Happy 2023!! Am I the only one who feels like this new year snuck up on me so fast I got whiplash! Maybe I am still in processing mode from 2020 over here but we are really in the first week of 2023. How wild! 

As I am limping my way into the year, I am reflecting on the past year and getting ready for this one. Part of my preparation for each year is asking God how He wants me to develop my voice for Him. Each time He hands me my mission, I see it as further permission from Him to use my voice. A mission doesn’t come without permission to accomplish it.

This is an exercise I have done for the last seven years. One year before Echo was even a thought in my brain or a seed in my heart, God was already preparing me for a life of raising up an army of women preachers. 

God wants to speak through you. Although there are a great amount of reasons we do not share about Jesus, the main reason usually stems from insecurity. 

I lay this out to give you encouragement by seeing the speaking journey I have been on. It has been hard. There have been tears, discouragement, stretching beyond my own ability. But there has also been a great breakthrough. God has surprised me each year. He wants to do the same for you.

Here’s a timeline of unique ways God has challenged me to develop my voice:

2017: Started with reading Proverbs 31 OUT LOUD. 1000 times.

I cried the first few days bc I couldn’t get through a sentence without stumbling. I cringed for weeks hearing my own voice. It skyrocketed my confidence though after completing.

2018: Record a 1 minute video about a Scripture from my reading plan and post it on my insta every Thursday.

The level of frustration I felt learning this skill was 1000. It took me hundreds of tries to not get cut off. I learned how to express a complete thought in under 1 minute. This is a skill I use almost daily.

2019: Earn a Masters in Theology

This one kicked.my.butt. I had to face down SO many insecurities. This taught me to write. It taught me to think. It taught me to stay focused for hours on end. Taught me to crank out content. Taught me to stand my ground when I disagreed with scholars. Taught me I could do HARD things with God on my side.

2020: Go LIVE for 30 days in a row

I was terrified to go LIVE because I feared messing up or going blank. God prompted me to take that head on and do 30 Lives in a row. It took me TWENTY ONE days to feel comfortable. I ended up doing 68 Lives in a row.

2021: Invest in a v. expensive but amazing coach

I’ve never been pushed or stretched so hard in my life. I’m forever grateful for my time with her. She coached me in creating an online course called Something to Say.

2022: write a “rhema word” every single day from daily bible reading plan

I pictured God chuckling when He dolled out this one. Writing makes me want too pull my hair out. Grammer is a thorn in my side, I have to labor to get words on a page, and once I do, I have a hard time writing what I actually mean. I used our reading plan to choose a verse from and write a daily devotional thought.

I pushed thorough even though it made me want to chuck the lamp across the room and ended the year with 365 devotional thoughts focused on using your voice. Next week on the blog, I will dive deeper into the lessons learned from this task. 

2023: This year, God has prompted me to learn verse mapping and to map out one verse a week from my Daily Bible Reading Plan

This will help me dig into the Word of God to gain further insight and understanding as I study each verse.

Important Truth:

I was not born a fantastic speaker. God has called me to speak therefore, He has called me to become the best speaker I can be. This is why I put in the work and effort to become the person He knows I can be.

God is asking the same from you. It will take WORK and effort to BECOME who you are called to be. Develop yourself. Ask Him for ONE thing you can do this year to develop your voice. He will be faithful to give you a challenge you can handle and commit too. 

Comment below and tell me ways you’ve developed your voice and/or how God is challenging you to grow this year in speaking for Him.

If you feel God has called you to speak, in any capacity, we want to support you via our community and training. Come learn how to grow in your confidence so you never doubt yourself again! Check out our four-day, hands on, and interactive training, The Echo Weekend.

The best way to develop your voice is to invest in your voice. Every time you invest in your own voice, your family, your community, and your world improve. I believe in your voice! This is a weekend you do not want to miss!!!