A Fresh Perspective on Sober-mindedness

Hey loves,

Confession? I’ve been feeling a little off lately, especially this morning. There was a lot on my heart and I found myself (quite gratefully so might I add), crying on my way to work and pouring my heart out to God. The thing is, for the past few weeks, I’d tangled myself into a knot of overthinking, overfunctioning, and fixing. There was this anxiety that kept rising up inside of me that created this ‘urgent’ feeling inside of me. But it was more than anxiety or urgency. It was a fierce protectiveness of those around me, and the feeling like it was all up to me to fix things for them, to research solutions to problems, and to offer as much good advice as possible until they were in a better place. With every new need that came up, I felt something rise inside me that said, “I should do something about this!” And then I’d proceed to overwork my brain and body, gorging myself on information to soothe the worry about not having the control to fix things for them, and I’d offer them as much of whatever I’d learned or thought up. And honestly, it exhausted me so much after a while. After a few weeks of doing that, I was left feeling so far from my own heart, so in need of strength that wasn’t my own, so not feminine and not taken care of. I had a recurring headache, my mind was fatigued, my heart was injured and quiet and I couldn’t access her voice anymore. But the worst part was that I’d been so mentally and emotionally preoccupied, that my healthy rhythms with God became shallow or non-existent. I felt so far from His voice, cut off from His approval, like I’d forgotten how to even find connection with Him again… and it all felt like all my fault.

So this morning, when I found myself a blubbering mess, pouring out my words and tears to God, in the middle of a traffic jam, it felt like a real gift. I told Him everything. EVERYTHING. And I asked Him to speak to me and to rescue me from the place I found myself in. I confessed that I was feeling like I’d forgotten how to reach Him, that I missed my feminine heart, and that I had no idea what the first step to my way back to either would even look like. I told Him that what I needed most that day was His voice and reassurance.

As I got into the office, I set all my things down and pulled out my laptop and an old notebook, which I’d previously used as a journal. And providentially, the pages flipped to a journal entry I’d written earlier this year, one in which I’d journaled the voice of the Lord during a time of listening prayer (for more on Journaling the Voice of the Lord, you can watch this amazing video by Jonathan Helser).

I’d written this entry about a week after I’d come up from what felt like a really deep depressive episode, after a few weeks well of the devil playing opportunist on my compromised mental and emotional position. In the entry, God spoke directly to my heart and my thought-life and He saturated my mind with life-giving words. In the spirit of vulnerability, I thought I’d share, word for word, what He said that day, and I pray it blesses whoever needs to hear it. He might have called me by name in this, but so too, He calls you by name, even in your own battle for your mind and heart:

Dear Candace,

You are consecrated. You are set apart for Me and you have been since you were born. My sheep hear My voice. I know them and they follow Me. You follow Me and I equip you to follow Me, fiercely.

Candace, in this season, you must be sober-minded. Sober-minded means not having your mind drunk on fear, hopelessness, resentment, unbelief, worldly ideologies, information, distraction or earthly things.

Anxiety is a mind drunk on fearful scenarios and imaginations.

Depression is a mind drunk on hopelessness, burnout and fatigue.

Resentment is a mind drunk on unforgiveness and record-keeping.

Confusion is a mind drink on distraction, information and unbelief.

Deception is a mind drunk on worldly ideologies.

Apathy is a mind drunk on earthly concerns.

Let Me consecrate your mind for Me. Last week, your mother anointed your head with oil, and in that, I anointed you. Your mind is Mine. Your mind is consecrated for me and I hold the keys to your sobriety. I am the remedy for hangovers and coming out of drunkeness on fear, hopelessness, worldiness and more. My voice in your life keeps you sober. I Am the holder of your sobriety. Let Me teach you the keys to the kingdom.

The devil will not win with you because I have consecrated you. The temptation of your mind to engage thoughts about your own demise is NOT from Me, and is NOT a part of you. Reject it. Resist the devil and he will flee.

I have spoken life, favour, adoption, shelter, and safety over you. Your mind is consecrated to Me. I have your mind in My hands. You have a strong mind, a focused mind, a discerning mind, an observant mind. You have a creative mind, a flexible mind, a wonderstruck mind. You have a childlike mind, an innocent mind, a robust mind. Your mind is something I cherish. Take care of her with all diligence.

Do not be a slave master to your mind. Lead her like I lead you. Let Me shepherd your mind through your choices. Do not lead your mind like an Egyptian slave master would lead a Jewish slave. Your mind needs rest. Your mind needs the rhythm of Sabbath where it gets to properly rest from all of its working. Your mind needs manna and water from the Rock. Your mind needs play and a deep recognition that it has a Source. Your mind does not need to work as hard as it does. Your mind is not an orphan that needs to fend for itself. Your mind, too, has My stamp of adoption. Your mind is Mine.

I have placed My oil on your head. Do not damage what is mine. Do not abuse what is mine. I have set your mind apart for Me. Your mind is a chosen vessel, a royal instrument, My special possession, to be used to show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness and into His marvellous light.

Your Lord & Papa <3

Be encouraged today, loves. Receive God’s covering and voice over your minds.