Many of you might not know, I am on the last leg of my Master’s in Biblical Literature, and this is one of my class reflection essays. I wanted to share it because it truly aligns with and embodies the teaching we receive from Bishop Allen Brown. I meet with a mentor from time to time, and our conversations often challenge me, stretch me, and force me to reflect deeply. This essay came out of one of those talks, and I hope it blesses you. Thank you.
My recent conversation with my mentor reminded me how God often speaks through simple, ordinary moments that turn into divine encounters. We met on Saturday, and what started as a normal check-in became a long, Spirit-filled conversation about my job, my mindset, and the deeper work God is doing in me. I have been sensing a transition, yet I also feel the weight of staying faithful, showing up, and doing my best until God officially releases me. My mentor helped me see that this tension—between wanting to move and needing to endure—is part of my spiritual formation. God is shaping discipline in me, teaching me not to waste my time, energy, or opportunities, and strengthening my ability to stand even when I feel ready to walk away (James 1:4, King James Bible, 1769/2023).
A major part of our discussion focused on wealth, prosperity, and the hidden truths God has been revealing in His Word. For years, I believed humility meant stepping back from abundance, financial freedom, or even the desire to think bigger. But Scripture consistently paints a different picture. God owns “the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10, King James Bible, 1769/2023), the entire earth belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1, King James Bible, 1769/2023), and He has never forsaken the righteous nor their children (Psalm 37:25, King James Bible, 1769/2023). Even the Garden of Eden was marked by gold and divine provision (Genesis 2:11–12, King James Bible, 1769/2023). And when God called Abraham, He told him to leave what was familiar and trust the promise of provision and blessing (Genesis 12:1–4, King James Bible, 1769/2023). These passages show that God desires us to live free—not enslaved to circumstances, bills, fear, or survival.
My mentor and I also talked about how easy it is to quote God’s promises, feel encouraged in the moment, and yet never seek out the instructions that accompany them. Just like eating a hamburger without ever asking what’s in it, we sometimes take God’s promises at surface level without studying His blueprint. Scripture calls us not only to believe but to act—to “prove” God and watch Him open the windows of heaven (Malachi 3:10, King James Bible, 1769/2023). That requires discipline, obedience, restraint, and the willingness to refrain from habits that produce waste instead of growth. This session challenged me deeply. It pushed me to examine the areas where I’ve been careless, the places where I’ve accepted “this is just who I am,” and the moments where I have allowed comfort to overshadow calling. God is teaching me to steward my life—my finances, my time, my focus, and my spiritual walk—with intentionality. Every conversation with my mentor leaves me wiser, more grounded, and more willing to grow. I am becoming someone who reflects God’s glory through discipline, freedom, and obedience. And for this ongoing transformation, I am grateful.
This is very insightful. It also shows the flaws in taking things at surface value because we believe someone has authority. We should always practice mindful discernment.
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3 Jump to latestMany of you might not know, I am on the last leg of my Master’s in Biblical Literature, and this is one of my class reflection essays. I wanted to share it because it truly aligns with and embodies the teaching we receive from Bishop Allen Brown. I meet with a mentor from time to time, and our conversations often challenge me, stretch me, and force me to reflect deeply. This essay came out of one of those talks, and I hope it blesses you. Thank you.
My recent conversation with my mentor reminded me how God often speaks through simple, ordinary moments that turn into divine encounters. We met on Saturday, and what started as a normal check-in became a long, Spirit-filled conversation about my job, my mindset, and the deeper work God is doing in me. I have been sensing a transition, yet I also feel the weight of staying faithful, showing up, and doing my best until God officially releases me. My mentor helped me see that this tension—between wanting to move and needing to endure—is part of my spiritual formation. God is shaping discipline in me, teaching me not to waste my time, energy, or opportunities, and strengthening my ability to stand even when I feel ready to walk away (James 1:4, King James Bible, 1769/2023).
A major part of our discussion focused on wealth, prosperity, and the hidden truths God has been revealing in His Word. For years, I believed humility meant stepping back from abundance, financial freedom, or even the desire to think bigger. But Scripture consistently paints a different picture. God owns “the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10, King James Bible, 1769/2023), the entire earth belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1, King James Bible, 1769/2023), and He has never forsaken the righteous nor their children (Psalm 37:25, King James Bible, 1769/2023). Even the Garden of Eden was marked by gold and divine provision (Genesis 2:11–12, King James Bible, 1769/2023). And when God called Abraham, He told him to leave what was familiar and trust the promise of provision and blessing (Genesis 12:1–4, King James Bible, 1769/2023). These passages show that God desires us to live free—not enslaved to circumstances, bills, fear, or survival.
My mentor and I also talked about how easy it is to quote God’s promises, feel encouraged in the moment, and yet never seek out the instructions that accompany them. Just like eating a hamburger without ever asking what’s in it, we sometimes take God’s promises at surface level without studying His blueprint. Scripture calls us not only to believe but to act—to “prove” God and watch Him open the windows of heaven (Malachi 3:10, King James Bible, 1769/2023). That requires discipline, obedience, restraint, and the willingness to refrain from habits that produce waste instead of growth. This session challenged me deeply. It pushed me to examine the areas where I’ve been careless, the places where I’ve accepted “this is just who I am,” and the moments where I have allowed comfort to overshadow calling. God is teaching me to steward my life—my finances, my time, my focus, and my spiritual walk—with intentionality. Every conversation with my mentor leaves me wiser, more grounded, and more willing to grow. I am becoming someone who reflects God’s glory through discipline, freedom, and obedience. And for this ongoing transformation, I am grateful.
I am glad you let us know this
This is very insightful. It also shows the flaws in taking things at surface value because we believe someone has authority. We should always practice mindful discernment.