Spirited Women
  • Home
    • About Fiona
    • Contact
  • Inner Healing
    • Emotion/Body/Belief Healing
    • LIEBUST FREEDOM SESSIONS
  • Online Courses
    • Resources
  • OUR BLOG
    • Blog Title Archive
    • EVENTS >
      • Media Messages

It's Time to Pick Up Your Mat

9/6/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture

​There is a divine call going out to the daughters of God--a call to rise, to govern, to proclaim, and to shift. If you’ve felt the stirring, the longing for more, the dissatisfaction with the familiar, then this word is for you.
You Were Chosen for This“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
—1 Peter 2:9
Before you ever stepped foot on this earth, you were chosen. Chosen, not because of your works, but because He saw you as already worthy. He saw what you would carry. You were appointed and anointed, part of His royal priesthood. That means you don’t walk in your own name—you walk in His authority.
You are a dedicated woman, part of His peculiar and treasured people. He’s set you apart, not to blend in but to proclaim His excellencies—to shine, speak, serve, and stir others into faith.
You Were Appointed to Bear Fruit“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”
—John 15:16
You’ve been appointed—placed intentionally, positioned purposefully. You’re not just surviving—you’ve been commissioned into your assignment. Each of us has our “5000” to feed—those we’ve been called to reach and influence with the love and power of Christ.
And here's the key: the fruit only comes when we abide. When we remain connected to Him—not just visiting on Sundays, but living in indwelling Oneness with Jesus. His name is not something we invoke like a spell. It’s the place we live from, His presence within us. He is not an external God who pops in when things go wrong—He is our very breath.
The Wake-Up Call to the Women of GodWe’ve heard about the Deborahs—women raised by God to lead, to deliver, to govern. That call still echoes. Isaiah 32:9–15 is a wake-up cry from the Father’s heart to His women: Wake up! Rise up! Shake off passivity and take back your nation.
You have the capability and capacity to shift the spiritual climate of your family, your city, even your nation. You are seated in Christ, and He has given you the authority to govern. Will you take your seat?
Fan Into Flame the Fire Within You“Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”
—2 Timothy 1:6
Before you came to earth, God placed a gift, an inner fire within you. It’s time to stir it up. Don’t let your fire smolder under the weight of delay or distraction. Ask the Lord to blow on it afresh. You are not starting from scratch. You are starting from fullness.
From the Pool to the ProclamationLet’s visit John 5, the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda—a place called mercy and grace. But here’s the revelation: it’s not just a healing story, it’s a dimension-shifting moment.
This man had sat in the same condition, by the same pool, for years--waiting. Waiting for someone to carry him. Waiting for the right moment. Waiting for a move. But when Jesus entered—everything changed.
“Do you want to be well?” —Jesus asked.
That question still confronts us. Do we want what God has for us? Or have we grown comfortable beside our pool of waiting?
It’s Big Girl Panties time, friend.
Jesus says, “Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.” And He’s saying it to us, too. It’s time to move. Not someday. Not when someone else opens the door. Now.
This is your moment to shift—from the physical to the spiritual, from passivity to power, from waiting to walking. Jesus is already in you. You carry the Word, and the Word carries resurrection power.
Don’t let anyone claw you back into old limitations or legalistic expectations. You’re not bound by the old anymore—you’re walking proof of the new.
You Are the ProofYou don’t have to strive to convince others. Like the man at the pool, your life will be the evidence. The fruit will be undeniable. Because when Jesus shows up in a woman’s life, she becomes the proof in the pudding.
You carry within you:
  • The Word
  • The Spirit
  • The Fire
  • The Fruit
  • The Authority
  • The Assignment
Today, I Declare Over You:🔥 A shift in perspective and dimension
🔥 A rekindling of the flame of God within you
🔥 A release from delay--your days of sitting by the pool are over
🔥 A rising into your authority as one who is chosen, equipped, and fully able
You’re not waiting for a move. You are the move.
Now get up. Pick up your mat. Walk. Speak. Govern. Proclaim.
You were chosen for such a time as this.

Devotional: Rise, DaughterScripture for Today:
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”
—John 15:16 (NIV)
Reflection:
You are not overlooked. You are not disqualified.
You have been chosen on purpose for a purpose—to bear lasting fruit in your life, family, and calling.
Are you waiting beside a “pool” in your life? Maybe you’ve been waiting for a breakthrough, a sign, a release—when all along, the presence and power of Jesus have been within you. What if today is the day you stand up in faith and begin to walk?
The mat you’ve been lying on—past hurts, fear, comparison, delay—it no longer holds authority over you. Jesus is calling you up and out. And with Him, you lack nothing. You’re already full, already equipped, already sent.
Time to fan into flame what’s already inside of you.
Devotional Prompts:
  • What mat do you need to rise from? What’s been holding you in delay or comfort?
  • Where have you been waiting, when God is inviting you to move?
  • What fruit do you believe God wants to bear through your life right now?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for choosing me.
Thank You that I don’t have to strive to be worthy—you’ve already called me worthy.
Today, I respond to Your voice calling me to rise.
Fan into flame the fire within me. Stir my heart, awaken my gifts, and give me courage to pick up my mat and walk in the fullness of Your calling.
Help me to stay in Your presence, abide in You, and bear fruit that lasts.
I say yes to the shift. Yes to the call. Yes to You.

0 Comments

CAN YOU STAND BEING RICH?

9/6/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
“When you have eaten and are full…” – Deuteronomy 8
Have you ever considered that it can be harder to be rich in your blessings than to be content in hardship?
Let’s pause and repeat that:
It can often be harder to be rich in our blessings and content in our hardships.
It’s true—life can feel simpler when we have less. There’s a clarity of need, a simplicity in survival. But what happens when God blesses us with more? With abundance?
If we desire increase—whether financially, spiritually, emotionally, or relationally—then we also need the capacity to carry that increase well. God equips us, but we have a responsibility to learn how to walk in abundance with integrity.
Will You Still Be Standing?If you were placed in the lap of luxury, could you stay grounded—morally, spiritually, and financially? Or would the world’s ways, and the ease of "taking it for granted," slowly erode the foundation beneath you?
In the tough times, our need is clear. But in the easy times, once the basics are taken care of, the needs quickly shift into wants. It becomes a buffet of indulgences—“Which lollipop shall I eat first?”
It’s a bit like walking a tightrope. What keeps us balanced?
  • Integrity
  • Humility
  • A lack of compromise
  • Faithfulness to God
  • Gratitude
  • Generosity
But compromise and temptation whisper constantly. “Just a little,” they say. “God won’t notice.”
He will.
There’s no room for compromise when we’ve been entrusted with more. Our integrity stands on our unwavering commitment to live according to God’s Word.
Handling Riches with WisdomHow we handle what we have—whether a little or a lot—reveals the condition of our heart.
  • What is your attitude toward money?
  • Are there emotional or spiritual strongholds shaping how you view wealth?
  • Do you see your increase as a tool for Kingdom impact or personal status?
Lotto winners are often broken within a short time—not because they lacked money, but because they lacked the financial, emotional, and spiritual maturity to steward it. They weren’t prepared for increase.
So, let me ask: Have you made a plan for your increase?
If not, it’s time.
The Western dream tells us more = happiness. So we chase it: new cars, bigger houses, shinier toys. But when the root is a heart trying to prove something or fill a void, that dream becomes a trap.
We can only live in one house at a time.
We can only drive one car at a time.
If you only use your boat four times a year, is that good stewardship?
Stewardship means making wise, intentional choices—not just for today, but for the legacy you’re building. Buy when it builds something lasting. Don’t buy just to satisfy a momentary feeling.
Riches in the Bible: Integrity in AbundanceLook at the lives of the faithful who were entrusted with much:
  • Joseph – From the pit to Prime Minister (Genesis 41:42–43)
  • Daniel – From captive to commander (Daniel 6:1–2)
  • Amos – From fig picker to prophet (Amos 7:14–15)
  • Job – From tragedy to multiplied wealth (Job 1:1–5)
All of them were richly blessed—but none of them were ruined by the blessing. Why?
Because they walked in faithfulness and integrity, and they remembered where their blessing came from.
And let’s not forget Paul’s heart in Philippians 4:19—“Whether in need or in abundance, I have learned to be content. My God will supply all my needs…”
Can You Stand Being Rich?We often ask God to bless us, to increase us—but could you stand under the weight of that blessing?
Let’s be women who prepare in the quiet place.
Let’s be women who live with open hands and clean hearts.
Let’s be women who build legacy—not just luxury.
Let’s be women who can be trusted with much—because we’ve learned to be faithful with little.
Because when we’re rooted in Christ, wealth won’t ruin us. It will resource us.
0 Comments

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

17/12/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
The five most powerful things we need as human beings are these:  to be loved, to belong, to be seen, to be heard, to be accepted.  When these needs are unmet our self-worth and identity can be deeply affected.  We can then subconsciously attempt to fulfil them in other ways and they can become an idol of identity for us.  In truth only in our relationship with the Trinity can we find the complete fulfillment of all these needs.  Growing up none of us are ever perfectly nurtured by our loved ones, and we have defining moments in our lives where these needs were unmet and have stuck with us into adulthood. 

God has gifted us all individually and we all carry a unique toolbox comprised of a perfect combination of gifts, skills, talents and experience that we can use to express who God is to the rest of the world and to play our part in building his Kingdom.  When the above needs are unmet and unhealed within us, our toolbox can become the means of affirming our identity and having those needs met e.g. the highly prophetic person who works the room until they are solely ministering to people, the person who is constantly sharing their spiritual encounters to prove their worth, or the prophet who loves the acclaim and importance of sharing their 'thus saith the Lord', or the one with the strong serving gift who is unable to be part of a team because they want full control.   Their need to belong, be seen, heard and affirmed are found in their toolbox.  While these people genuinely love the Lord, their ministry is marred by their woundedness and unmet needs.  God never revokes the gifts, and he extends grace towards us, but his heart is also that we would truly know that we are loved, belong, are seen, heard, accepted and safe with him. 

It is common when working with my clients to identify younger ages when they got 'stuck' because of an experience when one of these needs was unmet and it has remained unhealed into adulthood.  Let me give you an example.  Five year old Susan was left at school because her mother forgot to pick her up.  That experience left her feeling unseen and unsafe.  Her mother may not have spent time reassuring and reaffirming Susan afterwards and simply picked her up, soothed her for a couple of minutes, and carried on home.  This experience became a filter and a belief system within Susan that she now has to fight to be seen and safe.  This could mean that she feels she has to be the centre of attention but within scenarios controlled by her so she feels safe.  If something in her toolbox is useful for bringing her that attention, her identity can become wrapped up in that gift or talent because it meets a need that God is longing to fill her heart with.  

If you believe there have been some defining moments in your life where your younger self has got 'stuck', you can ask Jesus to identify them for you and to minister to that younger self, affirming that he is able to meet that need and that they (that younger self) can be safe with Jesus and grow into their adult self .  (Let me know if you want more info on this process).  

One of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves is to become brutally self-aware.  We all have blind spots and weaknesses we cannot see in ourselves.  Intimacy with God and a teachable spirit go along way towards hearing the loving, still small voice of correction to get you back on the right path.  Having trusted friends who can call us out when we get off the path are also valuable.  Often our healing only happens when something goes wrong and we are forced to confront the wounds.  My heart is that people would be proactive in working on their healing with the Father before this happens.  Because of his great grace and mercy he also understands that we are on the journey of appropriating our true identity in him.  He never condemns and he never expects perfection.  He looks at our hearts and honors our sincere efforts to be a blessing to others.  He wants us to know the power, the joy and the blessing of using our toolbox in a way that is pure from a heart that knows they are loved, seen, heard, belong, accepted and safe. 

​We are his delight, his beloved, his sons and daughters created in his image.  We no longer receive our identity or self-worth from the world but from him.  We are healed, all of our needs are met in him, and he loves it when we chase after that truth and make it a reality in our lives. 

0 Comments

PRECIOUS TO US PRECIOUS TO HIM

27/11/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
***TRIGGER WARNING***  this blog is about our little ones we have lost and a way to heal. 
​

Read More
0 Comments

What's Holding You Back: Beliefs and Mindsets

22/11/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
This blog is a little longer than usual, but well worth the read.  It is an extract from my self-development self-learning book, 'Marked by Passion, Destined for Purpose'. 
​
​Beliefs, Behaviours and Defining Moments
At the foundation of successful achievements of our goals are our mindsets and self belief systems. If we believe we can achieve something we will do all that is necessary to work towards and achieve our goal. Should we come up against difficulties, setbacks and obstacles, we often see them as simply a temporary challenge to overcome and not a failure in itself and we press on towards our goal. They become learning opportunities which imprint in us ways to handle or overcome future situations in an easier and more successful way.

We can have obvious and buried or sub conscious negative beliefs about ourselves or ability to succeed and reach our goals. If this is the case, then difficulties will always confirm that negative thought pattern or belief in us and we will surely fail.  This reinforcing then tells us that we were right all along and so we give up.  
We all have both positive and negative mindsets and beliefs about ourselves and our world around us, and our ability to succeed or do well in our different life facets.  We may have very positive beliefs about our parenting skills for example, but very negative ones about teachers and the education system.  However, beliefs are not imprinted forever in psyches, but we often live our lives as if they were.  Our mindsets and belief systems can be changed.  This quote explains very well the hold and effect that a belief can have on us.
A belief is NOT an idea that the mind possesses …
It is an idea that possesses the mind!


Did you know that our brains/minds on their own cannot actually discern truth from a lie.  It is up to us to tell our mind what the truth of a matter is. Because most people do not understand this concept we often believe our own self defeating mindsets and accept them as absolute truth! (whether they are true or not).  Beliefs are not facts, they are usually an emotional response to a situation or circumstance that has previously happened to us, or the acceptance by us of someone else’s opinion (whether true or false), that we have taken on board as our own.  It may be a fact that you once lost three games of tennis in a row, but it is a belief that “I am useless at tennis”. The first is a fact and the second a belief.
​
We have huge numbers of limiting beliefs and live our lives as though they were true without recognizing we are doing that. They limit who we can be, what we can do, who we can become.
Examples of self limiting beliefs/mindsets are:  I always get laughed at, I will never be able to run a business, I will never have nice friends, I can never go overseas, I should always be careful around men, people never like me because…., no one ever respects my choices, my bosses never talk to me and so on.
​
The Source of our Beliefs
Beliefs are usually formed and imprinted in our sub conscious mind, usually, but not always, in our childhood.  A significant situation, circumstance, or comment may occur in our lives and based on our experience of that we then create a belief system or mindset around this and live our lives as if that were the truth. For example you may have always wanted to be a great dancer.  However, one day as a young girl, your Dad comes into the room and finds you trying to ballet around the room.  He’s in a bad mood and says something like:  ’stop that stupid dancing, who do you think you’re trying to be you clumsy oaf’.  A new belief kicks in that now says ‘I will never be a good dancer, I’m always clumsy’.  You never from then on put yourself in a position where your dancing could be criticized again. The facts are that you were a child dancing in her lounge, and it was merely your father’s irritable opinion that you were clumsy.  Any passion you had for dancing is now destroyed.

It is not beneficial to assign blame to parents, teachers etc for our beliefs. Normally, adults do their best, with their own belief systems, to educate us. Sometimes they get it wrong. But often it is not what people say that gives us our beliefs; it is our interpretation of what they say. In either case, apportioning blame has no benefits. Blame hands away our power to the other person and it allows us to adopt a victim mentality.  It is more appropriate to create self-awareness, notice the impact of the limiting belief, acknowledge it is a belief (not as the truth) and decide to replace it with a more empowering one.

Defining Moments
A defining moment is an important past event, often experienced when you were a child.  What makes the event important is not the intensity, greatness or the significance of the event itself, but the importance you have given it by unconsciously forming a lifelong belief or set of beliefs around the event.  Most adults have five to eight defining moments in their lives e.g. Julie’s partner got very drunk at their wedding and she formed the belief that her husband will always let her down at important events.  Another example:  James was told that he was a great artist by his teacher in second grade.   He decided that he was artistic from then on.

Once you have formed a belief from a defining moment, you hold on to it and search for evidence to strengthen the belief.  If you have created an empowering belief, such as James did, this is great, but if you have latched onto a disempowering belief you are in real trouble, because over the years you build up so much evidence to support the belief that it becomes ingrained in you and you don’t even think to question it as an adult.

The good news is that you can let disempowering beliefs go as we discussed above.  You can’t change the past but you can change your interpretation of the past, and you can reshape your belief to serve, support, nurture and challenge you if you choose to.
Answer the following questions for one of your defining moments:
How old were you?
What happened, who was there, and what was said?
What did you tell yourself then?
What belief(s) have you carried forward since then?
What would you have wanted to happen?
What belief(s) do you want to keep?
What belief(s) do you want to change and what will you change it to?
What will you be giving up if you don’t create the change?
What is one thing you can do to reinforce the new belief(s) on a daily basis?
 
Negative Sentence Starters
Often these belief systems or mindsets are preceded by sentence starters such as these below.  Go through the list and think about how often these phrases come up in your thinking.  Write them down, and then write down an empowering statement to replace them with.
I always...
I never...
They are....
I can’t...
We are...
I must...
They must...
My work is...
My time is...
My team is...
There are times when I...
Life is all about...
I love...
Success is...
Teamwork is...
Life is...
Family is...
Love is...
She can...
My parents are...
He could...
He is....
I am ...
They are...
I can....
I should...
They should...
I should have...
If I hadn’t.....
If only....
If I do this.........this will happen
If I try this.......this will happen
I can’t be a.... because .....
I can’t do......because....
I’ve always wanted to.....
People always notice me when....
I think people always think (about me).....

Changing Beliefs and Behaviours

Our beliefs and behaviours are constructed from our education, paradigm model, personal beliefs, attitudes, feelings and actions.  They are determined by the knowledge and information we receive about ourselves and our lives. Based on this we construct our model of the world - our paradigm. This model then determines our beliefs, which, in turn, give rise to our attitudes then feelings. These then supports our actions.
This is why it doesn’t work when we tell people to “not feel that way” or “not do that”. In order to change actions, feelings, attitudes or beliefs of ourselves or others, we must change our education and knowledge. This allows us to construct a new view of our world, a new model. This is referred to as a ‘paradigm shift’. When it occurs it allows us to believe, feel, behave, perceive and act differently.  Education, which includes self-awareness, understanding and reframing of limiting/negative beliefs, is essential. When we get an understanding of the reason for a limiting belief, we can eliminate it and replace it with one that is empowering.

The subconscious mind is simply a filing system which is non-judgmental. It only reacts to any negative event in the way that we have trained it to. It produces positive or negative responses to events based on the way in which such similar events and responses were filed in the past. These responses and feelings either help or hinder us.  The response is Pavlovian (after Pavlov’s dog). This means that it is a conditioned response that is outside our control. The good news is that we can change the negative responses and associated negative self-image, by replacing the files that no longer serve us with empowering beliefs that do.

How do we replace disempowering beliefs with empowering ones?
Persistent thoughts on any subject open up memory pathways or channels in the brain that become bigger and more responsive, depending on the frequency and emotional impact of those thoughts. Frequently we train these pathways (dendrites) with our persistent self-talk. We are encouraged to listen to our self talk, to notice how damaging it can be. We do this to create awareness, followed by action to change it. We do not do it to create self-pity, which has no useful purpose. This inner self-destructive voice has been likened to our “gremlin”. The negativity can be overpowering. It is great to realise that it is only our sub conscious mind telling us stories that it has heard and filed.

A summary of techniques used to place more empowering beliefs are placed in our minds are:
Affirmations, visualizations, positive acknowledgement, rational analysis, reframing, creating new associations (anchors), replacing it with a more powerful belief system e.g. what God says about you.
One technique you can use is to ‘catch yourself’ thinking a certain way or using a certain belief system and replacing that thought immediately with a positive belief e.g. using the example above, the next time you are asked to dance, tell your brain ‘no, I’m a confident dancer and I can do this’.  Yes, it takes a bit of courage, but sometimes it is as simple as pushing through at the next opportunity to break that cycle.

Write down your answers to these questions:

1. Which belief do you want to change? You need to be able to see it to work with it effectively. So write it down. For example, one limiting belief you might have is: “I will never have a lot of money.”
2. What has the belief cost you? Make a list of all the ways this belief has negatively impacted your life. Really think about it, because it helps to have as much negative ammunition to get rid of that old belief as you can get. Spend some time; it might even take a couple of days to get a complete list.
3. What advantages has the belief provided you? Maybe believing that you could never be wealthy has allowed you to avoid taking risks. Or perhaps it has allowed you to work at a profession that’s easy for you. It might be hard to figure out what the advantages are, but they are there.
4. What new belief would you like to have as a replacement? For example, for the belief listed above, a new replacement might be: “I can make any amount of money I set my mind to.” Be thoughtful and develop a new belief that will serve you well in the future.
5. How is the new belief better than the old belief? Come up with an emotionally charged list of ways in which the new belief will impact your life for the better. Consider how you would feel. What could you become? How would your lifestyle change? Would it help other people around you?
6. How can you start demonstrating the new belief today? Following our wealth-theme, it might not be the right time to plan the interior of your private jet just yet. What could you do right now? Make a plan to make more money? Start looking for a better paying job? Look for ways to invest the money you already have? Even a small change can help the process.  (sources Transform Your World, Pathfinder Programme)

Brain Washing?

Some people become concerned and frightened by the thought of replacing their current negative beliefs with others. Their fear is that they will lose their identity. This does not happen. Our identity is more related to our values in life than our beliefs and consequent behaviours.
We must remember that a belief is only sustained by the knowledge and information that create it. If we change the information, we change the belief. So, if we believe we are no good because our Mum/Dad told us repeatedly that we were useless and we now see that she/he did this to challenge and encourage us (even though it didn’t), then why not replace it with affirmations telling our mind that we are Wonderful, Amazing, and Brilliant? 

The alternative is to stay stuck with a limiting belief that could also be regarded as brainwashing. Why not have joy and happiness rather than disempowerment, resentment, frustration and anger? Changing your belief systems will literally change your life.  Obstacles and fears that have long stopped you from living a fulfilled life can be defeated.  New opportunities will open up to you and you will achieve goals more easily and often.

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Authors

    Fiona Dieleman

    Archives

    June 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    March 2023
    April 2022
    September 2020
    May 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018

    Categories

    All
    Advancement
    Assignments
    Healing
    Identity
    Love
    Moving Forward
    Personal Growth
    Prophetic Word
    Purpose
    Relationships
    Self Care
    Self Control
    Spiritual Growth
    Stewardship
    Time Management
    Warfare

    RSS Feed

Helping woman to Create Powerful Stories

Christian Mentoring,  Life Coaching, Teaching, Growth in Your Christian Journey, Liebusting Ministry

Telephone

027 635 7107 ​ 
​New Zealand

Email

[email protected]
Photo from abbilder
  • Home
    • About Fiona
    • Contact
  • Inner Healing
    • Emotion/Body/Belief Healing
    • LIEBUST FREEDOM SESSIONS
  • Online Courses
    • Resources
  • OUR BLOG
    • Blog Title Archive
    • EVENTS >
      • Media Messages