Divine Reset: How to Refresh with God in 2025

January 5, 2025January 5, 2025Leave a comment

Well, folks. A new year is upon us. Time to take inventory of the good, the bad, the ugly, and yes, the awesome!

For some, 2024 was a rough year, easily worth leaving behind; for others, the year wasn’t so bad, perhaps the kind one can build from. Regardless of your 2024 narrative, there’s a way to find footing and advance with confidence into the new year. While the steps are unique depending on the person and situation, there exists a holy outline from which we can corporately adhere; hence, why I’m sparing no time (and expense) in publishing this post. 😊

As always, let’s plug our nose and dive in…

1. Invite God Into Your Midst

If you’re a regular on here, you know Lys and I love this topic.

Grow ⬆️ Up: A Call for Us in 2024 (Part 1)

Full Runnings: A Guide on Referencing God (Part 1)

Before we can start working on our inner man, we must first connect with God, humbly and often. While ‘come as you are’, a popular phrase in Christian circles, isn’t expressed verbatim in Scripture, the Word is clear how God desires us to invite Him into our brokenness. Interestingly, we find support in both testaments. In Isaiah 1:18, God invites people to come to Him, even if their sins are like scarlet. In Joel 2:32, the prophet declares deliverance to those who call upon the name of the Lord despite the chaos in context. In both instances, God not only offers His availability to engage, but His intention to heal, purify, and restore.

Regarding application, we must understand God accepts us ahead of our clean up, not just after. While some gospels preach doctrines of “progress downpayment” in which God requires a degree of level-reaching, when we consider how Jesus prepared and troubleshot during His ministry, we find His love, compassion, and grace was in the moment as well as beyond it. During these times, Jesus always brought salvation to the immediate while encouraging whom He saved to leave their baggage behind and follow Him¹ . To me, this is an inspiring facet of Christ’s presence with people and should be embraced as a model to the believer.

For starters, Jesus never forced theology and mission upon His audience but rather received them with a tender heart, a firm charge, and in some cases, hands on ministry. Secondly, Jesus anticipated forgiveness and reconciliation wherever He went. Even if it didn’t happen right away, His desire to plant hope in people was crucial to His love being felt along with His call to release the past. Accordingly, if anyone wants to experience radical change, we must see Jesus as foundation and cornerstone to whatever endeavor we launch or sustain in 2025.

As for those who hesitate to invite God in regularly on account of prior acceptance, I employ you to daily act in accordance with the grace you’ve received and not undermine it for personal gain. As Hebrews 10:22 confirms, only God can give His children the full assurance of faith while cleansing them from sin. Though the point of salvation is an eternally significant mile-marker, there is no sense in forsaking conviction and tolerating strongholds if what we allegedly confess peaks to the contrary.

Bottom line: If we desire to see God’s ways be made straight in our lives, if we want to encounter the totality of His peace and joy² without reducing them as ends from a mean, then invite God into your midst, the unknowns, and the fragility of your circumstances, and watch what He will do.

2. Request a Divine Reset

Once you’ve invited God into your brokenness, submitting applications in prayer is generally the next step. But in the case of a new year, whether you’re looking to jumpstart faith or grow deeper with God, dare to request a divine reset. In Isaiah 43:18-21, God gives an illustration of a divine reset by telling the Israelites He will do something new like they’ve never seen before. After imparting them not to remember the former things in v. 18, we find the new thing one verse later:

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Using a relatable word picture, God previews His power made manifest; however, it’s important to note the sequence here doesn’t end with a supernatural display but a subsequent call for the people He makes a way for to declare His praise (v. 21). Thus, when we request a reset, we must see the endgame as more than our breakthrough but also an avenue to discover God make known His goodness tot he world. Remember God is not some wishful genie on standby but the author of our redemption and source of our sustenance. Though resets and renewals come in all shapes and sizes, the key is to understand the reason is Him shining at the center of whatever growth we aspire to see.

Bottom line: When requesting a divine reset, don’t just ask for it to cover past mistakes, but expect it in the spirit of obliterating obstacles standing between you and God. Sometimes, the reason we find ourselves stuck is because we aren’t in the practice of speaking truth to every lie and fear we face. Eventually, we find ourselves in the mire wondering how we got stymied in the first place. Though setbacks are inevitable, when we cry out for rescue or redemption, may we see with fresh eyes the sovereignty of God straightening His ways while also removing the clutter hindering our awareness of His presence and power. Again, God has a plan and purpose for you. Even if 2025 is an extension of a desert or wilderness season, He is more than enough to meet you as an oasis any time, any place.

Selah.

Stay tuned next time when I’ll share my final two points on how we can refresh with God heading in the new year. Until then, stay safe, classy, and blessed in all you say and do.

Footnotes

Laying down our weights in exchange for our cross (Matthew 16:24-26) is how we position God’s paths to be made straight in our lives. This can’t be strived for in our own strength.
Diving in deeper, Paul is clear in his letters how God governs us through peace and motivates us through joy. When we see what God wants to do, when we catch His purposes (and focus less on what our purpose is), the Lord promises there will be joy in the process. This doesn’t negate the challenges we walk through but ensures there will be glory amidst the endurance and perseverance.

Photo creds: Unsplash, iStock

Scriptural Introspection: Why Self-Awareness and Self-Consciousness are Not Synonymous

August 23, 2024September 3, 2024Leave a comment

The story of 2024 continues to write itself as one with Rivendell themes. As time progresses, so does the rest and recovery. Granted, working in a place where refuge is naturally extended helps; however, this doesn’t undermine the revelations that have accrued as a result.

Consider the most recent illumination rocking my boat of late…

Historically speaking, I’ve been way too self-conscious and self-critical, enough to the point I sometimes project it onto others and assume unfair judgment as the recipient. It’s twisted and messed up, as Carrie Underwood would say, enough to compel me to discern the missteps. What causes the heart to stray from alignment, especially during challenging circumstances?

While the reasons vary, we must be careful not to overanalyze our situations given the tendency is a byproduct of unanchored introspection. At work, at home, wherever we go, taking inventory, from the physical to the spiritual variety, makes sense and carries value. In fact, one would be unwise to limit or avoid the practice altogether. But when we talk about faith, trust, and surrender, these virtues need room to breathe in our life, which can only happen when we’re at rest inviting God into our midst, when we’re abiding with Christ as we seek first the Kingdom.

As to how this applies within the dichotomy of self-awareness versus self-consciousness? In the spirit of a healthy introduction, I’ll keep it simple:

Self-awareness in its purest form is an honest evaluation of oneself, from innate wirings to strengths and weaknesses whereas self-consciousness is an assessment insecurity tied to preservation.
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Many people think these concepts are synonymous, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.With self-awareness, you are ‘woke’ to your original design, equipped in knowing your ‘why’ but also where internal improvements can be made. Scripturally applied, self-awareness can advance us to the Father as we are in the moment, desperate for appointed pathways to be made straight. Conversely, with self-consciousness, you are stuck in striving mode, bogged down by one or more of the following:

1) An entitlement that seeks situation justification
2) Vindication against the adversities limiting your influence and/or capping your maturity
3) Self-doubt that God can accomplish His purposes in the face of whatever mountain you’re scaling

Too much self-consciousness and you’ll ultimately misappropriate the way you’re to overcome (or climb the terrain assuming #3 relates). As Oswald Chambers warns us in ‘My Utmost for His Highest’, the more self-conscious we are, the more at risk we are for self-pity, a snare of the enemy chaining us to negative thought and behavior patterns. If you’ve ever wondered why life seems to be such an unfair game of Minesweeper, chances are you’re knocking on the door of this scheme.

Thankfully, where there’s a will, there’s a way. No matter where we are, on the clock or off the record, we can approach God in the spirit of childlikeness and resist the temptation to dispute or dissect our misfortunes. As I’m gradually learning, self-consciousness is a bane to discovering Christ since it recenters our aim, focuses on the distractions we complain exist, and misaligns our steps. If we’re to recalibrate, dare to ‘aware’ yourself to God, not from Him. Own the places where you’ve made life a sad song based on what isn’t working and receive by faith the happy song concerning what has and what will work with time, devotion, and unwavering dedication.

Remember God delights in our repetition, so don’t be afraid to pray and declare the same truths over and over again.

As long as we have breath…

Until next time, stay safe and sanctified…

You got this!!!

Supporting verses: Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 139:23-24, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Romans 12:2

Graphic creds: Pngtree

Office Angst: 7 Signs of a Toxic Workplace (Part 1)

March 8, 2024August 28, 20241 Comment

Recently, I was driving to work and it occurred to me: By the end of this year, I will have reached the 15-year mark as a full-time employee in corporate America. Crazy how time flies (or Frys in my case), eh?

While I’ve benefited from tight teams in years past, I’ve also worked on some, ahem, not so tight teams educating me to the contrary. With a notable marketplace mileage marker on the horizon, I want to examine some signs of toxic leadership/work culture as well as how we can overcome within our co-worker in Christ identity (1 Corinthians 3:9).

As always, let’s dive in!

1. Teammates aren’t treated as diverse in function, co-equal in value.

While diversity, inclusivity, and equality discussions are expected initiatives in today’s marketplace, let’s be honest: How committed are most employers to consistently upholding these principles? As much as we gravitate towards hierarchy, performance-based metrics, and capitalistic tendencies, the bottom line to this point is essentially outcome divided by constancy.

In the long run, no organization can reach its potential without each member understanding and operating within their value.
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Granted, some leave it to the individual to derive their own sense of purpose which can be fair in the context of guiding from a distance. Otherwise, vocationals should know whatever systems they’re in cannot reach their ceiling if people aren’t treated as diverse in function, co-equal in value.

Think about it: If your work leadership encourages favoritism and limits opportunities to a select few, then odds are teamwide morale will decrease and internal tension will increase. Why is this? I submit the significance of this reality is due to it being one of deepest core corporate identities. From an original design perspective, we were (and are) intended to serve as one body. Applied to the marketplace, this means we steward structures that provide equal opportunity for growth to every position and take the same approach to feedback and general engagement (More on this in a future post as honestly, this is one of my favorite topics to discuss).

Note: To those in high-level positions, consider the Jethro principles and seek to execute them effectively so middle managers are accountable to develop those under their care. If you’re young and starting out, find a leader or seasoned veteran with mentorship potential and watch how they respond to feedback and instruction. Who knows? Even if the culture is weak, you may still be able to derive motivation and inspiration from those who are secure in their strengths.

Supporting Bible verses: Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, 1 Corinthians 3:9, Exodus 18:14-26

2. Passive-aggressive and/or manipulative leadership.

Another side-effect of toxic leadership involves the deliberate withholding of constructive criticism, encouragement, and/or gratitude. In a post-pandemic world, you may have noticed passive-aggressive supervisors falling into one of these camps, using silence or support withdrawal as primary communications tools; however, under no circumstances, should these behaviors be tolerated.

‘Cause truth is: A mature leader not only knows when and how to deliver feedback but facilitates phycological safety, trust, and confidence in challenging situations. If you’re in an environment where leaders have ambushing agendas, redelegate tasks without proper communication, or uses silence to communicate, then I have news for you:

You deserve better!
Leaders who drive wedges and/or use ego to stir division aren’t true leaders!

Of course, I’m not suggesting you abandon ship if you’re currently working under a similar authority. Conversely, I’m encouraging you to take inventory of offenses, collect your emotions, and find a time to speak with the appropriate authority (I.e. supervisor or HR Manager depending on the situation) to clear the air. As long as you integrate other voices and honor your leaders and colleagues, your intentions will be well grounded as you steward peace, advocacy, and forward motion.

Supporting Bible verses: Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 28:2-26, Romans 16:17-18, James 3:14, Ephesians 4:14, Luke 16:8b, Matthew 5:37

3. Lack of trust, communication, and engagement.

Per point #2, if a leader lacks trust, even with a subordinate, the ideal move is to confront the issue fostering the deficit or dissonance. Generally, an employee who feels they aren’t trusted wants to discern areas of improvement; hence, why indifference, or the perception thereof, is not only deflating but often an overflow of a toxic environment.

As you may have learned in your own experiences, a lack of communication will almost always create some form of chaos, angst, or strife, but sound leaders are keen to promote the well-being of their teammates. Remember an occasional check-in or positive acknowledgement can go a long way in reinforcing a worker’s understanding of their value while also regulating their emotions. Regardless of our role, dare to diffuse discord through compassionate engagement and curiosity.

Supporting Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 15:33-44, Titus 3:10

4. No formal review process and/or pathway for development.

As an employee with public, private, and liturgical experience, I can speak candidly to this point having seen this process mapped out a variety of ways. If your employer has no formal performance evaluation process where the only criticism is given in moments of error, then you have a major red flag in your hand.

As my time has taught me, all employees deserve to know if the work they’re doing is effective and efficient. Since we’ve established feedback and communication withholding as signs of environmental toxicity, the call here is straight-forward: Develop and promote a review process where all team members top-down are accountable and have a means to build areas of strength and weakness alike. Even if the meeting frequency is quarterly or biannual, the impacts can be massive as you streamline a process to preserve morale in tandem with corporate performance.

Supporting Bible verses: James 1:19, Proverbs 15:1, Colossians 4:6

Stay tuned next time when I’ll conclude this post with my final three points including a podcast overviewing the content. For now…

Have an amazing weekend!

Cover photo creds: Sesame Disk

Rock Solid: A SOAP Bible Study on Psalm 18

July 9, 2022February 16, 2025Leave a comment

Written: July 4, 2022

Scripture: Psalm 18 (A Psalm of David)

I’m not going to lie: I’m not in the mood to write right now. So much going on; so little time to pause and ponder.

However, on this Fourth of July, I’m kicking chaos (and the temptation for complacency) to the curb. For the first time in [almost] forever, it’s time for a SOAP Bible study.

As for today’s Scripture, I call Psalm 18 to the stand. For without question, the passage has been a lampstand of late casting illuminance onto present day shadows. Hopefully, for you as the reader, you find similar vibes as we explore some of the most powerful poetic imagery in the Bible.

So without further ado, let’s dive into Psalm 18 as we probe the stabilizing presence of the Almighty…

Observations/Applications:

Right off the bat, it’s interesting to note the double rock reference in v 2.

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Upon first glance, we may not think much of the repetition, if at all; however, as we dig (pun intended) into the metaphor, we find rich soil. Specifically, when ‘rock’ and ‘stone’ are used in Scripture, the surrounding descriptors often point to God’s sovereignty as the anchor to communal, emotional, and spiritual stability. This reference is additionally powerful when we consider God’s steadfastness. Just as the rock conveys unwavering durability, so too is our God during our trials and tribulations. For in this life, everything outside the divine has an expiration date and within the restraint, so great is our need to identify our rock be it of ages, salvation, righteousness or simply Jesus as cornerstone. To me, this is why the narrative of Psalm 18 sounds so extreme:

While the disappointments of life can seem intense, they should never be so great to minimize our view of our Creator nor crippling to the point we resist a call to Him. Again, we’re talking about God as our rock – the source of everlasting love, a stronghold against our strongholds, the refuge of all refuges, and the ultimate constant.
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As we progress towards v. 6-7, we not only note a stark contrast between God as rock and the rocks upon which we tread, but also our vertical S.O.S in between.

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled…”

This compels an ironic dichotomy: As God, in His mercy, answers our plea for intervention, He often allows a shaking of some kind, a holy dislodge in the direction of freedom where He and hope abound. Honestly, what better way to capture the scale of our deliverance request than to consider the physical and spiritual effects of an infinite God engaging our finiteness. Even if such poetic license is taken to its most literal, the sensory saturation is sensible. While God whispers to our hearts in a still voice, this in no way mitigates the seismic repercussions of when He moves, sets a new thing in motion, and ministers to our hearts. As Galatians 5:16 and James 3:17 remind us, to receive from God is to yield to His power and trust His purposes against our perceptions of prosperity and pain. Even when our spiritual appetites are compromised, we should always perceive the potential discomfort of ‘God with us’ as more significant than the false comfort of ego and tolerance.

Heading into v. 8-9, the Psalmist suggests an angry God true to context, but this doesn’t represent how God tends our brokenness every time. As many a Scripture testifies (see references below), when God addresses our distress, His heart is stirred by love and is executed through justice, compassion, patience, faithfulness, grace, wrath…usually a combo platter of attributes. Yet, though the nature of God’s dealings may vary, the large-scale reality is God never stops pursuing us through them. Given the darkening days and the absolute essence of God, the Psalmist makes a riveting case: Although crises may increase, from personal to global, we have every reason to believe God will in some way, at some point, draw near and provide what we need even if we don’t immediately understand it.

As Psalm 18:31-32 triumphantly declares:

“For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.”

Shout-out to the hailstone usage in v. 12-13 and the humility/honoring layer in v. 16-30, I can’t help but relish the anti-relative exclamation here. Though Oprah would disagree, the truth is only God can give what we need for goodness and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Only God can straighten our paths and direct us to walk on them accordingly (Proverbs 4:26; Hebrews 12:13). Only God can shepherd our hearts when we feel lost, when we’re sinking in waters we were never meant to walk on alone.

Only God. Our rock…

…I know He’s able.

As for you, my friends, in the spirit of v. 2, I raise you a double portion of rock and encourage you to delight in God as He delights in and rescues you from whatever pit of despair you’re in (v. 19). For it is He, our light and life giver, who brightens our darkness to see what He sees, who not only establishes our steps but also purifies them so we discover Him afresh and anew…each and every day. Blessed be our rock and exalted be the God of my salvation (v. 46)!

Selah.

Prayer:

Father God,

We praise you for being our rock, our refuge, our fortress, our deliverer. We exalt you as the author of our support system. And we celebrate the fact you take joy in saving us. Truly, there is no one like you! As we digest today’s Word and return to our daily routines, we ask you lock these truths into the tapestry of our understanding. In a culture full of extremes, we remember you are a God who constructed the very things that make them possible. The difference is you intended them for our good, for the best possible outcome and we acknowledge our sin, our strongholds, our self-centered tendencies have collectively interfered with your highest callings on our lives. That said, we also remember the Cross, identify with your heart to reconcile and restore, and lean into you once more as our precious rock. Yes, we ask you protect and cover us, but we also ask you anoint, bless, and cover our steps not to preserve us from darkness but to empower us to live as salt and light in an increasingly fragile and morally decaying world. We choose to live from victory, not for victory today knowing the battle has been won. Accordingly, we choose to take up the Word and put on the armor as we recall our identity as vocational priests and beloved warriors contending for your love to be known. Be with us as we go about our days and ways. May we be catalysts in our surroundings helping others taste and see that you are good. And may you be glorified as we surrender all knowing it’s by your Spirit we can resist fear and humbly call upon you to invade our space.

In this we pray, amen!

References:

Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 62:7-8 – “My honor and salvation come from God. He is my mighty rock and my protection. People, trust God all the time. Tell him all your problems, because God is our protection.”

Psalm 144:1-3 – “Of David. Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. LORD, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?“

Deuteronomy 32:4 – “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”

Isaiah 2:10 – “Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty!”

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Cover photo creds: WallpaperBetter

Integrating Ministry & Marketplace: The Temple Template (2nd Ed.)

May 11, 2019May 14, 2019Leave a comment

As shared at the Transmission 2019 conference on May 3, 2019

Original: https://hisgirlfryday.com/2018/04/24/integrating-ministry-marketplace-temple-template/

Today I want to talk about why Jesus’ temple entrance post-triumphal entry is significant for us as leaders.

But before I dive in, let me just say one of my favorite things to talk about is leadership identity. As vocationals, it’s important to believe what God says about us and how He’s made us to be. In Colossians 2 and Ephesians 2, Paul talks about how we’re called to be effective influencers and reconcilers; in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul talks about how we’re to be Kingdom ambassadors, in 1 Peter 2, Peter talks about how we’re a royal priesthood, a chosen race, a holy nation.

But to be all these things, we must walk in three strengths: courage, boldness, and confidence.

Interestingly, one of the places Jesus demonstrates all three of these qualities is the temple. So if you have your Bibles/Bible apps, turn to Matthew 21:12-17…

As mentioned, after Jesus finishes the triumphal entry (v. 1-11), note the first place he goes to (i.e. the temple – v. 12) and the reason why he went there (i.e. to cleanse it).

I don’t know about you, but when I consider the fact Jesus deliberately went to the temple to make its original intent known…that speaks to me. While we tend to focus on Jesus’ frustration in this passage, the key is Jesus setting things right, being fearlessly intentional with the truth, and breathing life into what had become a lifeless environment.

When we talk about our identity as leaders, I believe there’s important application to be found.

First off, to be an effective leader, we must be courageous and purposeful with the truth. Yes, we can be highly skilled with our spiritual gifts; yes, we can be articulate and persuasive, but if what we’ve given from God is used with limited integrity, if we’re tolerating fear in any way, we won’t be able to walk in our leadership identity fully.

Secondly, when we consider Jesus calls the temple “my house” (v. 13 – “My house will be called a house of prayer…”), we find God’s view of leadership as an extension of our priesthood and a place He intended for our good where we can be influencers, reconcilers and ambassadors.

In this case, Jesus calls the temple a “house of prayer” not only to reveal its purpose (i.e. a place where the Holy Spirit could dwell, of influence and vertical communication), but to inspire the sick, the poor and downcast to better know that purpose (v. 14).

Accordingly, it should be no surprise to see a completely transformed temple by the time Jesus leaves in v. 17. Jesus didn’t come to assert his identity, but re-establish an identity his Father intended. This is a big part of why those who weren’t offended were drawn to him…because he had something in him bigger than himself…something that pointed to being loved by God.

At this time, I want to introduce a fairly new concept inspired by Benji Block.

Going back to our aforementioned three strengths (i.e. courage, boldness, and strength), it’s important we understand them as separate yet linked entities. While a future post will be written on their relationship, here’s what I will say for now:

Courage is yielded trust, relying on God’s strength in the moment.

Boldness is matured courage (courage in rhythm).

Confidence is matured boldness (boldness in rhythm).

Using a race analogy, courage gets us to the starting line regardless of fear. While choosing courage doesn’t automatically remove the fear, it ultimately positions us to see the value in running the race.

Put another way, if courage says ‘yes’ to run the race, boldness says ‘yes’ to keep running once the gun goes off. Granted, you may still have doubts and cramps, but nothing can change the fact your commitment is etched in action. Once established in pace, boldness can then yield to confidence, which in this case, manifests as an unshakable belief in finishing the race. Once you’re running with confidence, the fear of pain and other obstacles pales in comparison to the joy set before you.

Step by step, the fear diminishes as what your reliance has now peaked in full. You cross the finish line and marvel not only in the fact you’ve died to your flesh, but also in the reality of having relied on a confidence not your own.¹

Again, I’ll unpack these concepts down the road, but for now, we can apply them to Matthew 21.

Bottom line: When we reflect on how Jesus integrated his ministry and spiritual gifts in the temple, we see…

1. Jesus was intentional (in going to the temple courts). This represents courage.

2. Jesus was bold with the truth and how he handled conflict (some translations reference how Jesus drove out what needed to be driven out with force). This represents courage and boldness.

3. Jesus lived out the identity he declared over the temple (in doing this his true identity became apparent to those who would ultimately flock to him; he didn’t come to the temple looking to assert his identity). This represents courage, boldness, and confidence.

4. Jesus loved at every opportunity (his reputation in many ways preceded him which is part of the reason so many came to him). This represents courage, boldness, and confidence.

I submit if we’re going to thrive in our areas of influence, we must choose courage through obedience and prayer, be bold with the truth even in conflict, and walk in confidence as we enter the places and purposes God has appointed for us.