I’m not sure if you’re familiar with motivational speaker, NY Times Best Selling Author and movie executive, Devon Franklin who is married to the stunning actress, Meagan Good.
Well, I’m a huge fan of his work so like most of us who admire someone, I follow him on Instagram. The other day he posted something that sparked my spirit.
He mentioned that his wife, Meagan has a major goal of getting roles in action films. She wants to be an action star. Well, he suggested to her that she should start getting her body in shape by going to the gym daily in order to have the physique of an action star. She agreed.
Every day he would come home and ask her whether or not she went to the gym. Every day she had a different reason, better yet an excuse as to why she couldn’t make the gym. This kept happening until one day he stressed that maybe she was not getting any action roles because she was not preparing for it. Was she really serious about becoming an action star if she was not willing to do her part?
Why ask God for something that you’re not willing to prepare for?
What are you asking God for or what dream do you have that you are not preparing for?
This is your sign to get it together and start preparing instead of wishing and waiting.
Let me tell you how this hit home for me this weekend and give you better insight…
There is one dream that’s been on my heart for a very long time and that’s to speak and teach in South Africa. I don’t know what it is but there are certain countries that have been on my heart to cultivate Embrace Her Legacy in which also include Australia, India, Dubai and London. But South Africa has been on my heart for at least 15 years…don’t know why just always has.
I could have easily planned a vacation but in my heart, the desire is to be called into the nation…I have absolutely no reason in the natural to believe this is possible but I know God can and will do the impossible. Nothing is impossible with God.
For the past few weeks I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot about South Africa…one of my mentees is headed there in December, I met a woman who recently studied abroad there, a colleague just came back from a work trip in Durban, and it seems like I hear South Africa at least once a day.
I knew it was God telling me to get ready. But in light of what I learned from Devon Franklin, I wanted to start preparing by learning more about contemporary South African culture.
Like who are the celebrities and influencers? What’s the culture like? What are the pain points of the millennial women and girls? What are the hot spots in Johannesburg or Capetown? Like who is the Cardi B equivalent in South Africa? What songs are poppin’ on the radio?
I started following a few folks on social media but still I felt like I needed to learn more and sometimes Google can’t give you the answers you’re looking for.
Well on Saturday night while minding my business, enjoying a glass of cold Prosecco and literally about to leave this Brooklyn lounge – I overhear a man saying he is from South Africa!
Girl! You would have thought Oprah walked in the door by the way I reacted! I immediately introduced myself, told him my goals and asked whether he would be willing to teach me about South African culture. He agreed!
I got my first history lesson right then and there in the middle of a Brooklyn bar. I learned about the Zulu people, got my first lesson in speaking Zulu and he even offered to connect me to some more people in South Africa.
You could not tell me that this is not God!
As I’m recounting the story to one of my best friends yesterday, she immediately tells me to start getting ready…she only encouraged my faith to 100, thousand, trillion! (Which is why you need to know who to call and share big things with because not everyone will get it).
So how am I getting ready? I’ve researched the immunizations that I’ll need, finalized by pricing structure on my international speaking fees, researched approximate flight costs, created a list of ideas for keynotes and workshops speaking directly to the pain points of South African millennial women and girls and I’m setting up a meeting with my new South African contact from Saturday.
Oh and can you believe that this morning the same best friend tagged me on a comment of a pastor talking about being invited to South Africa for the third time to preach and she referred to the EXACT Scripture that I was reading last night in my quiet time with God?
Take a look below if you don’t believe me!
Girl, if I were to only focus on what I see, I have no reason in the natural to even believe that I’m headed to South Africa soon. But I’m believing and preparing anyway…because I know that I am.
So should you! You may have nothing telling you that you should start preparing for what you’re praying for. But why would it be faith if you could see it?
You want to be married? Then how are you preparing for it? What lifestyle changes do you need to make? What books should you start reading? How are you preparing emotionally?
You have a desire to work full time on your business? Then how are you preparing for that? What are you business goals and plans and how are you working towards them?
You want that promotion or that new job? What are you doing to prepare for it?
You want to go on that vacation? Have you researched flights? Do you know where you want to stay? Get your Air BNB on!
In order to really see what God can do and activate your faith, you are going to have to be willing to look a little silly. No it won’t make sense to others or even to your own feelings but you cannot follow your feelings anymore – where has it gotten you?
If you want to have some strategic goals coaching sessions where I can help you cultivate a framework and detailed plan for you to achieve your goals and specific plans for you to get ready, then schedule a session here!
Pray and prepare, something big is coming!
XOXO,
Maria I. Melendez
Founder & CEO
@embraceherlegacy
