About Jill Monaco

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”   Isaiah 43:19

 

I am doing something new

It’s not been done before

I am doing something new

It’s not what you expect

I am doing something new

It’s not in secret code

I am plain

I am clear

I am true

I am direct

I am faithful

I am God

I’m doing something new

It’s going to be fun

I’m doing something new

It’s what I’ve called you to

I’m doing something new

It’s fulfilling your dreams

I am plain

I am clear

I am true

I am direct

I am faithful

I am God

We are already in February and before we know it the year will have flown by.  I know I need to be intensional and purposeful about things every day or I can get lost in details and tasks.

 

At the beginning of a new year we also tend to look back and think about how can we do the same things better? But, what if God wanted you to look forward and see a totally new thing He was doing? What if God has been clear, plain and direct? What if what God wants to do is fun and right in front of you?

 

God wants to tell us what He is doing so we can agree in prayer and declare.  In order to declare something we need to know God’s heart on it first. Sometimes you won’t have any physical evidence that God is doing it. You have to hear Him (as He declares it to you) and then you say it in faith. Sometimes God deposits this “thing” in your heart. You may think it’s a hope or a dream. But, it’s God’s voice.  Is 42 says, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

 

Here are some suggestions of places to look and find God’s newest creative work.

 

1. What great new character trait do you see developing in your child?
2. Is there a new woman you’ve met that God would ask you to love on?
3. What new skill can you work on?
4. Is there a totally new idea you should write about?
5. What new passion are you seeing birthed in your husband?
6. What dreams are you waiting on and what can you do to make a step toward them?
7. What new recipe can you try?
8. Is there a new place can you explore? (with your kids or alone)
9. What new verse or promise does God want you to hold on to this year?
10. Is there a new ministry you should support?

 

At the beginning of this new year, take time to sit in quiet and ask God what new thing He is doing. During the day look with His eyes and see in the Spirit His wonderful handiwork. He is the master creator and is always creating. It’s so beautiful!

 

Share what new thing God is encouraging you to see in 2013.

Jill Monaco

I hear God. God hears me. 

I intentionally go to my quiet time to hear God.  God intentionally draws near to me to speak to me.   

God promises to speak to me. When He speaks he gives me promises. 

 

I wasn’t brought up knowing that God wanted to speak to me. No one taught me how to hear God outside of reading His Word. I knew I could do the talking and pray. But, I didn’t know to wait for a response. 

Hearing God is the most exciting part of being a believer. Hearing God for myself or for others. We need to hear God to know who to marry, what job to take, and at the very start … to respond to him in faith for salvation. 

The enemy can speak to us too. He counterfeits everything God does and makes it ugly. And when he speaks it’s always a lie. He often uses the same strategy as he did with Eve in Genesis.  “Did God really say that?” He puts doubt in our minds.  So, it is important to know God’s Word and make sure everything we “hear” agrees with what He’s already said before. 

Broaden your expectations and ignore your experience. 

I love encouraging people to hear God in new ways.  God is not limited by your experience. And he is not threatened by your theology.  God is not afraid of your limitations. And he is not intimidated by your resistance. But, he will not control you.  So, if you don’t want to hear Him he may (or may not) be quiet. 

Sometimes God is not speaking but watching. 

Let me give you an example. I was taking a prayer walk one day.  When I do those I start with praising God for all the things I can think of. Even things I can’t see yet. (Heb 11:1) I pour out petitions. I ask God what He wants to talk about. And I listen. Often we have a conversation that leads to me praising, praying or repenting again.  And sometimes my mind wanders. 

One day I started daydreaming….and I said, “Oh God, so sorry…what do you want to talk about next? 

He said, “Nothing.” 

I said, “Really?”  

God said, “Sometimes I like watching you.  Just like a parent who gives their kids crayons and a coloring book. They watch them create and think. And see what they do with what they have inside of them.” 

God uses all 5 senses to talk to us.  But, only believers have the 6th sense. His voice in our heads. 

God has put things inside of you and wants to see what you do with them. He created you unique. No one is like you.  He has plans for you that He didn’t give anyone else. He can’t wait to walk you through to your destiny.  The way to know what God thinks of you and the plans He has for you is to know Him more. 

Here are 10 ways God spoke as recorded in Scripture. In this new year, maybe ask Him for a new way to speak to you.  

1. Circumstances (Jonah)
2. Counsel (Proverbs)
3. Peace (Col 3:15)
4. People (Acts 21:10-11)
5. Dreams/Visions (Solomon, Jacob, Mary, Paul, Peter)
6. Thoughts (Amos 4:13)
7. Natural Manifestations (Jn 12:29)
8. Supernatural (Burning bush)
9. Bible (Rom 10:17)
10. Whisper (I Kings 19:12)

 Credit: Top ten list from Robert Morris, Gateway Church, 2010

 A Grace Journey with Jill Monaco

I’d like to tell you a brief story about a young lady named Avery. She worked in the most respected and desired company in the nation. Everyone wanted to work there.  Avery was the ideal employee and co-worker. She worked hard and met every need of her assignment. She made sure she understood her bosses needs and made sure she pleased him. She asked what was expected of her and make sure to exceed those expectations. Because of that she was successful in everything she did. Like most young ladies, she wanted to climb the corporate ladder so she looked for opportunities to prove she was worthy of promotion. She was very smart too. She would access the risk of a situation well and if it was too high she wouldn’t go that direction. She made sure to invest in the right relationships so to yield a good relational return as well. She would also find the shortest way to gain the most success. Her supervisors loved having her work for them. She would honor them by obeying their requests. They didn’t even mind that she did a bit of brown-nosing to earn their favor. But, Avery had one large problem.

She forgot who she was. She was the heir to the company. Her Father wanted her to just be faithful but she wanted to earn it. 

I wonder if you see a problem with the way Avery worked.  We’d say, “Good for her she isn’t spoiled! She’s proving she’s worth giving the company to!” What could be wrong with it? She didn’t have to do those things to earn her position. But she was proving her worth instead of knowing who she was – the daughter and the heir.

Sometimes we act just like Avery in our Christian walk.

Read the story again and think of the boss and company as God in his Kingdom and Avery as you.  God says are are daughters and don’t need to earn anything. He has a storehouse of blessings for us and we need to ‘freely” receive. I believe we are hammered by the world’s way of thinking like a slave instead of having our minds renewed and thinking like a son. (daughter)  

Many of us are still acting like slaves  – trying to earn our way into God’s heart and achieve the approval of man with good works. 

Jesus came to earth to set you free of sin so he could reclaim for the Father his lost sons and daughters. Not to make you a slave to become righteous but to declare righteousness over you! You are no longer a sinner but a son. All powerful God could’ve just snapped his fingers and redeemed you. But, he choose to show you the value of who you are by sending his own Son to get you back. God did not find it too great a cost to send Jesus for you. YOU ARE VALUABLE!

Sometimes our prayers are hindered because God won’t answer a prayer that keeps us enslaved. 

If you aren’t sure this applies to you evaluate yourself based on the characteristics below. See if you think more like a slave or a son. (Or message me for a PDF version) Maybe I’m the only one that needed this litmus test. But, I needed to be reminded that God says, “Even on your darkest day I didn’t lose sight of who I created you to be. I never forget who you are. I’m never mad at you and I can’t stop loving you because love never fails. I know your identity, destiny and created value. I love you for who you are and not what you do.”

Spirit of Slavery                                                                                          Spirit of Sonship

A slave is accepted on the basis of what he does ………………………….  A son is accepted & appreciated for who he is

Purpose is to meet a need …………………………………………………….. Purpose is to grow up, find God’s purpose & fulfill it

Seeks comfort & happiness …………………………………………………… Seeks fulfillment

Starts the day anxious, worried wondering if his work will please ……..     Rests in the secure love of his family

Expected to be successful …………………………………………………….. Expected to be faithful

Needs to prove his worth ……………………………………………………..   Status is secure

Runs from pain …………………………………………………………………   Embraces pain strategically

Gives favors “You owe me” ……………………………………………………  Shows favor and HAS favor

Avoids problems ………………………………………………………………..  Sees opportunities in problems

Talks about self …………………………………………………………………  Talks about team & sees bigger picture

Expects more from others than self …………………………………………   Personally raises the bar on self

Intimidated ……………………………………………………………………..    Walks in confidence

Manipulates for recognition ………………………………………………….   Rests in position

Directed by commands ……………………………………………………….  Directed by love

Worships because of duty ……………………………………………………. Worships because of love

Worships to earn God’s favor ………………………………………………..  Worships because HAS God’s favor

Worship is structured …………………………………………………………. Worship is spontaneous

Extends honor upwards ………………………………………………………. Extends honor downwards

Obey’s orders …………………………………………………………………… Solves problems

Sees cost in failure …………………………………………………………….. Sees benefit in failure & learns

Seeks immediate gain ………………………………………………………… Sows into future  

I have an exercise for you!  (I can’t help it….it’s the teacher in me.) I took some of the areas that are a challenge for women and wrote out a positive declaration. The reason I did this is because whatever we focus on we give power to. I didn’t want to give more attention to the slavery ways of thinking by saying don’t do this or that. So, I wrote the opposite. Do this for yourself based on the areas you find you want to think more like a son. See my example below.  Don’t be a slave this Christmas….be a son!  

Declaration:

You know God has great plans for you and are excited about the journey. You seek God’s heart and desire to find ways to fulfill your destiny. You are wise and seek the Fathers heart to be at peace with everyone. You look for ways to make things better for all men. You are others focused and a generous listener. You love a glass empty so you can find a way to fill it. And if some spills you find a new way to fill it up again. You are full of hope. You are a willing student and God loves to teach you. You have every reason to walk in confidence because you are highly favored by God.  Even your enemies are at peace with you. When you wake up in the morning God is pleased to see you. Nothing you can do will make him love you more. Nothing you fail to do will make him love you less. You are wonderful at honoring those that work along side of you and the less fortunate. You do it without thinking and God sees it. Your perseverance is one for the record books and noticed in heaven. You are patient to wait for God’s best and because of that He is going to reward you. You are his daughter! 

A Grace Journey with Jill Monaco