Here’s the fifth testimony of 6 moms I promised you. Catherine D. was always trying to measure up to others’ expectations when she went through “Making Heart-Level Connections”, but then she learned about God’s standard, and now follows His simple plan. [See our personalized 15-min intro video here].
Catherine ~ One of 6 Moms
“God has used these programs to re-program me. It’s as if I’d gone through life having a knowledge of these great truths but not really understanding them. Like looking through a camera at the Grand Canyon but never putting the camera down to see the real thing. Going through these programs was like putting the camera down. God’s ways have become so practical to me. I have become quick to repent when I’ve reacted unloving and I also don’t yell like I used to. The Lord has been so gracious to show me His love, kindness and grace through all of this journey. I feel as though I’ve found where I belong! I now feel VERY connected to the desires God has given me and know that He will bring them to pass.
I’ve been letting go of false standards like the impulse to do things just because someone asks me to, and I do not make choices based on what other people think as much anymore. I’ve also come to see that I was placing wrong expectations on my family members, and I’ve been removing those, so that my family is able to feel love and grace, and they are coming to trust me more.
Since I am now connecting with the Lord in a more real way, I have received instruction from Him about stepping out of certain relationships, stepping into certain relationships, holding back when I think I should rush forward, and staying home when I’ve thought we should be going somewhere. In all of these things I’ve been practicing obedience. It has given me more trust in the Lord, because I’ve seen so many times when I thought what He was asking was completely against what should happen, then days, weeks or moments later, I could see how His plan was so much better. Now when I understand the Spirit is prompting me to do something, I feel much less hesitation about doing it.
This has brought change in my relationships because I’m not dictated by others or what things they think I should be doing. I am able to focus on my family or whatever else God calls us to do and I’ve seen our relationships thrive with that focused attention. I will be treasuring and growing from these programs for years to come!”
Can You Identify with Catherine?
If you are like Catherine, you may have felt like you needed to measure up to the false expectations of others while neglecting the work God wanted to do in you and your family. You may have at times felt torn between what it seems your family needs and what others think you ought to be doing, but never knew how to discern where God was leading you to focus your efforts. As a result, you may have never realized some of your heart’s desires. God wants a close relationship with you so He can bring you to the place of receiving all He has for you, just like He is doing with Catherine.
True Desires
True desires easily get mixed up and confused with a host of man’s ideas and somehow they get lost or buried. Just like He helped Catherine, God wants to help you sort out what is from Him and what isn’t! He is intimately acquainted with your desires, and is involved with your heart, placing there the desires for His specific will for your life in thoughts, words, deeds, and purposes.
Psalm 37:4-5 tells us that He wants to help you to realize your desires, “Trust in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart, commit your ways to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will bring it to pass.”
It’s interesting to note that the English word “desire” comes from the Latin, meaning “from the heavens”—or we could say “from the Father.” Wow!
Isn’t it just amazing to think that God Himself so influences your heart with the desires—those deepest longings—He wants for your life, even before you know Him! All of His works that He has prepared for you and me are made in love for exactly what our current need is, for how ready we are to receive each particular work toward knowing Him and apprehending His promises.
The Lord’s work is so personal, and He gently prepares you to receive His hand in your life just like He did for me so I could be free to seek Him. Such a wonderful God and loving Heavenly Father we have!
The Lord wants you to come to trust Him for the deepest longings of your heart.
Here is another promise to fill you with hope from John 17:7: “…But if you make yourselves at home with Me and My words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.”
You can be inspired to learn the source and origin of true desire, and encouraged to awaken any repressed desire. You can come to understand four primary disconnects you may be experiencing in your search for reality and identity in Christ so you can come into experiencing the security that belongs to Christ’s own.
Each mom made a quality decision and commitment to allow God, her Heavenly Father, to parent her. Yes, that’s right, parent her—at the heart-level. And now they are healing the heartbeat of their families and you can too! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Continue reading the testimonies here.
Here’s 2 Free Gifts for You!
(Both Gifts Come in PDF and Audio Formats)
I hope you’ve been able to hear my two personal audio messages or read them in PDF format. But if not, you can still get all four easily downloadable gifts from me to you. Just click here to get your free gifts!
I’m grateful to serve the Lord with what He’s given me to share with you. I hope you will join me in the journey toward Christ’s Heartbeat!
Marilyn Howshall ~ Family Heartbeat Mentor
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MarilynHowshall.com
Empowered—Healing the Heartbeat of Your Family
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Remember to Get Your Free Gifts!
15-Min Introductory Video of Making Heart-Level Connections — Along with my commentary, you’ll get to hear the voices of several moms openly sharing their thoughts with you. My team and I wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to hear this message, so if you’d rather read the contents of the video instead of watching it, you can download the script here.
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Thank you Catherine for your testimony and Marilyn for your encouragement to walk with our Lord. I’ve been listening to your message for several years now. My heart yearns for the relationships you express. I’m having such a difficult time focusing on Him. I am a frustrated people pleaser who is having a hard time focusing on listening ONLY to my Savior. I ask for prayers that I will learn from Him and listen to Him and that the result will be a life and family that shines brightly of His presence.