Laissez-Faire

Many of you are trying to figure out every detail of your life, wracking your brain with questions and scenarios.  

In this hour God is asking you to stop trying to figure it out! 

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” Proverbs 20:24

Suddenly in the spirit I heard, “laissez-faire.” Having taken French through college I understood the exact translation, “Let it do,” or “allow it to do.” Essentially it is “let be,” or “let it happen.”  In political or economical terms, it is an ideology or philosophy of, “letting things take their own course,” especially without interfering.

How many times do we think we know best and try to help God out? When in all reality, He doesn’t need our help because He knows what He is doing. And usually, when we try to help Him, we are actually getting in the way.

There is a constant “trying to control,” the outcomes. Trying to get your way and not necessarily letting go and letting God.

We think we know what we want, but He knows what we need! 

Recently God had me live somewhere I didn’t want to live, I was trying to go elsewhere, I thought I knew what I wanted. In that, God met some innermost needs I did not know I needed. Even met the most genuine people with no hidden motives. 

God is asking for complete trust! He is doing more than we can imagine.

“Laissez-faire. Let go of control and watch what I can and will do! It is beyond your wildest imagination and what I want to do is not possible in your own strength or knowledge. I will confound the wise, watch me do what I do best,” He says.

We cannot control the Spirit, but we can let Him take us through the course He wants us on, with those He wants us to be with. Don’t try to hold on to the old life, or even some friendships God is asking you to let you because they are no longer bringing fruit or are not going where you are going. 

It is time to stop containing Him and let Him do what He needs to do. 

“Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Zechariah 4:6

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the show. 

Beauty in the Wilderness

“One of my prayers is that God will help me understand, feel or know what your season that you’ve gone through in this last year has been like; To show me what it’s like to be in your season.” This is what a friend messaged me last month in a voice memo. As her words reached my ears, my eyes pooled with tears. 

My first response to her was this, “You don’t want to know, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, it has been H A R D.” As I kept speaking, revelation came and unexplainable gratitude overcame my heart, eventually long pauses of weeping as I realized the wilderness season has been the most beautiful season because I got to see my Maker face to face and experienced His presence in ways many haven’t.

This encouragement is for those still in the wilderness season, or those about to step into the wilderness. Know my heart goes out to you and I speak strength over you, but also, I pray this will open your eyes to see beauty in the moment and in the season.

It was in the wilderness season, where I was all alone, no friends, no family, no community, in the middle of the solitude is where my one and only true friend stood by my side, never leaving me and never forsaking me. The moments I felt so weak, His strength filled me with the courage to get up from bed and keep moving forward. When the barrenness was all I saw, He would show up with a bouquet of flowers reminding me it will not always be like this. When the dry land was parched all around His living waters became a spring in my heart. 

“Therefore, I am now going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.” Hosea 2:14 HCSB

It was in the wilderness where I heard His voice clearly, where I heard Him speak truth over my life, where He spoke identity and encouragement shattering the lies from my past. In the wilderness is where He whispered loving words in my ear of worth, acceptance and confidence. It is in that wilderness I truly got to experience His grace, His provision, His protection, and His unfailing devotion to me. 

“Jacob named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “and I have been delivered.” Genesis 32:30 HCSB

I read this verse right after I called a pastor friend; I had been wrestling with the Lord to the extent of losing my voice, I was desperate! With joy and wisdom, the words he spoke over the phone, “Maritza, the good thing is that after the wrestling comes the blessing.” Immediately I knew I was to read the story of Jacob, specifically the part where he wrestled with the Lord. Right after Jacob wrestled, he got the blessing, and then he said what we read, “For I have seen God face to face.” That is when it became crystal clear, it was in the wrestling of the wilderness season, I have seen God, the King of Kings, the Great I am, face to face. Originally I didn’t see it because I was too busy fighting Him to get out of the wilderness. 

After Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go, Exodus 13:17-18 reads, “… God said, ‘if the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.” This made complete sense on why God would lead us into the wilderness; He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knew He needed to lead me into the wilderness to remove old mindsets and give me His perspective so I wouldn’t self-sabotage the calling and plans He has for me by going back to my old life.

“Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:21 NLT

The wilderness has its purpose. Though difficult, and as I told my friend, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, if one truly wants to live the destiny and calling of God for their life to the fullness of life He ordains, it is necessary. 

The wilderness season helped me know the character of God. It allowed me to not only see Him face to face but also gave me the opportunity to wholeheartedly trust Him. It allowed me to tell everyone and anyone who asks this truth: my life is clearly not my own, He is the one who blessed me. 

I thought just like the Israelites, I had gone to the wilderness to die, when instead He led me there to give me new life, His life! 

If you are entering the wilderness, do not fear. 

If you are still in the wilderness, you don’t have to stay there forever.

It is in that wilderness you will encounter the Living One, where He will speak tenderly and truthfully. If you stop your fighting and don’t complain, and you become still, you will get to gaze at His face, His beauty, His majesty! He will encourage you, care for you and revive you,

There is more for you. Take His hand and step forward, letting Him lead and allowing His love to soothe the pain. 

“Who is this one? Look at her now! She arises out of her desert, clinging to her beloved. When I awakened you under the apple tree, as you were feasting upon me, I awakened your innermost being with the travail of birth as you longed for more of me.” Song of Songs 8:5 TPT

Awaken

About a week ago I had a dream where someone I knew with the name of Summer

looked dead, but I knew in my dream she was sleeping. I lay my hand on her stomach, and she woke up.

As soon as I woke from my sleep, I knew God was not speaking to me about the

person. I smiled because I knew He was trying to say more in regard to the season of Summer.

“He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives

wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;” Daniel 2:21

Though we are still in winter, the God who changes the times and seasons has

awakened summer! His ways are higher than our ways, the wind and waves obey His

commands, which means even the seasons obey His precepts.

“Though your winter has been long, I am changing your season, says the Lord.

Do you not see? and do you not perceive? Only goodness and faithfulness come from me.

When you stay in my will, I will make the flowers bud in its timing.”

It will not be long, for though there is a season before summer, watch summer come

before spring. Do not set your eyes on this physical realm but look to Him who is the

God that is now changing times and seasons. There is a quickening in the spirit, a

restoration of joy is upon us.

Be ready for the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord to overflow and joy to be found

in you once again. It is the season of barrenness ending and time for the big fat juicy

fruit to give way. Behold, the fruitful summer has awakened.

Love & Wonder

(Written for Unveiled Voices)

The longer I am on this journey called life, the clearer it gets to understand that the only thing every human being wants is to be loved. It is an innate desire, meaning a desire from birth. Love is etched into the very essence of our being. 

Is your heart crying out to experience love and wonder? No matter where you are in life, it is available for you. Having talked with many women both married and single, I have found they have this in common; they both can experience loneliness, and both want to be loved. You caught that correctly! Even married people can experience loneliness and have a deep desire to be loved and seen. The reason? There is only one love available which can reach the depths of your soul quenching the desperate cry for love. No human on this earth can fulfill those desolate places with the liquid love it yearns for. No amount of chocolates, flowers, dates, money or yes you guessed it, sex can fulfill this unique longing of love.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12

Many years ago, I read this verse and when I read it, the revelation came to me. The hope in this verse is the hope of love, true love. Once that desire is fulfilled, our heart grows as the tree of life, full of the fruit we want to taste, joy, peace, faithfulness, and genuine gratitude. This love never fails. It is constant throughout all circumstances; it brings dead things back to life; It is perfect love full of wonder! 

When I say nothing else will satisfy except for this love, I mean it. Nothing. This love full of faith, expectancy and wonder will keep you going in times you have felt alone. This love will empower you to take another step when you feel weary. This love knows you intimately in ways you have never even imagined being known. It will envelop you covering you everywhere you go. 

This love is also the only love that can change your life for the better! “It is so powerful and is the only thing that can mend a heart. It breaks bondages, breaks strongholds, breaks chains, and even casts out all fear.” (Loved by Love: How Love Restores a Heart) This love will breakthrough for you! It knows no bounds and will do whatever it takes to bring that desire to fulfillment. 

When your heart needs mending, this love is the perfect bond to put it back together. 

When you are looking for security in money, jobs or titles, this love is waiting for you to stand on. 

When you are in urgent need of joy, this love is ready to dance with you. 

When you are praying for peace, this love is a firm foundation to rest on. There is no need to strive for this love. It is yours, if you choose to let it overtake you. 

This love will go above and beyond for you; When you feel hopeless and dead inside, it’s care for you revives the dead places which crave to be known and seen. 

Feel its embrace, stay, don’t fight it and don’t resist it. 

It is the love of the Father, the Love of the King of Kings that can change you and your situations igniting you with life again. 

May you let it truly fulfill the desire in your heart, because I tell you this, no more is hope deferred! No more will this love delay, it is here now! It is for you not against you! It will breakthrough any shame trying to keep it away. How do I know? I know because YOU ARE WORTHY OF THIS LOVE!  is the time to declare: No more hope deferred! No more looking to the world for what only God can satisfy. No more delaying the love that is already yours.

Jesus is here.

His love is available.

And He is inviting you to receive it in full measure.

A Call to Action: Engage in the Love That Transforms

    1. Receive It – Right now, wherever you are, pause and invite God’s love to flood your heart.

Say, “Lord, I receive Your perfect love.

Fill every part of me. Satisfy my soul.”

    2. Rest in It – Stop striving. His love is not something to earn, but something to rest in. Close your eyes, breathe, and let Him embrace you.

 3. Walk in It – His love empowers you! Go forth today knowing that you are deeply loved, fully known, and completely seen. Live from this truth!

    4. Share It – You are now a vessel of this love. Pour it into your home, your friendships, and every space you enter.

Speak words of love, encouragement, and life over others!

Do or Die

I know, I know it sounds intense! And maybe you are thinking, “Wow Maritza, you are

overkill.” Well, here is the truth of the matter, God is intense, and this is what He is saying.

This is a do or die life.

Just in the last five days I heard the following statements, some through T.V., some through songs, others through people.

“Open the gate or die.”

“Dance or die.”

“Defend or die.”

“Ride or die.”

When I hear common themes like this, I know God is trying to get my attention,

especially when it is something this strong. So, I pay attention and ask. What came to

mind was that statement, “Do or die.” Immediately I was reminded of the time I had to

face this decision of, “Do or Die.” It was a little over a year ago as I was preparing for a

mission trip to Pakistan. I had several People reach out to me telling me I shouldn’t go

because it was dangerous, others out of fear also asked me to really pray about if I was to go.

Sensing fear in others I started to feel fear myself, indeed I prayed. The very first response I hear from the Lord is,

“Maritza, are you willing to die for me?”

Followed by one of my favorite scriptures many Christian circles quote

but tend to forget the last part of the verse which is what God was speaking about:

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their

testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11 (ESV)

It was a no brainer, “YES!”

(I am not joking I spoke with trusted people letting them know what to do “if I don’t come back from Pakistan.”)

Do or die! Was I going to go and Do what I was called for, facing death, or was I going

to die in false safety staying behind and trying to preserve my life?

God Is asking many to take courage, He is saying today, “do or die.”

Do not let fear of death hold you back. The God we serve is the God of life, and the God

of resurrection life. He wants to revive hearts back to life, back to wonder and back to

adventure. It is done only in the divine calling of His will for your life.

Lastly, I had to look up exactly what ride or die meant, I knew it was common amongst

bikers, but I felt there was more to this. Sure enough, I found this statement is an

expression to refer to someone who will always stick by your side and who will ride or

die with you to the end.

Right away I hear “JESUS! He will!” He will go to the ends of the earth, through the

good and the bad with you. Then the following question rose in my spirit, “But will you

ride or die to the end with Him?” Considering I had already faced my “do or die”

moment, I knew this was a word for the Bride, not for myself. It is a question for the

Bride, the church which is meant to arise and be full of the power and dominion He

intended us to live in.

Just to clarify the verse in Revelation 12:11 quoted above is

speaking about conquering the enemy! We must not love our lives in the face of death.

The last thing God spoke in this is this, every “do or die” statement I heard, came from

people who had a passion for something. Dance or die, the person saying this has a

passion for dance. Ride or die, a passion to ride. Hopefully you get the gist here. Goes

back to Jesus, His passion for us to be with Him led Him to the Cross.

You too must have a passion to truly be with Him and for Him.

I end with this; He has already died so you can ride!

He rose so He can ride with you!

Will you ride or die with Him?

Gird your Loins

For months I keep hearing in the spirit, “Gird Your Loins.” In short all this means is, “prepare.”

To gird your loins is to prepare for something difficult or challenging. As I write this, I

even envision a hard days work in bible times out in a field. The phrase “hand to the

plow” is highlighted. Regardless of your place in the Kingdom, there is hard work to be

done. I even feel a sense of urgency with the thought “no time to waste.”

It certainly is a time to build right now. To build that which God has asked you to do, it is

all for the sake of the Kingdom and for the harvest time. The harvest is no doubt

plentiful. Yet to this day, the workers are few. Hand to the plow, it is a season to work in

His rest and in His calling for you. But it will require new skills and hard work, His yoke

is easy, and He will help as long as we are building with Him.

“Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for

ordinary people.” Proverbs 22:29

If you are called to the Kingdom of the King, there is no working in ordinary terms.

There is diligence, hard work, and at times difficult circumstances.

To gird is to prepare, in other words, to “suit up.” Loins in a Hebrew meaning are the

seat of vigor. The things to come will require vitality and vigor. It is not for the faint of

heart, it will require courage, strength and honor.

“Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” Job 38:3 KJV

“Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword…” 1 Samuel 25:13 NKJV

“She girdeth her loins with strength, And strengtheneth her arms.” Proverbs 31:17 KJV

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” Proverbs 31:17 NIV

God is saying, “be ready, prepare for what is coming.” Gird Your Loins.

Fiery Ones

Who are the fiery ones?

Once gray 

Once stepped on 

Once overlooked

Once crushed

The heat growing cold  

Yet an ember still on hold

The breath of life breathed

The ember caught another wind

It lights up

One ember

One light

New glow

The glow became a light

The light grew

Soon it became a fire

A fire reaching for more of the breath of life

For more light

More

More

More

It began to burn

Burn with passion

For the One

The One who blew life again

For the One who saw the tiny ember

For the One who smiles on the fire

Burn

Burn

Burn

More

More

More

The fiery one is the one to burn more and more

For the breath of life

The one that sees the other little embers

In a gray cold pile

The one that no longer looks at the gray,

The one that no longer looks at the old.

But the one that will burn with Joy

With passion

Carrying the breath of life,

The passion of life until justice is fulfilled. 

Burn on fiery ones burn on. 

Moment By Moment Surrender

So, what do you do when things don’t go as expected, as imagined, or as you wanted them to go?

For those who long to walk in the Spirit and are called to go higher, I believe we are in a season of “moment-by-moment surrender.” 

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” James 4:13-14

We may have grandiose plans and huge endeavors but clearly scripture tells us to not plan tomorrow for we have no idea what tomorrow will bring let alone what our life will be! 

I have been in a season of living “a day at a time” since God highlighted this verse to me over a year ago. Sure enough, I had plans for “tomorrow,” when “tomorrow” came, He shifted my plans dramatically to go to another state! 

This time as I sit in my home instead of being in another city as planned, I hear, “it is a moment-by-moment surrender season.” Surrender every day, every hour, every minute, and every breath. 

Though we are to plan and have a vision, we must hold these plans loosely. 

(Man with no vision shall perish)

We are called to have a vision, but we are also called to be led by the spirit and not walk by sight, or our own understanding (2 Cor 5:7, Prov 3:5). It is pivotal to heed his command step by step, hour by hour. This is the God who is omnipresent and holds the whole world in His hands. The God with higher and better plans for our lives who wants to lead us and guide us into our calling. 

One wrong step can delay or even take us out. Trust me, I know, recently I missed a step as I was walking. Fell, got abrasions on both hands and a knee. This caused delays in certain areas of my life. It could have been worse, but my point is, if we take one wrong step, even if it is the right step but it is a minute too early or minute too late, the timing will make it wrong and depending on what we are facing, it can mean life or death. Last year I had to drive across the country. There was a moment at night when I got sleepy, so I stopped at a rest stop to take a nap. This was a moment-by-moment, well moment. Unable to sleep I was about to go to the restroom then leave, instantly I hear in my spirit, “DO NOT GET OUT AND DO NOT MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN.”

It was a warning! Sure enough two men park near me and I felt the darkness hover. This was a surrender moment to heed His voice that was life or death. If I had gone with my flesh (needing the restroom) I might not be here writing this. A minute-by-minute and step-by-step walk.

A moment-by-moment surrender season. 

We must learn to walk with Him moment-by-moment. Surrendering our flesh, our will, our time, and our resources to His will.  

So, what do you do when things don’t go as expected, as imagined, or as you wanted them to go? We trust. We surrender and we trust. We trust His plans for us and for our lives. We trust His perspective is higher, because it is, and learn to be lead by Him.

The Lord has great and mighty plans not just for you individually but also as the Body of Christ collectively. The only way to walk into His plans is this moment-by-moment surrender. The Great I Am knows best from beginning to end. 

New Hope

Fog is lifted

Clarity is here

Hard truths

Bitter tears

Wipe them clean 

The King is here

Face to face

Heart to heart

Gazing eyes

Love unconditional

Purity and grace

A smile

A surrendering kiss

There is still a future 

There is still hope

A new day dawns.

Graves into gardens

The Lord says it is time.

Time for graves to turn into Gardens.

It's been long enough now.

It is time.

It is time for what the enemy tried to kill, for what he left as dead to come back to life, it is time to rise and shine now.

It is time for the graves to turn into gardens.

It is time for the dead things to come to life now.

Far too long has death kept you at bay.

It is time to rise and shine back to life.

It is time for the ashes to become beauty,

For from those ashes you will become beautiful.

It is time for my garden within you to flourish

It is time to let your pedals reach for the sun.

For you to blossom and bloom.

It is time to shine

It is time to let those pedals twirl and dance with joy again.

Death has been overcome, shout, dance, sing.

The ashes have become beauty,

Beauty has become a garden.

Graves are under the ashes,

Ashes under the beauty

And beauty is a garden.

A garden full of color,

Full of joy

Full of dancing

Full of laughter

Full of life.

Flourish, my garden, flourish.

A call to stillness

In this season, there is a call to stillness. Changes and transitions, uprooting and replanting are happening in this hour, which can be very unsettling. We want to know we hear the voice of God and that we heard correctly.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had a prompting to read a chapter in my book, The Fullness In Him where I talk about being still.

The sentences that were highlighted are the following: “His stillness silences the deafening storm, opening the ears of our understanding.” And “The only reason He wants us to be still is so we may hear His voice. In hearing his voice, we may hear His plans for us and His instruction.”

It is a time to remove distractions, remove all other voices and get focused on Peace. It is imperative we hear His plans as He is positioning His people for His purposes to see great wonders and expand His kingdom.

Before this can happen, we must be still and know He is God. We must be still and allow Him to be God, the One who sees every soul, the One who sees every tree, the one who knows the whole earth. We are so limited to our own understanding, thinking we may have amazing plans, yet He is the One with bigger and better plans which we are unable to walk out without the stillness.

In the stillness He silences every lie and every fear. In the stillness we must allow Him to heal the broken places, the places we have not wanted to look at and the places we have not yet allowed Him in. As He heals we become pure vessels strong in Him, not holding back and not giving fear any space.
It is in the stillness we will be filled with perfect love, we will be filled with perfect peace which surpasses all understanding, and we will once again hear the living waters trickling within our souls. 

In the stillness we come alive with joy and expectancy for His plans as we lay down our own.

It is a call to hear His voice declare victory over your life and lead us exactly where He wants us to be.

Heed the call to stillness, you will only be revived, refreshed and realigned to your original creation.

“Dwell in the stillness of silence, the sound of silence—this is where peace resides!”