhythm, we typically do so in musical terms. In its simplest definition musically, rhythm is the recurring placement of sounds in time. The rhythm is what gives a musical piece compositional structure (i.e., when, how long, and with what degree of intensity notes are played) upon which melody and harmony can build to comprise a synchronized sound (Masterclass, 2021). Spiritually, rhythm can be thought of analogously as the synchronized placement of one's spiritual and natural efforts to Heaven’s frequency. Heaven has a frequency to which those of us who belong to Christ must always purpose to keep time and step with to be properly positioned to receive the fullness of what God has pre-ordained for us to receive, within our apportioned realm or dimension of spiritual operation in its appointed season.
The thing about rhythms and frequencies is they are not static. Both are dependent variables. Rhythm is dependent upon the independent variable called time and is typically measured by pace (slow, moderate, or quick). Frequency is dependent upon the independent variable called Heaven’s hierarchy and is typically determined by one’s capacity to function within scope of the demands of an assigned rank of authority or measure of spiritual rule (known as “metron”). Just as seasons will change as long as the earth remains (Gen. 8:22), God’s rhythm for our lives shifts continuously. His rhythm for us in one season may slow down or speed up compared to another one relative to assignment changes and the appointed times and seasons He has prescribed. This is why it is critical we know and understand the times and seasons of our lives, so we are attuned to God’s rhythm shifts. When we stay in sync with the One in whose hands our life and times are (Dan. 5:23; Psa. 31:15), He will let us know when we are embarking upon a shift in season, assignment, and thereby, rhythm. When God is elevating us to operate in higher dimensions, His rhythm for our lives will demand we function at higher frequencies.
I did not intend to get too bogged down in the weeds on this. I do, however, believe it is important and relevant to understand rhythm in context of how it exists naturally and spiritually, hence the aforementioned discourse. Just as there are appointed times and seasons for our lives (Ecc. 3:1), so there are corresponding rhythms. It is up to us to seek God for our rhythm in every season, so we have His grace, help, and empowerment to function optimally as He wills for us in all He has called us to do. I said all this to help you grasp a better understanding of our necessity to be synchronized to God’s rhythm for our lives. Many times, it is not misalignment of wills we struggle with, but asynchronicity of rhythm that must be calibrated for us to flow well with Heaven’s frequency.
So, what are some signs your and Heaven’s rhythm may be out of synchronization?
The first and most obvious sign you will experience when asynchronicity of rhythm is present is a lack of peace. The Amplified, Classic Edition of Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” When the Holy Spirit starts prompting us with uneasiness in our spirits and souls, we must not press pass this, but slow down long enough to pray and receive His wisdom on what and/or how we need to adjust and/or course correct. Then, we must be quick to obey and leave the results to Him. If you know that what you are doing is right, but sense by the Holy Spirit, there are some underlying elements that have not yet been settled, do not do anything until you find out what they are. Sometimes this can be challenging for those who are still honing their ability to recognize the Holy Spirit’s promptings, because they can often be misconstrued and bypassed as just being nerves or fear, especially if they are doing something they have never done before. Overcoming fear and nerves certainly has its place when embarking upon such endeavors, but I am talking about an unsettling in your spirit and soul that cannot be shaken and is often indescribable. This unsettling is the Holy Spirit’s way of cautioning us to slow down, stop, or change course.
A good life practice for every Christ follower is not to move forward on anything until we have peace. It is important to note that peace does not mean the absence of challenge, conflict, fear, or opposition, but rather a stillness of spirit and soul amid it all. There have been many things God has assigned me to do amid what were deemed messy situations in the natural, but He gave me peace to do them at that time because it was His perfect will for me to. Our natural environments have no bearing on the peace Jesus has given us (Jn. 14:27). All that matters when it comes to letting peace rule in our hearts is whether we are synchronized with God’s rhythm.
Another telling sign you and God may be asynchronous rhythmically is a noticeable grace shift. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (KJV) Many read this Scripture verse and focus mostly on obtaining grace to help in a time of need, but the word often overlooked is “find.” The Word of God tells us grace must be found. This means we must pursue it. When grace can no longer be found to do what once could be done with excellence and ease, it is possible you have entered a rhythm shift, and it is time to recalibrate.
Some symptoms of a grace shift are unusual patterns of inefficiencies in your productivity, frequent and unavoidable breaking of commitments and missed deadlines, challenges in catching the beat of your workload without compromising the non-negotiables (i.e., spending time with God, taking care of your health, keeping your house in order, etc.), and consistently intense stress levels. When, or if, you start noticing a trend of any of the aforementioned, more than likely, you are attempting to function outside of God’s rhythm. Anything we do for God is a blessing, not that it will be without challenge, but there should certainly be more blessings we experience from it than unpleasantries. Proverbs 10:22 tells us, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (KJV) If what God has willed you to do is causing you constant sorrow, something is off, and it is time to lean on the Holy Spirit to help you get back in step and time with Heaven’s rhythm and frequency.
It should also be noted that not only are these shifts of asynchronicity with God’s rhythm for your life, but they can also be misperceived as character flaws which have the potential of hindering your witness in Christ. As Christ’s servants, we must do everything in our power, with the help of the Holy Spirit of course, to guard against doing anything that will counter what God is purposing to do in and through us. You have paid too great of a price for your anointing to allow something that is in your control to tarnish it. Slow down, shut down if necessary, and let God chart your course and pace as He wills.
The last sign I will discuss is an extreme vacillation of energy levels. Asynchronization with Heaven’s rhythm often manifests itself through regular inconstancy between periods of high productivity and exhaustion. It is not God’s best that we live in the non-rhythmic space of only being able to muster enough energy to do the mandatory work and being left depleted when it has been accomplished; leaving nothing for that which is needed to sustain the whole. This is a signal we are attempting to tackle the supernatural by natural means. This is backwards. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (KJV) Philippians 2:13 reinforces this by saying, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
When God is the One we are allowing to work in us to do His will, His grace supplies us with all we need and empowers us to do everything with excellence and ease. This does not mean there will not be times when we will have to expend our energy. However, when you are in sync with God’s rhythm, the Holy Spirit will always lead, guide, and direct you to follow a well-balanced course of peace and productivity. The Holy Spirit’s course contains the perfect mix of high demand and times of refreshing which will enable you to run a steady pace. Contrary to what culture teaches, there is a such thing as balance in life. God’s Word tells us so. 1 Corinthians 14:40 tells us, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (KJV) God is a God of order, not confusion. Order contains within it balance. Balance in life is achievable when we live by the Spirit and not our flesh (Gal. 5:16-25). That is, to allow Him to show us how to show up 100% to everything we have been assigned by God to steward in a season. It is possible if we are intentional, consistent, and enduring in our willingness to surrender to His leading, guidance, and direction in our life.
If you recognize that you are experiencing one, multiple, or all the above mentioned, this could be Heaven’s signal it is time to shut everything down and find God’s rhythm for your life in this season. Do not worry. Life and the world will not cease without your presence for a bit, especially if it means for getting yourself properly aligned to God’s steps, so you can bear more fruit that remains (Jn. 15:16). In fact, it will be most appreciated by God, yourself, and others more than you know. There were some key lessons I learned that have profited me tremendously since finding God’s rhythm for my life:
Lesson #1 – God’s calling on our lives requires our partnership. It is not a dictatorship, either way. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 instructs us, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (KJV) Our fulfilling God’s call on our lives requires us working with God. Yes, we work for Him, and while existentially He can dictate to us if/when He wants; however, He would rather not do so. He loves and values who He has made us to be. As such, He wants us to come to Him for guidance and direction. Simultaneously, He desires for us to use the gifts, talents, and abilities He has given us to produce something spectacular WITH Him in the earth for His glory. Ultimately, He will always make the final call, but He does value our input and wants to work with us in concert. True victory and glory are optimal when we cooperate, not dominated. There is nothing a fully surrendered vessel in the hands of its Creator cannot achieve. In our building, God is the Architect, Engineer, and Financier. Jesus is the Foreman. Holy Spirit is the Project Manager. We are the Construction Managers. When we work in synchronized rhythm with our Heavenly partners, building runs smoothly, and has a 100% success rate.
Lesson #2 – God’s way of building is little-by-little. When God was preparing the Children of Israel to possess their Promised Land, one of the directives He gave to them was that He would give it to them little-by-little, not all at once. "And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee." (Deut. 7:22, KJV) Embracing God's little-by-little strategy requires learning to be content with your portion. Not that I had not learned this principle of growth, but it had been years, because God had blessed me to reach a level of success in business where I had become used to doing more in shorter windows of time because I had more. In this season, God’s directives for me have been intentional and strategic, but forceful. Meaning, He is requiring more of me in each step, but there are fewer steps, which required me to move at a slower but more intense pace.
To shift back to the place I thought I had graduated from, after having operated at an elevated level for close to two decades prior, took humility, patience, trust, and being content with what God said was His will for me to have. I quickly learned graduation from a lower level does not disqualify you from being required to go back through its course again. Often it is the route to your next. Graduation does not make us exempt but prepares us to go those same routes again with humility and ease, if we follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. I strongly believe God sets our course this way to test our heart motives and faithfulness. As I followed my Father’s lead and obeyed His commands, I saw firsthand how He was helping me to gain territory in areas, spiritually and naturally, that were needed for me to operate fully in my calling within my assigned rank of authority. It was here that I was reminded ‘…godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6),” and that little-by-little, although not always preferred, was His way, and His way is best. Therewith, I choose to be content (Phil. 4:11-13).
Stay tuned….I will be releasing a teaching on Being Content with God’s Portion soon to share more of what God revealed to me.
Lesson #3 - Performance is not the priority. Precision and peace are. Today's culture, including the Church, has become obsessed with performance. It is all about the grind, hustling, putting in work, and making the almighty dollar etc. There was even a time in my life when I lived by this code, but I have since learned this is not God’s way. Do not get me wrong. I still put in work. A LOT of work. I also believe it is God’s will for His people to be blessed materially if they have faith for it and are willing to work for it (Psa. 35:27). With God though, it is more about doing the right things at the right time in the right way. See, one precise move, in step and time with His rhythm, can catapult advancement of His Kingdom in the earth to heights it would take another years to achieve. This is why God would rather we become pliable instruments in His hand (Rom. 6:13), so He can use us as He wills without any disruption or opposition of our will and/or flesh (Phil. 2:13). This is really and truly what these seasons of consecration are all about with Him. Getting us to the place where He can have His way with us, completely and perpetually. I admit, it has taken me some time to get to this point, but I am grateful God has taught and helped me to get to where I need to be, so I can be used by Him as He wills from here onward. I am not suggesting I have arrived because I have not. I can say that He is definitely transforming me, and I am committed to fully cooperating with Him to continue this work in me until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).
There are two things you should know about the process of finding God’s rhythm for your life in a season that will prayerfully prevent you from getting discouraged along the way. First, the lessons God teaches us are not learned all at once. There will be some trial and error involved in the learning process which can get messy at times. Second, you cannot speed the process up, but you can delay it by having the wrong heart posture toward God and refusing to surrender to His Word, ways, and will. From faith to irresolution, and back to faith again. From being spot on in your obedience to God, to rebelling against Him, all to return to the point of perfect obedience. In and through all of this, you will make mistakes, but you will learn from them. At times, you will feel as though you cannot bear the discomfort, but you will find your strength. You will want to throw in the towel, but there will come a time when your fight becomes more forceful. You should know that as you walk through each of these layers of being transformed in Christ, your roots are being fortified and you are becoming one with Him. Of course, the Holy Spirit is always there to help us every step of the way. WE MUST accept His help though.
Although the rewards of my season of consecration have been limitless, much of which are still being discovered, the ones that stick out to me the most are a deeper fellowship with Him, a more vivid view of His blueprint for my life, the peace of knowing exactly what is in His will for me to do right now coupled with the hope of what He revealed is to come, and having His grace to fulfill it with excellence and ease. In the natural, building God's way has also enabled me to accomplish more in less time and become more efficient operationally; both of which have positioned me to gain greater ground for His Kingdom. I no longer carry the heavy burden of trying to make His will happen, but rather, I rest in His easy yoke which only requires of me that I follow His lead (Matt. 11:28-30). Before finding God's rhythm for my life, I had begun to develop a gloomy outlook on what is the most important work I will ever do in life. I now look forward to waking up every day and hearing what my Heavenly Father has ordered for my day. I know and fully trust that each day's schedule has purpose and is leading me somewhere gloriously planned out by my Him. For me, it does not get any better than that.
Can you relate to any of the above? Are you starting to get a sense the spiritual turbulence you have been experiencing may be an indicator you need to find God’s rhythm for your life? If so, I pray the lessons I have shared above will compel you to, by the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, quiet the noise, self-examine, and identify any rhythm asynchronicity that may be present in your life. I can testify that doing so will yield a harvest beyond anything you could ever imagine!
Leave a comment below...I’d love to hear from you.
Stay blessed,
-MLA
Endnotes
Masterclass, “Understanding Rhythm in Music: 7 Elements of Rhythm,” Music, 7 June 2021, accessed 2 August 2022, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/understanding-rhythm-in-music.