Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Don't remember the former things, and don't consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs out now. Don't you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
This was the word that I was given in 2020. Here now in 2021, am I just realizing that this was an answered prayer from 2019.
As much as I cringe at most of the memories Facebook decides to show me, it's also a great tool of reflection. It gives you the opportunity to look back at where you've come from and how much you've grown. And boy have I grown. I came across a memory that reminded me of the place I was in during May 2019. Guys, I was struggling! I was in a place of surrendering my life to Christ, struggling to break demonic strongholds, trying to find myself and figure out who God wanted me to be.
Another great tool for reflection is journaling and prayer journaling. I have been journaling and writing pretty much all my life. So prayer journaling came as second nature to me. I just didn't know that was what I was actually doing. I would always find myself writing my prayers, in addition to my thoughts, in my journal. On May 22, 2019, my journal entry was one filled with despair, brokenheartedness, confusion, and defeat. The ending of that entry was "I want to give everything up and start fresh.". And when I said everything, I truly meant everything.
The rest of that year, God began to test me on that statement. I had to give up and let go of so many things, friends, and expectations. The Lord gave me instructions shortly after that to "leave everything and follow him". And that's exactly what I did. Shortly after that, I packed up what I could and left South Carolina, my home. It was probably the most spontaneous thing I'd ever done because I literally didn't have anything. I didn't have any money, I didn't really know where I was going to live, but I did have faith. I believed that if I trusted the Lord and did what He said, I would be okay.
Today, I get to write this as a new thing. A new creation that God has washed clean and made new. But that change wouldn't have happened if I didn't have faith. Now when I look back at those memories and journal writings I can clearly see the process that God has been bringing me through to get to this point. I am proud to say that I am a new woman reborn in Christ. I have a new identity in Christ. I spent way too many years trying to figure out who I was when God had already told me. My prayer and mission are to help other women find their identity in Christ as well.
As I move forward in this new stage of life and this new calling that goes with it, I want you to understand that the old me doesn't live here anymore. She is completely done away with. Today I am a new Dominique and with that comes change that I'm not expecting anyone to understand. I hope that my journey and testimony will inspire and motivate you to explore your identity in Christ, and allow God to show you the precious gem He created you to be.
How do keep track of your answered prayers? What NEW thing are you praying to God for? What new things has God brought into your life this year?
