Spirit
John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
It’s funny how we struggle with spiritual things, yet quote scripture inspired by God. We acknowledge the holy spirit, yet deny our own spirituality. We’ve seen God move. We’ve benefited from spiritual settings. We’ve explained it away. We feel it. We know it. It’s spirit. It’s God spirit in us. We have it. We possess it. Acknowledge it. Embrace the freedom of it.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Soul
Soul has been on repeat in my house since Christmas. It has led to some very interesting conversations about life before birth as well as life after death. It’s definitely some deep subject matter. I can admit that I was a bit disappointed with the movie. I have a thing with Disney and black characters. I expected a movie about Soul to have one. My fault. I expected Disney to chime into the Black experience. My fault. Soul to me is not just a religious thing. It’s cultural. It’s soul music. It’s soul train. It’s black fists. It’s full lips. It’s afro picks and picket lines. Soul to me is grandma’s prayers and peppermints. It’s Virginia Slims and black lips. It’s braided hair and pressing combs. Soul is home, but maybe I’m just thinking about the souls of black folks, cause America sold its soul.
Radiate Love
Energy is real. Some people refer to it as vibes, energy, or spirit. It is an intangible thing that you feel. It’s metaphysical. It's supernatural. It’s spiritual. Whether you recognize it or not, you are giving and receiving energy. When you’re in a bad mood, people can feel it. When you’re happy or in a good mood, it's contagious. Radiate love.
Feed Me
I’ve heard it a million times in church, “starve your fears and feed your faith!” It sounds relatively easy, but how do you feed your faith? Going to church is good. Hearing the word of God is good. Reading the word is better. Applying the word to your daily life is better. Becoming more like Christ is better. So, how do you starve your fears? Ignore the voice in your head. Combat your fears with God’s promises. Keep naysayers at bay. Be mindful of what you’re feeding your spirit. Both your fears and your faith are screaming feed me.
Soul
soul (sōl/) ) noun
1. the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.
2. the essence or embodiment of a specified quality.
There's a part of you that is immortal. It's inside of you. It's living. It's breathing. It's speaking. It's whispering ancestral chants. It's guiding you. It's that part God gave you when he created you in his image. It's your inner voice. It's your soul. You can't ignore it forever. You can't deny it. It's in your eyes. It's your voice. It's in the fabric of your being. I see it. I know you got soul.
Gifted
I was introduced to Nina Simone at a young age. I loved her raspy voice. I loved how she sang her politics and called it all jazz. I loved how this unapologetically big nosed black woman was able to leave us feeling good, spellbound, all while telling stories about four women and strange fruit. She was one of the first to tell me that I was young, gifted, and black. I learned that my youth was a gift. I learned that my blackness was a gift. I learned that my ability to write and express myself poetically was a gift.
Your intellect, your sense of humor, your business acumen are all a gift. Be unapologetically who you are because you are a gift. You are gifted. You are blessed. You are a blessing. To truly be young, black, and gifted is to recognize that you are the gift. Your complexion, your hair, your smile, your hips, your thighs, your nose and your eyes are a gift. Your sincerity, your peace, your joy, your faith, your heart, your spirit are a gift. You are gifted! Your talents, your treasure, your pain and your pleasure are a gift. Your desire, your dreams, your plans and your purpose are a gift. You are gifted.
Fervent
Fervor n.
1. intensity of feeling or expression
2. intense heat
The Bible talks about having a fervent mind, effectual fervent prayers, and possessing a fervent spirit. Our thoughts should be passionate and deliberate. Our prayers should be a profession of our faith. Our spirit should be expectant. I say should because some of us have lost our intensity. Our passionate flames are smoldering. We are still on fire, but our flames can be extinguished by disappointment. Fan the flames. Ignite your passion. Renew your strength. Change your mind. Raise your expectation. Pray effectual fervent prayers. Love fervently.