Are You A Woman After God's Heart?

So , amiga , grab your cafecito and let's get into it . Welcome to the Mommy on a Mission podcast . I'm Mariana , your host and the number one bestselling author of Mommy on a Mission , a guide towards healing , self-discovery and walking in confidence .

As a dedicated life coach , wife , mom yaya and , most importantly , daughter of the king , I am passionate about empowering multifaceted women just like you . In each episode , we dive deep into transformative topics that help you reignite your passion and purpose .

My unique approach is designed to help you overcome the fear of external expectations and create the space and time you need for both increased job satisfaction and personal growth . Join me on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment , as we explore practical strategies , inspiring stories and actionable insights .

Together , we'll navigate the complexities of life and emerge stronger , more confident and truly aligned with our deepest desires . Welcome to the Mom in a Mission podcast , your go-to resource for living a more purposeful and fulfilling life . So grab your Tazza cafe y vamos a platicar .

Okay , so let me ask you something , amiga are you a woman after God's heart or are you a woman chasing what the world says is valuable the titles , the looks , the position , the status ? No judgment , because I've been there too , but for a long time I didn't even realize I was operating out of deep insecurity .

I used to think that if I looked the part , if I presented myself in a certain way , then I would be chosen , you know like for the job , for the opportunity , for the spotlight . I even found myself gatekeeping , not sharing what I knew with other mujeres out of fear that they'd pass me up .

I was so wrapped up in how I looked and where I stood that I wasn't focused on who I truly was . And if we're going to be honest , that kind of striving can only take you so far . It wasn't until I surrendered all that hustle and started to truly see God's heart that I began to see real transformation .

When I started developing a relationship with Christ , learning his character , spending time in his word , conviction came in me . Not condemnation but conviction , but conviction , that gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit saying there's more for you . Let me show you who you really are . David's story always reminds me of this truth .

God anointed him king while he was still a shepherd out in the fields , forgotten by his own family . But that's where God prepared him , in the secret place , in that quiet place in the not yet . And then there's Saul , chosen to be king , but more concerned with how he looked to others than how he stood before God . His character didn't match his calling .

Well , and if you've read the Bible , then you know how that story ended . Now maybe you're listening and thinking okay , mariana , but who exactly are David and Saul ? Great question , amiga . Let me break it down for you real quick . So in the Bible , saul was Israel's very first king . The people wanted a leader .

They could see someone who looked powerful and impressive , and Saul definitely looked the part . He was tall , handsome and strong . But here's the thing While Saul looked like a king on the outside , his heart wasn't fully surrendered to God . He cared more about what people thought than about what God was asking him to do .

So , over time , his disobedience and pride caused him to lose God's favor . But now David ? David was just a young shepherd boy when God chose him to be the next king . He wasn't even invited to the big king picking ceremony . He was out in the fields with the sheep .

But God told the prophet Samuel man looks at the outward appearance , but the Lord looks at the heart . David didn't have the status or the title , but he had a heart that chased after God .

And even though he made some serious mistakes later in life , he always came back to God with humility and repentance , and that's why scripture calls him a man after God's own heart . So here's what we learn . So here's what we learn God cares more about your heart than your highlight reel . He's not looking for perfect , he's looking for willing .

So there was a moment in my life , amiga , where everything looked fine on the outside . I was showing up , I was doing all the right things in quotation , and I had a smile on my face , but deep down I was exhausted . I was chasing the next big thing , the next , yes , the next opportunity .

And I remember crying in my car one day , feeling like God why does it feel like I'm doing everything right but still so empty ? And that's when the Lord began to deal with me privately . He brought me into a season of hiddenness .

I wasn't being invited to the tables I once sat at , people were overlooking me and it felt like if we're going to be honest but it was really protection , although I didn't feel that at the time , but I really do believe that God was protecting me from , sometimes from myself . It was God saying I want your heart before I give you that platform .

And maybe that's where you are right now , wondering why the door hasn't opened or why it feels like you're waiting longer than others . Let me encourage you the waiting room with God is never wasted . He is developing your character so you can carry the calling with integrity , calling with integrity .

And , amiga , I promise you , what God develops in private will sustain you when you step into the public . This episode is proudly sponsored by Rose Above Realty , powered by Keller Williams , a faithful real estate team that's helping families rise above and step into home ownership , generational wealth and legacy .

Whether you're buying , selling or investing , rose Above Realty walks with you every step of the way , rooted in excellence and integrity . We're so honored to have them as a platinum sponsor of the upcoming she's Bold Women's Conference this summer , this May I don't know why I said summer . Thank you , rose Above Realty . Okay , so here's the truth .

God isn't looking for perfection . He's not impressed by platforms or power .

He's drawn to humility and , honestly , a heart that says here I am , lord , change me , use me , love me and if you've been trying to earn your worth through works , appearance or striving , hear me when I say you are already loved , chosen and called , not because of anything you've done , but because of who God is your healing , your transformation , your freedom .

It begins in the secret place and that's where God does his best work . That's where we start hearing his voice more clearly . I remember so many times that I would hear God calling me and calling me and talking to me , and I would feel so overwhelmed and just saying God , please , where are you ? Like , what is going on ? Why can't I hear your voice ?

Why do I feel like I'm just dragging in this mud ? Why does it feel like I can't get out of it ? Am I ever going to get to that place that I'm looking for ? Am I ever going to have my own business ? Am I ever going to transition from working full time to working my business ?

Or let's back it up 20 years ago , lord , am I always going to be stuck in this marriage ? Am I always going to be suffering ? Am I always going to be feeling like I've been let go and neglected ? Am I ever going to feel loved ? Am I ever going to feel like there is something better out there for me ?

And I would write this in my journal all the time , and I would be lying if I told you that that transformation was rapid . But it wasn't . It took time , time , it was that waiting period . All I kept seeing was all of these things . But see , when we're transforming , we have to think about that caterpillar .

Right , if you don't know about a caterpillar , a caterpillar will develop a cocoon . Right ? This caterpillar will develop into a cocoon and it takes a while for the caterpillar to transform . And while this caterpillar is transforming , everything about this caterpillar is about to change and that caterpillar no longer is a caterpillar .

A caterpillar develops into a butterfly . So imagine , amiga , that you right now are in this shell . Right now you are transforming . And when transforming takes place , it takes a beating . It takes coming out of what you are . It's going to pour out all that ugliness out . It's going to test you . It's going to test your heart .

It's going to wonder if you're going to do the right thing or if you're going to continuously do and make the wrong decisions . And sometimes , if we're going to be honest , I mean , sometimes I was like Saul . There was a time in my life that I would use my physical appearance . I was very thin .

I would always , you know , try to carry myself in such a way , and when I would go to job interviews , and especially if it was a man yes , I'm going to be real and I'm going to be very honest with you . If it was a man , I was flirting my way into that interview until I would get the job .

I would use my physical appearance , I would use words to make someone feel good in order for me to get what I wanted . And I'm not saying that that was cool , but that is how much I saw myself . I had no love for myself and I definitely did not have that relationship with God .

Because had I had the relationship with God , then I would have known that whatever God had for me , he had already prepared it for me , and it would take years and years and years for me to finally realize that .

So , amiga , if you are right now in that season of struggle , if you are in that season of wanting to be successful , perhaps maybe there's something out there and you feel like you're being overlooked . Maybe you're feeling like there's no opportunity for you . What is your heart like ? Are you doing things and trying to fight your way out to get what you want ?

Because how many times have we not seen movies where you know either whether it's the men or the women that are being low down and dirty , trying to get everything that they want , that they'll make the other person look bad in order for them to look good , in order for them to take that credit or recognition ?

Or maybe you've worked for a boss right , who you know , that you did the work , but you didn't get recognized for it . But your boss did , and they took full credit for that Right . And you're sitting there wondering like , oh my God , I just did all of this stuff and once again , I get no credit for that .

Let me encourage you , amiga , that God is looking at your heart . He is looking at you right now . He is looking at you right now . So let me ask you these questions Are there areas in your life where you're striving more than surrendering ? And what does a heart after God look like in your life right now ? Is there anything you're holding back from God ?

Your truth , your hurt your identity . Is there anything you're holding back from God your truth , your hurt , your identity and can you identify a season where God was preparing you in private ? And , lastly , what are some ways you can cultivate intimacy with God ?

This week , I know that's a lot to think about and I know that's a lot to dive deep into , but these are the same questions that I had to ask myself Were there areas in my life where I was striving more than surrendering ? And I would say , yes , there were . I was striving to be the best . I was striving to seek approval from others rather than God's .

I was striving to depend on my own will instead of surrendering everything and giving it to God . And when there were moments that I was giving it to God , guess what ?

I was taking it right back and it's like okay , am I going to let go and let God , or am I going to try to continue to do this and continue to fail and then feel frustrated and then once again give it to God ? And the other question was what does a heart after God look like in my life right now ?

And what that means is is that for me in this season of my life , now that God has just been doing so much work and has poured so much wisdom into me and so much joy into my life that right now , my surrender , what my heart is after right now is God , let your will be done . I will praise you , lord , with all my heart .

I'm going to trust you with all of my heart , even though I don't understand . I'm going to trust you with all of my heart , even though I don't understand . I'm going to trust you Because when I trust you , god , I know that everything is going to be okay . I know that you're going to give me a peace , lord .

And is there anything you're holding back from God ? Your truth , your hurt , your identity ? There were times that , yes , I was holding back . I like I wasn't telling God how I was feeling , I didn't tell God that I had a sense of abandonment , issues that I was seeking approval constantly , issues that I was seeking approval constantly .

That just a little bit of reaction I didn't care if it was good or bad , but just a little bit of reaction did something to me .

And the truth of the matter is is that when I started to read God's word and I started to read God's truth about who he was and who I am to him , that it became easy for me to give him everything that I was feeling , and I know that my identity is in Christ .

So , yeah , there were seasons in my life where God was preparing me in private , and he still is . I am still in that season because I am still not where I see myself , but I know that God is preparing me . God has been calling me to step out of my , to step out in , you know , to step out in faith in everything .

Like right now , I've got this women conference that God has spoken to me about . That I need to do and I'm going to . I would be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous . I am even to this very day . You know , it's like I didn't see people signing up for it or anything .

And then , out of nowhere , like within the last few weeks , I am almost at a full house and I know . I know that God is preparing a message for my amigas that are going to be attending and if that's you listening today , amiga , then I pray that you will come out .

We have limited tickets still available because I know that God is going to be speaking to so many and he is going to be delivering them from their hurt . He is going to seek after their truth and he is going to create them and transform them into his identity .

Oh my God , I'm so excited for this because I can feel that God is going to anoint this conference . And what are some ways that I cultivated intimacy with God ? Well , this week I am going to just lay it all down and give it to him and say , lord , use me in whatever capacity , use me , use me , lord . Use me to speak to my hermana .

Use me to speak to my hermana . Use me to speak to her and let her know that she is loved . Use me to show her and to season right now that you are struggling . Maybe , perhaps you're in that season where you're feeling stuck , or maybe you're in that season where you're just feeling like you don't know how to come out of something . Maybe you're hurting .

Maybe you don't know how to surrender to God . You're hurting , maybe you don't know how to surrender to God . Well , let me invite you to not only partake in the she's Bold Women's Conference , but right now I am offering a 12-week Living Victoriously in Christ , where not only are you going to be able to start developing that relationship with Christ .

But we're also going to tap into who does he see you to be ? What spiritual gifts and talents do you have ? What are some of those things , some goals , some dreams , some aspirations that you have put on the back burner and you need that help to help you get to where you need to get to .

And if that's you , amiga , then I invite you to join the 12 weeks living victoriously in Christ , and we're going to tap into all of those things together . So let me pray for you , amiga . Father God , thank you for seeing us fully , not for what we've done or how we appear , but for who we truly are . Lord , we want to be women after your heart .

We surrender our striving , our insecurity , our past mistakes , and ask you to heal us from the inside out . Teach us your ways , align our desires with yours and let our lives be a reflection of your love . In Jesus name . I mean , if this episode touched your heart , I invite you to go deeper with us .

Get your tickets for the she's Bold Women's Conference happening this May , may 2nd . It's going to be a powerful Friday night of worship , teaching , community and healing .

And if you're ready to grow in God's word , hang out with us every Wednesday night at 730 for Amiga , ready to Read your Bible , where we meet virtually , and every week , is a new opportunity to hear God speak .

And , once again , if you want to dive deeper and invest in yourself , then reach out to me so that you can learn more about the 12 weeks of living victoriously in Christ . And so until next time , amiga , keep walking boldly in your calling and don't forget hermana . God sees you , loves you and he's after your heart .

Thank you for tuning in to the Mommy on a Mission podcast . If you found today's episode inspiring , don't forget to subscribe , leave a review and share it with your amigas .

And , before you go , if you're looking to dive deeper into healing , self-discovery and walking in confidence , be sure to grab a copy of my book Mommy on a Mission a guide towards healing , self-discovery and walking in confidence , available now on Amazon . Stay connected with me on social media .

Follow us on Instagram at MommyOnAMissionPodcast and on Facebook at MommyOnAMission . If you're considering working with a coach but aren't sure . If you're ready , send me a DM and I will send you a free gift to help you get started on your journey . Until next Saturday , keep shining and remember the tower is within you . Adios , amigas .