Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. (Acts 9:40)
Am I a walker? Let me give you some context. In December, I was preaching extra hard at the TEA party, and afterward, I was extra tired. I realized that although I was small, I was not in shape. This lifestyle of ministry is not for the faint. So, I made a conscious decision to start walking every day to help build my stamina and endurance. BUT Yesterday, I took a break from walking. Nothing wrong with a little break, right? Well, this morning, I considered taking another break. While lying in bed, I felt myself slowly conforming to my old habits. But I asked myself, how can I be a walker if I don't walk? Immediately, I said Ebony, Get Up!
Where am I going with this? It's time to make room for you- the new you. The new you can't thrive where the old you resides. When Tabitha got up, she was Tabitha 2.0. This Tabitha had a new story and a new level of impact. However, the new Tabitha began where the old Tabitha ended. During biblical times she was known for doing good and helping the poor. But now we know her as the woman who got up!
The Bible tells stories about either Jesus or the disciples clearing rooms before they performed a miracle. In fact, I thought I would tell you that you need to clear the room of all of the people in your life who don't believe in you or the miracle that God is about to do through you. Yes, that is a very powerful message. But God wouldn't let me go down that path this time. This time I am hearing you need to clear the room of yourself. The old you. The comfortable you. The you who likes to play it safe. The you who likes to talk yourself out of things. The version of you who is confined by fear. The you that doesn't take yourself seriously. It's time to clear the room of her and make room for a stronger, more confident, more powerful, more Faith driven you!
Sometimes God will remove the crowd of doubt to make room for your miracle. And sometimes that crowd is only you! So how do you make room for yourself?
1.) Decide who you are this year and ensure your actions align with that decision. So, I am a walker. A walker walks. A runner runs. A speaker speaks. A writer writes. You get it! It doesn't mean you have to be great at any of those things, but until you align fully with your identity, you can only partially grow in it.
2.) Clear the room. It's time to start releasing yourself of anything and everything that no longer compliments where you are or where you are going. This morning, no one in my room told me not to walk. There was no one saying I couldn't walk. It was just me, and I was taking up too much space. I had to get out of my way.
3.) Invest in the future you. It's women's history month. While we are so grateful for all we have overcome, we must be intentional that we are investing in a future version of ourselves that won't be confined or limited by the poor decisions of our now. Think about the future version of you. What is she doing? How does she feel? What does she need right now to be happy and powerful later? Do those things even if those things currently feel awkward. You may even feel like a fraud because those things are so unfamiliar. Consider these moments of discomfort as seeds towards your confidence.
Who are you? It's time to not only take up space but create space for the best parts of you to come alive.
Speaking of making room for you, we have changed our layout for the upcoming TEA Party to make more room for you. It will be powerful, and I would love to see you there. Today is the last day to grab your seat. Hope to see you in the room!