Your Isolation Determines Your Elevation

Déjà vu…. Alone in a hotel room typing... This has been the setting for the movie that is my life quite frequently this year. I have been reflecting, this year has been an amazing year of manifestation, work has evolved and yielded amazing opportunities including a television appearance, travel throughout the United States and Canada, and as far as ministry various speaking engagements have occurred; literally speaking events every weekend for the past 3 months. Everyday I feel like my purpose is unfolding and being manifested right before my eyes. Just as God had promised in January, 2008 would be a year of manifestation that would require me to walk by faith.

This past weekend was spectacular. On Friday I worked with an awesome co worker at a High School in Northern California, then flew to Ontario and spoke on Saturday and Sunday in Rialto. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share the word with this congregation. They had a hunger for the word of God and a high aptitude towards receiving the word, which is indicative of the leadership of Bishop and 1st Lady Garrett, and Evangelist Paulette Anderson. People were filled with the Holy Spirit, one beautiful little girl in particular captured my heart, and 4 young men who were worshipping God with tears streaming down their face. I was so excited to see Antwon, Yvette, and my goddaughter Hanna walk in as I was preparing to speak. They tell me Hanna was raising her hands and worshipping while I was talking, “That’s my girl!” Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Sunday was amazing and my parents came from Los Angeles, and God moved in a mighty way. We went to PF Chang’s (of course, the usual firecracker shrimp, crab wontons, fried rice, and we tried candied walnut chicken) and I got back on the plane only to re pack and get on a plane to come to Ohio.

This weekend is a sample of what my year has been like. It has also been the most introspective reflective year, and I can’t help but recognize the correlation between isolation and elevation. When Moses was groomed for leadership it was on the backside of the dessert (Exodus 3:1-10), when he received the 10 commandments he was with God for 40 (number of testing) days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 34:28) When David was anointed for King, he was a shepherd boy, (I Samuel 16:9) when God speaks the book of Revelation to John he is first isolated on the Isle of Patmos.

I mentioned the things that happened in public, but didn’t mention the walks through the airport terminal and simply observing people, didn’t mention how exciting it was to walk with my goddaughter in the beautiful Aloft hotel (Google it, it is so dope and contemporary) and then to place her in the car seat, and how lonely that walk back to my room felt. I didn’t pick up the phone to cover it, but I embraced the loneliness. As I embraced it and fell asleep that night at 4am Sunday morning I was awakened by God and my room was transformed into a sanctuary.

I’m not saying in order to be anointed, you have to be deep and spooky and become a prisoner of your own analysis. What I am saying is that one on one time with God is essential if you are going to be used by him and live a purpose driven life. Isolation makes me confront me, and reveals in private what I try to hide in public.
It is when we are alone that God prepares us for what others experience publicly. Let’s make it clear, I am not talking about that isolation because you have been hurt and you say with an attitude and bitterness, “I am fine all by myself!” No, no no! I am referring to that alone time that God seeks from us, that exclusive attention that he desires where He speaks and challenges as we listen and accept.

Fellowship is a key component and God made us with a desire for interaction, I was so blessed by text and voice messages from the young adults at the Cov, and I went with Sam and Tonesha to grab ice cream from Ici (a great ice cream spot in Berkeley) when I got off the plane, because fellowship is essential. It is not a question of either or, but both and. Isolation and fellowship are complentary.

Embrace isolation because God uses it to cause us to be complete in ourselves. When God allows individuals to come into our lives in any capacity, we won’t put the unfair burden and pressure of making them complete us. When they come in our lives we will be whole with Jesus and they will be a benefit, not a necessity.