I was 12 years old when I had my first real encounter with God.
We arrived late to the church service that day, and because there weren’t enough seats together, they separated me from my family. I ended up in the very back…alone, surrounded by strangers. (Funny how what feels like a misplacement can be a divine setup.) I was scared, barely able to see the pulpit (the school stage since the church was housed in a school building) or the pastor. But…. while I was back there, something came over me. It was subtle and something I couldn’t quite explain. I remember tears streaming down my face. What is this? Then, I whispered through those tears,
“God, are You really real? If you are real, can you please show me?”
What I didn’t realize then was that I had just prayed my first signs and wonders prayer. I sat through the whole service, not understanding that what I felt in those tears was the presence of God. As the service ended and people began to move around, I was trying to get out of my row to find my family when suddenly the pastor spoke into the mic.
He said,
“To the young lady in the back of the church who’s doubting if God is real,
He told me to tell you: He is. He sees you. He hears your prayers.”
And just like that, the pastor walked off the pulpit. The church was loud, people talking and shuffling out, but I heard him. He wasn’t shouting. He wasn’t dramatic. His voice was calm, almost quiet, but somehow it cut through the chaos. Through him, God answered me. Loud and clear.
That encounter became the blueprint. And recently, in a moment of stillness, God reminded me of it. He whispered, “Everything you need is already with you.”
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
He also advised me to ‘go back’, which seems counter to my current approach, which is focused on moving forward.
God reminded me this week during my powerful reset and encounter with Him that everything I need is already in me. He has orchestrated the blueprint of this season even before my first encounter with Him. He told me to go back to the beginning of our first encounter (in the church that happened to be in a school building) to remind me that He will show up with signs and wonders, and it’s okay to ask for them. He also revealed three things I’m about to share with you, each one designed to position you for a breakthrough. And they’ll come in this order:
Reset. Reflect. Reveal.
Let’s break it down:
1. RESET – Return to the Secret Place
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
Reset isn’t about rearranging your to-do list. It’s about reordering your heart. It is seeking first the Kingdom of God: sitting at His feet, quieting the noise, and spending intentional time in His presence. It’s about realigning with who you are and whose you are. Your identity is found in Christ. Sometimes, we think we remember, but our actions reveal otherwise. Because if you truly remembered,
you wouldn’t be losing sleep over the bills,
panicking about timelines,
or questioning if you missed your moment or the opportunity.
You wouldn’t be scrolling social media for validation, comparing your pace to someone else’s, or trying to control what only God can handle.
Reset is coming back to the truth that God is still in control, and your identity is secure in Him. It’s not a one-time thing; it’s a posture, a return to the source of peace, clarity, and power.
And once we’ve had our reset, here comes the Reflect because just like He did with me, God will often take you back before He moves you forward…
Ask yourself:
- When was the last time I simply sat in His presence?
- Am I moving like I truly trust Him?
2. REFLECT – Look Back to Move Forward
God reminded me that He is still the God of signs and wonders. He brought back to mind Words and prophecies spoken over me as a child, a teenager, and even a young adult, reminding me that they weren’t random and nor have they been forgotten. God told me to go back: to the old journal entries, the moments of encounter, the promises I tucked away in the corners of my mind. All of them blueprints for this very season.
Just like David who was anointed as king while he was still a shepherd boy, overlooked by everyone, even his own family. He did not walk into the palace immediately; he went back to tending sheep. His anointing came long before his promotion, but the word spoken over him was still true.
“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers…” – 1 Samuel 16:13
David’s story reminds us: God often speaks a word over us long before it looks like anything is happening. But that word still carries weight. And maybe…just maybe-that’s where you are right now.
So I ask you today:
Do you remember what was spoken over you as a child, teen, or years ago that you’ve boxed away in doubt or delay?
Do you have old journal entries, dreams, or prophecies you can revisit?
Journal this:
- What did God speak over me years ago?
- What dreams have I buried or dismissed?
- Do I have journals, notes, or quiet whispers I need to revisit?
Sometimes, the key to moving forward is to Reflect
3. REVEAL – You’ve Been Prepared for This
Thirdly, the Reveal.
But to move forward into it, you must first Reset and Reflect. The reveal is hidden in those steps. You have to seek Him first. You have to pause long enough to Reflect on the snippets of your life that have been preparing you for this very moment. Listen, it’s no accident that I met Jesus for the first time in a church that happened to be at a school. If you didn’t know, I’m a certified teacher and still in education today. But I know now: everything I’ve learned is preparing me for a bigger classroom…one not confined by walls. It is the same for you! Just like Esther, you’ve been positioned for such a time as this.
“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14
The reveal is already in motion, but it’s waiting on your alignment.
You don’t have to chase it.
You just have to posture yourself to receive it.
This is your season of revelation, clarity, and divine confidence. He will show you when to speak, where to go, and how to move, but only after you’ve sat at His feet.
Ask yourself:
- When was my first encounter with God?
- What has been spoken over me that I’ve forgotten?
- What would my life look like if I moved only when God said move?
Final Thoughts
Sis, nothing about your journey is random. Not the delays. Not the detours. Not even the seasons where you felt forgotten or unseen. God has been writing your story with intentionality from the very beginning.
The Reset brings you back to His presence.
The Reflect helps you remember what He already said.
And the Reveal that’s where you step boldly into the purpose you were always meant for.
You don’t have to chase clarity. You don’t have to force doors open. When you posture your heart to seek Him first, He reveals what’s been hidden in plain sight.
Your past wasn’t a waste. Your present isn’t a pause. It’s all preparation for such a time as this.
So I ask you one last question:
Have you gone back to go forward?
Because your breakthrough may not be about doing something new…
It might be about remembering what God already said.
Prayer:
God, show me what it looks like to live a life so in tune with Your Spirit that
I don’t move unless You say move.
I don’t speak unless You say speak.
Show me this week how to walk in rhythm with the Holy Spirit.
If this spoke to you, let me know in the comments. Also, share it with someone who may need this message.
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