Back in September, on my birthday, I went to church and I had no idea it was the church’s 8th anniversary. I was also about to head into my 8th year living in Texas. The message was so profound and literally directed at me. The pastor talked about the biblical meaning of 8, he explained that if 7 is completion, then 8 is new beginnings. If you have been following me for a long time, then you know that I moved to Texas after a divorce, started a new career, opened a bookstore, closed the bookstore, and basically was just trying to find my way. I spent 7 years seeking and trying, learning and growing. When I heard that message on my birthday, I knew God was talking to me, telling me it was time to transition to new territory.

The last year, year 7, was spent in the wilderness. I closed the bookstore and had no idea what I would do with my life. I talked about things I did like the 75 Hard Challenge, I wrote a book called, Living With God in the Season of Ambiguity, I fasted and prayed, and I got deep into my word! In that wilderness, God told me to do things I loved, and those things were creating, writing, and being a content creator. So I did that! Then God kept revealing little things to me, do this creative workshop, start a bible study group, teach, and more. So I did these things not realizing God was up to something.

I started The Creative Wellness Project a year ago, with the idea of being a creative coach to help people live their best lives. As I read my Bible daily, the transformation was happening and I had the desire to share God’s word creatively. I used to do therapeutic expressive workshops and thought, I wonder if I could do this but with my faith as the foundation. Again God was up to something. He put things in my path, revealing opportunities, the main one was participating in a training for creative arts ministries. I had no idea that it was a thing! I was down to $52 to my name and God blessed me to get a full scholarship for the training! My mind was blown and I was so excited to do creative activities focused on the Word of God. The Creative Wellness Project turned into a creative arts ministry. I thought that was it. I was fine with it, but God was like you are thinking too small. God told me to Believe Him for Bigger. The Creative Wellness Project has definitely transformed.

So to recap, the last year was year 7 and that was spent in the wilderness which is where God is preparing you, transforming you, and setting you up for what is next. Sometimes you know you are in the wilderness and sometimes you don’t. But no matter what, God was teaching me to move slow, listen to Him, and trust Him with my whole heart, mind, and soul.

The Biblical Meaning of 8

From BibleStudy.org

• The number 8 represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man’s true “born again” event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life.
• Eight is also an integral part of Jesus’ sacrifice. Like the Passover lamb, Jesus was selected as the Lamb to take away man’s sins on Nisan 10 (April 1, 30 A.D. – John 12:28 – 29) and was crucified on Nisan 14. His resurrection occurred three complete days after he was buried, which was at the end of the weekly Sabbath day that fell on Nisan 17. Nisan 17 was day 8, counting inclusively, from the time Christ was selected as man’s sacrificial Lamb.
• Boys, according to God’s law, were to be circumcised on the 8th day (Leviticus 12:3). The number 8 symbolizes circumcision of the heart through Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:28 – 29, Colossians 2:11 – 13). Those in Christ are becoming a new creation, with godly character being created by the power of God’s Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10).
• God saved eight people on the ark in order to have a new beginning for mankind after the flood. Since the symbolism of the number four in the Bible is derived from God’s creation of everything, 8 (4 + 4) pictures the new creation after the flood.

I just knew God was talking to me when I listened to the pastor, I just didn’t know and still don’t know what is coming but I do know that God told me to believe Him for bigger. I am going to trust Him and let Him lead the way. Whether it is for the Creative Wellness Project, relationships, health, wealth, or whatever, I am walking into a new beginning.

Listening To God

I say all this to say, God is speaking to you! You have to walk in this life expecting to hear from Him. He speaks to you in opportunities, through messages, signs, and wonders. They mostly are small and quiet things. Many of us think hearing from God has to be a mountain physically moving. We think it has to be huge and loud. Remember the passage where the Lord reveals himself to Elijah in 1 Kings 19

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

So what has God been saying to you? Is He telling you to get ready? Is He telling you to let something go? Is He telling you to choose this or that? Keep your spiritual eyes open and turn on those spiritual ears!

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