Training — Are You Willing?
Are you willing to go through the process that is necessary for your becoming?
New week, new letter! Hey everyone, welcome to May! 🦋💗 Hope you’ve all had a great start to the week so far? Before we get into today’s newsletter, here’s a roundup of the most recent newsletters:
🗞️ Round-up of Lessons in Seasons
Let’s get into today’s encouraging word.
Is your heart ready for a yes rather than a no?
Sometimes it’s really easy to become numb in life. What I mean by this is, when we’re used to receiving a no in certain areas of life, it’s easy to think it will always be that way. But if there exists a no, why not a yes? Are our hearts ready for a yes? A yes to new opportunities? New relationships that could actually go well and not end on harsh terms? Is your heart ready for answered prayers? Ideas not only being executed but also taking off in the way that you imagined and even better?
Our hearts matter — And these days I’m beginning to see the state of our hearts as the most important thing before anything else. Before our goals— what is driving that goal? Is it hidden insecurity? Before welcoming that relationship, what is behind that desire? Is it a desire to truly do life with another person? Or is it to numb insecurities of unworthiness? Fear of abandonment?
These are all deep questions I know, but it’s important we take time to assess the state of our hearts. Those uncomfortable questions we may want to run away from, why don’t we face them this time around? You’ll thank yourself in the long haul. May will be a beautiful month for you, I’m so expectant and I pray you have the faith to believe. And with that, let’s get into our newsletter for today:
Rhieme Recommends 💌
Youtube Video 🎥: Is the Process Processing You? By Dr Esther Longe: I watched this video a few months ago, and it was so insightful. If you’ve been reading my newsletters for a while, you’ll know that this is a topic I think is SO important. In today’s newsletter I speak more extensively on this so keep reading!
🎙️ Unpacking with Lessons in Seasons:
Now let’s get into today’s newsletter—
Are you willing to go through the processing necessary for your becoming?
In my last newsletter, I spoke more on the importance of investing more in who we are becoming as opposed to constantly chasing after endless external achievements. Today I want to introduce another angle worth considering and that is — are you prepared to wear the crown? As you think of this question let’s consider this example. The day a king is crowned, is externally the day he becomes king, however before this comes a process of preparation to beome king. In relation to us, there are different areas we may envision ourselves stepping into. For example, someone may have the desire to become a vice-president of a company. For another it could be building a conglomerate. While these aspirations are great, it’s important we realise that there is a process of formation one has to go through to even sustain that position. Too often we glorify the shiny positions and what externally looks great, but have we gone through due process? A king can be crowned, but if he never followed the grooming that was necessary preceding the coronation, this can greatly affect his reign and even lead to him making very costly mistakes. So I’m asking again, are you willing to go through the processing necessary for your becoming?
What does processing look like for you?
The Cave
Today I want to use the story of David in Adullam, in the Bible to explain today’s newsletter further. For some context, Adullam was the place David went to hide when he was being chased by Saul, who wanted to kill him. It was certainly a hard time for him and when I think of the cave in relation to us today, it could be going through unfavourable situations where we’re in a tough spot. Phases in life that are incredibly distressing and everything within us wants to pull in the towel. It’s a hard place to be in, I honestly get it. But as I studied this story further I was so encouraged and surprised by how David responded to the tough situation he was in. Here’s what happened:
1 Samuel 22:2 “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.”
How powerful is this? At a time where he was hiding from someone who wanted to take him out completely, he didn’t spend that time complaining or becoming resentful, he gained perspective during that process that led to transformation. Transformation that transcended him and overflowed into the lives of others around him. How beautiful. When I studied this passage, I began to think of the heart David must have had for others in spite of what he was passing through. His heart remained full of love even in hard times and he went as far as meeting the needs of the men who came to him.
What is Your Response to the Present?
Going off from the example I shared, an important question to ask ourselves is — how are we treating those around us now? How invested are we in the lives of other people? Even those who we may not be particularly close to? How are we sowing seeds in other people’s lives? I’m asking these questions because before we can begin to reach the lives of hundreds, thousands etc, how we treat the ten, twenty, thirty people we have access to will determine if we even have the opportunity to have such reach. Our families, communities? How are we pouring into them? This is all part of the process, being able to steward our present lives to the best of our abilities, because soon when the seasons change and tables turn, who we were behind the scenes, will determine if we can sustain what is placed in our hands in new seasons.
Often times we don’t realise that those who will soon become keepers in industries and notable figures are around us. It’s important we see people beyond their current disposition and begin to treat them on the basis of who they are becoming.
Apart from our relationships, what systems have we created in line with the people we see ourselves becoming? For example, you may desire to become a world renowned fashion designer. What daily practices have you incorporated to take steps towards this everyday? Are you up to date with what is happening in your industry? Have you enrolled in courses, training programmes etc to enhance your skillset? If you haven’t I would encourage you to do so it is not too late. But it’s important we realise, nobody becomes king overnight. There is a place for hardwork, learning and gradually growing into mastery. Circling back to my story of David, he went through the process of raising and leading four hundred men in the cave before he became king and ruled over Israel. His underground training, laid the necessary foundation for his public unveiling and reigning.
Voices of Reason — Counsel in the Middle of Training
Another key part of David story was who spoke into his life during the testing period he faced. Let’s take a deeper look:
1 Samuel 22: 5 “But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah. So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.”
David listened to a key voice of counsel, the prophet and followed his advice on moving to another area. I chose to hone in on this verse because it is very applicable to us today. We all need sound boards, people who can offer us guidance and perspective. Why? Because we truly do not know it all. While I believe we should be wary of allowing people take the place of God in our lives, this doesn’t mean we should stir away from counsel completely. We need people. Both those who are years ahead of us, same age or even younger. After all, a person’s age isn’t always a reflection of the wisdom they carry. However it’s also important to add that, counsel should be sought prayerfully and with God. I try my best to invite God into the process of who I let into my circle and also whose perspective I seek. This is so key because it’s very easy to be misled. Ultimately, God is the ultimate counsellor, but there are people He can guide us too.
📌 This verse is such an important reminder:
Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
With all that being said, I hope you’ve taken one or two pointers as we go into this week. Here are some gentle reminders:
Before a crown is worn, there is a process necessary to sustain it.
See people beyond their present circumstances and treat them on the basis of who they are becoming.
Seek counsel, we were not created to do life alone.
As always I’d like to hear your thoughts, share them below!
And if you’ll like to speak further on today’s newsletter, send me a message below:
Share with a friend too!
And I’ll see you next week.
Love,
Rhieme ♥️
I love the analogy of the crowning process of becoming a king, this was so insightful and definitely has me thinking. Thank you Rhieme❤️
Wow! This was so timely for me ! Thank you for sharing🥺💗