Proverbs 4:12-13 - Beautiful Is Waiting For You!

Step 1: Pray. Select.  

Today was a little challenging waking up after staying up later than usual to bring in the New Year. But, again, I put on my attitude of gratitude and thanked God for the breath I took that woke me up!

As I began my prayer time this morning, I must admit I was slightly anxious about getting my time with the Holy Spirit before my family came into town. I began to pray, and a few words came to mind, with this being the first day of 2025. World peace, joy to the world, and a few other cliche phrases I very quickly realized were just a happy residue from the joyful messages from the night before.

No matter what was coming to mind, one word that departed from the other thoughts and screamed to be noticed was stumble. It began repeating and sounded different, so I knew this was where I would start to look for scripture. It was not my will, but thy will. And sure enough, as I read Proverbs 4, I came across my instruction for the day.

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

Proverbs 4:12-13 - When you walk your steps will not be hindered, when you run you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, Don't let go; Keep her for she is your life.

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out:

• Walk

• You Will Not Stumble

• Instruction

• Is Your Life

Step 3: Re-Write

Adding my name to the front and with a focus on the words that stood out, here is the sentence(s) I came up with for today:

• Jennifer, walk you will not stumble. Instruction is your life.

Step 4: Visualize

As I closed my eyes and focused on this sentence and verse, I was immediately drawn to the crippled man and the gate called Beautiful.

For those of you who are not familiar with Acts 3: 2-8, there is a crippled man who had been lame all his life and lay at a gate called "Beautiful" begging for money and stuck in a victim mentality.

One day, he has an encounter with Peter and John, where they explain they do not have money to give to the man, but they have something else. Something far better. They told the man, "By the power of Jesus Christ, get up and walk!" And he did.

As I thought of this story, I began to see myself standing in a dirty and dusty desert with tattered clothing, which at one point may have been white and now brown like a potato sack. I have no money and no possessions; it is just me. For some reason, I am desperately dusting myself off, and as I pat my skirt, clouds of dirt fly into the air.

I begin to look up and feel a massive structure in front of me. I ask God, "What does the gate called 'Beautiful' look like?"

Holy Spirit reminded me of an image I saw on the internet. It was a massive structure about five stories high, made of what seemed to be a combination of concrete and marble. It is grey and dark on the outside, but as you look closer at the massive tunnel or the entrance, inside it is full of light and color. It is guarded by warring angels, who appear to be carved into the marble at the top of every arch and peak of the gate, but they are not actually marble; they are very much alive and real; they don't move unless God commands them. And no one gets through the gate unless God commands. So they wait, watching.

Something great awaits inside, but how can I enter dressed like this?

Somehow, I was invited to this place, which is why I am there. But I am scared I will be struck down before actually entering. I am reminded that God did not tell me to dress for the occasion, he told me to "Walk and I will not stumble. Instruction is my life!"

I begin to take my first steps towards the oversized archway leading to an endless hallway of - I don't know what. All I know is it can't be worse than me being homeless, lying on the ground outside.

Another thing was brought to my remembrance was a quote from Henry Cloud: "We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing."

In my vision, I only have to do what I am told. Walk!

Why has this become so hard? God has proven time and time again in my life that he always has something better for me in store than my plans. It all boils down to just saying YES!

"YES! YES! YES!" I scream in my vision at the top of my lungs. And I don't just walk, I run. I don't just run I sprint! I am literally breathing like an animal at the chance to get into the entrance and burst through. I have never been so hungry for anything in my life. Where is this drive coming from? Let me remind you that I have been homeless in my vision, kicked down, and dirty. But I no longer care! I am like the woman with the issue of the blood that tugged on the robe of Jesus until she received a miracle. I am that hungry for what is inside. I will not miss this moment when the gate is open.

I suddenly realized that was why I could see the hallway and the light and colors inside. It is open. The angles are frozen because it is my time to be let in. Was it always my time, was it always available?

It was; I had just never looked. I just assumed I couldn't get in, so why not even look?!

How often do we sell ourselves short of what may lay within our reach, but we don't even try out of fear of not making it or rejection.

I don't care anymore! Whatever is there is better than where I am running from.

As my steps get labored from running, I feel something behind me. Remember, Lot's of wife, don't look back, Jennifer. Take your last step and leap through!

As I leap through the entrance, thunder roars overhead, and lightning strikes all around me. The gate starts crumbling down. I am inside, but the gate is no more.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The main question(s) that came to mind were:

• Now what?

• Where do I go next? I can't see all the rubble from the gate collapsing.

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Now what, Holy Spirit? Where do I go next?

"Do you not trust that if you show up here tomorrow, I will not have more for you to see? You made it inside. Stay present with the day's treasures ahead of family, fellowship, and a New Year. Don't miss this moment, and celebrate your decision to run to the other side. From now on, life will never be the same. Keep walking or running when the spirit moves you. You are ready for your real journey to begin."

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

My heart is pounding. I am beyond excited, I am elated!

I feel like every day, the weight is lifting off of me. I will remind my two witnesses to continue to pray over what I have heard and keep me accountable to stay on track with the 30-day blogging challenge from God.

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone!

Step 8: Share. Testify

I don't have a miracle or new testimony yet today to share. However, the day ain't over yet! I am staying hopeful and will report if something changes.

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Don't forget to Spread Hope and share HERE if you have a miracle or testimony. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

Wow! Day 4!

Let's remember that sometimes that gate is open and waiting for us to walk through instead of burying our heads in the sand and never looking up.

If you look up today and see the entrance, don't walk; run through!

Know you are enough exactly as you are, and your Father made you in his perfect image, so stop bashing beautiful, amazing, wonderful you

Maybe the gate is just a gate, but it is called "Beautiful" because it has your name on it and it is waiting for you!

Don't forget to share where the Holy Spirit took you with this scripture!

Happy January 1st, friends! See you here tomorrow.