Hey everyone!

I had originally had a different topic for this episode, but after some comments and questions around the last episode I’m going to continue on this idea of capacity.

Speaking of comments, I love connecting with you on Instagram. If you don’t already follow me there I’m susanbmorris and I love getting your ‘DM’s’ and even though I’m not on Facebook in general, we do have a private group there where we are able to continue the conversations started here and encourage each other. I’ll have the links for that in the show notes.

If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the previous episode about capacity you probably want to go back and listen to that one first and then come back to this one!

I think this conversation around capacity is interesting because often times we are struggling and not realizing this issue of capacity has anything to do with it.

I believe a big reason for this is we tend to live our lives according to the loudest voices and opinions, and influences around us. And this isn’t something that we start as adults...it goes back to us as kids and what we saw and experienced around us and ultimately what we felt was expected for us to be normal and successful and accepted.

This typically doesn’t happen because of any kind of wrong intention. Most of us grew up around people that loved and cared for us on a deep and generous level. But as you learn as you get older, everyone is living out of their own experiences of living life and hopefully you find more grace in your heart realizing that for the most part everyone is doing the best they can in the season they are in.  Hopefully we are all choosing to learn and grow and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us into truth.

Here’s the question I want you to think about today…

Are you living your life according to what you feel deep down inside God has for you or are you living your life to make everyone around you feel comfortable?

I believe we all have the best intentions and want our lives to bring glory to God and we want to live out the plans and purposes he has for us but I think for most of us the opinions that are so ingrained in us on such a deep level are often times hard to separate from the core of who we are and how we lived our whole lives that we honestly have trouble seeing a life any different than what that looks like.

This is one of the reason I encourage and suggest doing things that relax your mind … that can look different for each of us but i have found when I use my hands writing or drawing or making something...not writing or making something to be seen by anyone else but for the sheer fact of slowing down and relaxing, not overthinking or trying to solve any problem or figure anything else but just be...it in the moments that things start rising up...even though I wasn’t searching for answers to questions or peace for problems ..answers and peace start rising up.  I believe when we give the holy spirit the space to speak... he does.

In in these moments even if I’m not journaling at the time i will take the time to jot down what thoughts and prayers rose up in me.  And over time you will see a thread of how and what God is speaking to you and calling you to surrender to. He’s calling out those desires that he knit together inside of you. 

And this is why I think it’s so important to write these things down. Because our flesh can tell us things contrary to what we sense and see in these sacred moments. Our flesh can tell us we are being selfish or that we could never actually live our lives the way we actually desire and see. 

Your flesh will say things like “who do you think you are?” you don’t have that in you, you’re not wired in that way or have the gifting for that?

If you noticed in my opening I say something about my desire wanting to remind you of what I believe you already know….

And what i mean by that is...I believe that each of us have this knowing deep down inside of us how we are uniquely designed and called to live and how God has purposed us to manifest the kingdom of God in the world 

Yet, all of the voices of family and friends and teachers and preachers can influence how we ultimately end up living more than the voice of God inside of us.

And we end up striving and struggling inside someone else’s capacity that we were never designed for.

Maybe you’re listening to this and you’re like I hear you Susan. I feel stretched so thin that I feel like could physically and emotionally snap at any moment. 

I hear you sweet friend...I see you... and your pain is familiar to me.

And to you I say ..you don’t have to live there.  

You are not a victim. You were created with free will and you have the ability to choose life and live free.

It might take some courage to break out of some molds and expectations of those around you but my the grace and the strength of your God within you ..you can do it.

And for some of you listening... instead of feeling stretched you are stuck in feeling safe and in control.  When you get still and listen you hear the call to more ...but you also know that involves risk and not knowing all the answers and for you that is scary and unsettling…

To you I say...step out of that cozy comfort zone you are living in, 

There’s more to your capacity that you’ve been willing to walk in.

You have what it takes you just haven’t developed those muscles yet because you haven’t used them.

But if God is calling you to it you have everything you need. Trust him.

My hope and prayer for all of you listening is that you will trust God to live the life he purposed for you. That you would make the time and space to hear the voice of God speaking to you. If that means turning off the computer and phone more often... do it!!  

Stop determining your capacity off your past or anyone else’s opinion.

Live the life you were created to live.

Let’s pray…

Father I thank you for each and every person listening today and I pray that you would open their hearts and minds to all that you are calling them to.

Help us all to be strong and brave in living out the plans and purposes you have for us.

Holy spirit continue to teach us and lead us…

We choose to trust you.

We love you and we are looking to you…

always.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesheispodcastcommunity