The Renovated Life

04/16/2025

When Heaven Rewrites Your Identity
I love it when God shows you something new in a very familiar scripture. That’s what happened to me recently when I read the prayer of Jabez found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10:

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”

Two short verses, just a few words, but they say so much! Many have taught on this verse. A bestselling book was even written focused solely on Jabez’s prayer.

What stood out to me in my recent reading of it might not be what you’d think.

I first asked the Lord what He meant by Jabez being more honorable than his brothers. When I looked up “honorable” in Strong’s concordance1, I discovered it’s the word “kabad,” which I knew meant “glory,” but it also means “to be heavy, honorable, make weighty, and great,” among other things. What I found interesting is that there’s also a negative aspect to this word. It can mean “burdensome, severe, dull.”

Hold that thought.

Can we talk about his name for a moment? “Jabez” literally means “He Will Cause Pain.” His momma named him that because she experienced pain during his delivery. (Aren’t most births accompanied by some level of pain?) I couldn’t help but wonder what his brothers must have been named!

As I pondered on these two things - the meanings of kabad and Jabez, I began to form a very different picture of Jabez in my mind, and I heard his heart’s cry in an entirely different way as I read his prayer.

When we read Jabez’s prayer and personalize it, we often focus on the blessing, the enlarging, God’s hand being with us, and Him keeping us from evil. It’s easy for the last part - “that I may not cause pain” to become a bit of an add-on as we think of others in what can be an otherwise self-focused prayer.

What I suddenly recognized was that every time Jabez heard his name, what he really heard was “he will cause pain,” “he will cause pain,” “he will cause pain.” That was programmed into his identity every time it was spoken.

Could it be that the reason Jabez was described as being more honorable than his brothers was because of the burden he bore in being told he would cause pain wherever he went and in the lives of anyone he knew and loved? Was that internal belief system he was supposed to keep as his own?

If so, it gives an entirely different perspective on the last portion of Jabez’s prayer. When he asks God to keep him from evil, that doesn’t just mean bad things (morally or naturally), but also “adversity, affliction, calamity, distress, sorrow, and trouble.2”

I personally believe Jabez had developed such an intimate friendship with God that he knew he could not only cry out to the Lord in prayer for the blessings, but he could also bring before God the injustice of his name. That declaration of causing pain had been made by his momma, but God spoke a better word over Jabez. He knew his identity wasn’t as one who would cause pain. The cry of Jabez’s heart was that he wouldn’t fulfill what others had spoken over him every day of his life, but he would walk in the truth of God’s original design for him.

The King James Version of verse 10 says, “ . . . keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” In this context, “grieve” means “to worry, pain, anger, vex, or be sorry.3” Put that together with the definition of “evil” and we discover in this sense, Jabez is asking God to keep him from adversity, calamity, distress, sorrow, and trouble so that it wouldn’t cause him worry, pain, anger, or to be sorry.

Either way we look at it, I believe Jabez is holding God to the truth of what he knew GOD had spoken over him, and the only way he could know that was through deep friendship with God.

God’s response was to grant Jabez what he had requested. I find the entire exchange to be incredibly beautiful - from Jabez’s heartfelt cry to God’s loving response!

We’ve each had things spoken over our lives that aren’t in alignment with God’s truths and our original design.

What would it look like for us to bring those things before God like Jabez did? To cry out before Him and in essence say, “God, this is what has been said, but I know it’s not who I am. Tell me who I am and enable me to walk in it!”

It could shift so many things in each of our worlds!

We are His sons and daughters, His beloved Bride, His perfect partner, His friend - those are just some of the truths He has spoken over us. Father God, help us to walk in the truth of who YOU say we are!

I hear God responding, “So I granted him what he requested . . . "

Living for Him,
Andrea

P.S. Praying this Easter fills your heart with fresh hope, deep joy, and the unshakable truth of who you are in Him. May you hear heaven speaking a better word over you. You are loved. You are His. You are made new. Much love and many blessings, now and always!

Endnotes:
1. “Honorable.” e-Sword, version 2024, Rick Meyers, 2024. I Chronicles 4:9
2. “Evil.” e-Sword, version 2024, Rick Meyers, 2024. I Chronicles 4:10
3. "Grieve." e-Sword, version 2024, Rick Meyers, 2024. I Chronicles 4:10

02/03/2025

In January, I began sharing about structure and the blueprints I believe God wants to share with us for building in partnership with him in 2025, and beyond. For me, it’s looked like establishing new routines, becoming more intentional again with how I plan my days, weeks, and months, and putting new things in place. As we continue to move into February, I want to share my practical process with you, as well as a word focus I sensed God speaking over this month. See how it resonates with you and let it be a conversation starter between you and God.

On the last day of January, I felt led to reflect on that month differently and more intentionally than ever before. What did it look like practically? I wrote a brief summary of what God did in January. I noted a dream about 2025 I’d had mid-December, writing it down as a prophetic anchor for the year. Then, I listed major prayers God had answered during the month and bulleted significant events that had taken place. I ended with things I could improve as I moved into the next month.

I then asked the Lord about February. My planner is set up with spaces to write down a verse and a prayer for the month, things I’m grateful for and things I’m praying for, goals for the month in the areas of faith, family, fitness, and finances, and three habits to focus on, as well as a circle to check off each day I’ve accomplished those habits. It was amazing to build on what God had revealed last month as I filled in the page for February with the structure of the consistent things He’s led me to participate in – like a prayer group and study groups covering several focuses.

God has continued to highlight to me the number of times He was specific in giving directions to people throughout the Old and New Testaments. That never stopped. While He didn’t always give precise details and at times asked individuals to walk in faith without knowing specifics, we should have an expectation of leading and guidance from Him even if the instruction is as simple as “go”)! Ask and you will receive (Matt. 7:7)!

When I asked God what His word focus was for February, I immediately heard, “Implement - it’s time to take action on the blueprints revealed so far.”

As I chatted with Brian about what we were each hearing from God for February, Brian said he’d also heard “implement,” (I loved that confirmation!) and then had immediately heard “building permits.”

That made total sense to me!

In construction, permits are required for building and renovations. They help ensure safety, make sure the construction is compliant with set codes, provide legal protection from fines, and prevent issues that could arise when selling the property if permits hadn’t been obtained.
As we begin to implement the blueprints God has shown us, we may need to obtain “permits.” What do I mean by that? Sometimes, there are things present in our lives that we need to address – things that could cause the building we’re starting to be shut down or delayed. This can look like the need to ask or offer forgiveness, pay a debt, examine (and change) our motives, or repent of things Holy Spirit reveals to us.

Just like in the natural, there may be a price to pay. For instance, forgiving someone or changing our motives can be hard. These things can come at a personal cost to us. Repentance is a beautiful gift from the Lord, not a burden, and it’s never intended to cause us to feel shame.

I love to pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). Our flesh can make it feel like we’re paying a price to repent, but the truth is the price has already been paid in full by Jesus. We’re simply grabbing hold of the redemption already ours as we ask for forgiveness.

Repentance brings freedom and joy and clears the path for us to move forward unburdened knowing God’s deep love for us. God is inviting us to take care of anything Holy Spirit shows us. When we do, “permits” are granted in the Spirit, paving the way to build according to His plans.

Now, it’s your turn to get practical and determine what this looks like for you in February. What structure has God shown you to implement? Need to get any “permits” first? Make that the top priority, then go from there and take action with the path cleared before you. Move forward with what you know, and trust He’ll show you the next steps from there.

I’d love to hear what the Lord is speaking to you! Send me a message about it! Need help hearing God’s voice? Grab some time on my calendar and let’s chat! I love helping people hear the voice of God for themselves!

https://calendly.com/therenovatedlife/chat-with-andrea

12/21/2024

Is this how you've been feeling?

By Andrea & Brian Johanson

11/18/2024

Just getting your day started? Join us for a fun chat about 3 different words for prayer and what they mean for how we approach God. ❤️🙏❤️

Did you know there are multiple Hebrew words for prayer? This discovery became a great conversation! Listen in and share your thoughts with us!www.therenovat...

11/05/2024

🍁🍂 November Prophetic Word 🍁🍂
It’s a Season of Acceleration: Prepare, Strategize, Plan

God has been speaking really clearly to me about preparing, strategizing, and planning – not just for this month, but especially for next year. He’s accelerated the timing for its preparation. I sense a strong mandate to hear from God and plan now. I thought it was a word just for us, but over and over again, I’m hearing and seeing it’s a corporate word.

Let me break this down and illustrate it by sharing how it’s been unfolding for us.

This has hands down been one of the most challenging years we’ve walked through. We’ve faced a lot in our 33 years of marriage, but this year has been one of the hardest. At the beginning of this year, the Lord told me it was a year of alignment. It’s been one alignment and realignment after the next, but each has had to happen to bring us to where we are now. One cog being aligned has enabled the cog next to it to get into alignment, then the next one, and the next one.

It’s felt like an endless process, but God is in process – ours and yours. It’s all about who we become through it. He refines us and creates in us the capacity we need to walk in what’s ahead. We couldn’t be who we were and effectively walk in all He’s planned for us now and in the coming months. We’ve had to embrace the hard, stand on God’s truths, allow His refining fire, be willing to take a long look into the mirror’s reflection, and do something about what we’ve seen.

Can you relate? Have you had a similar year?

Earlier this year, I had a dream. In it, I was faced with needing to jump onto a fast-moving waterslide through a very narrow opening (Matt. 7:13-14). It was scary, but someone stood next to me telling me I could do it. That person gave me the courage to leap.

What does this dream mean? It’s all about acceleration, being willing to do what seems scary, and having someone alongside you who encourages and tells you that you can do it. I couldn’t see where the waterslide was going to take me or what waited at the bottom, but I knew I needed to jump in and go after the person I was chasing in the dream (who was different than the person who encouraged me to jump into it).

The last two months have seen a massive amount of acceleration in our lives. We haven’t traveled this year at all until September. Since then, we’ve gone on four trips between us. I also wrote and published a new book, we launched a new business, Brian hosted a men’s retreat weekend, and over the last two weeks, I’ve hosted a daily prayer group for our nation, which will become a weekly prayer group through 2025.

Sounds like a swiftly moving waterslide, doesn’t it? At times, it’s felt scary and completely daunting, but we knew it was the leap we were to take. It’s also been a “narrow gate” of entry – “'For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.’” (Matt. 7:14)

During the last two weeks, we’ve sensed the Lord nudging us to begin to prepare, strategize, and plan for 2025. While many prepare into the following year well before now, we don’t usually start to put dates on the next year’s calendar until December. This spoke to us again of the acceleration of time.

God was also very specific about the planner I was to get for next year – it was to include daily time blocking so I would be more intentional about how I invested my time each day. The planner has arrived and dates are being added as we’ve sat in His presence and leaned in to hear His plans for the coming year.

I believe God is urging each of us to get in His presence, listen for His direction, strategize with Him, plan, and prepare for next year. He wants us to intentionally plan for specific actions we’re to take and the timing for each. In some ways, it feels militant in that we’re being shown the battle plans and our marching orders are being revealed. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for us facing upcoming battles, but it speaks to effective preparation, strategy, planning, and implementation.

Prioritize planning with the Lord today and throughout this month. Write down what He shows you – put the dates on your 2025 calendar and flesh out the plans for what next year holds for you in partnership with Him. Have someone next to you who will help direct you on the path before you and encourage you, especially when your next step seems scary or daunting.

God is accelerating the planning and timing for what’s ahead. It’s important we’re prepared for it, know the plan, and are in sync with His timing.

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RESOURCE: Here's a link to the planner I purchased. I don't receive anything for sharing it. I simply wanted to share a great resource. I got the weekly planner - it includes time blocking.

https://www.prayerfulplanner.com/collections/weekly-planners

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INVITATION: God has really been ramping up the ministry side of our lives and much is in the planning for 2025, including men's retreats, women's retreats, and another retreat designed for a very special group of people (more details soon), as well as a weekly intercessory prayer group and a third book being published early next year.

If you would like to partner with Brian and me by sowing into The Renovated Life, you can do that via Venmo (-Johanson-2), PayPal ([email protected]), or Zelle (770-870-9041).

Thank you for partnering with us in building God's kingdom as lives are transformed in His presence!

10/31/2024

🎄"Experiencing Christmas Through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It" is NOW AVAILABLE! 🎉

This new ADVENT STUDY is your invitation to slow down and truly EXPERIENCE Christmas this year. 🌟 Imagine this season filled with wonder, peace, and a deeper connection to God. Over four weeks, we’ll journey through Advent together, seeing Christmas through the eyes of those who lived it.

Each week, you’ll find opportunities to recapture your sense of wonder, hear God’s voice, learn to “fear not”, and grow in trust and faith in the One we celebrate. 💖

Inside you’ll find a new topic for each week, along with weekly activations for hearing the voice of God and applications for your daily life - all crafted to bring the hope and joy of Christmas alive in a fresh, powerful way and prepare your heart for a truly meaningful Christmas.

Use the weekly activations as personal journal prompts or as group discussion questions. Whichever you choose, my prayer is that God uses them to bring the hope and joy of Christmas alive in a fresh way.

✨ I'm SO excited to share this new book with you! You can grab your copy using the link! http://amzn.to/3NMDkBA

Please share the good news!!! 😘🙌🎉

Experiencing Christmas: Through the eyes of those who lived it

09/01/2024

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve sensed a weightiness on this last quarter of the year. That sounds very normal with an upcoming presidential election and it being the biggest quarter of the year for many businesses; however, this has been a bit different in its focus.

I shared this picture with a friend, then felt it was actually a corporate word. I saw a rocket on a launch pad. The engines had been ignited and energy was being gathered for lift off. I could hear the rumbling and feel the ground shaking. Everything had been prepared for this moment, yet there were still minutes ticking by as the rocket’s propulsion system began to burn fuel and momentum built to create the thrust needed to launch.

These minutes represent the days of the last quarter of the year as we prepare for lift off in 2025.

I sense the importance of “getting our ducks in a row” during these last months of the year with the start of September being a time to quickly identify goals, direction, and steps to take - both this month and over the next three months after that. Many of us have had a sense of what’s next, but we haven’t acted on our inner knowing due to any number of reasons, including fear and uncertainty. It’s time to stop procrastinating and wasting time. It’s crucial we become laser focused on what we know God has been speaking to us, determine the action plan, write it down, and implement it. God is waiting on us - it’s not the other way around!

Proverbs 29:18a says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (KJV) The Passion Translation of the same verse reads, “When there is no clear prophetic vision, people quickly wander astray. But when you follow the revelation of the Word, heaven’s bliss fills your soul.”

The restlessness we’re feeling within is due to our vision having become blurred or even obscured because we’re afraid of failure. We’re unsure if we’re hearing from God. We’re fighting taking risks or we’re wavering in our belief and faith in ourselves and God.

Happiness and joy will be restored to our souls as we clear our vision by defining and walking in what the Lord has spoken to us.

Personally, God has been speaking to me about very practical things to implement or re-implement in my life. I’ve begun time blocking because I recognized I wasn’t investing my time as well as I could be. I was spending time instead. If I were stewarding time better and investing it well, I would be seeing a greater return on my investment. It’s also meant taking a serious look at how I’m spending my time and letting go of some things I’ve held dear to my heart that fill time now needing to be invested elsewhere.

Our high callings come at a cost. Are we willing to die to ourselves and what we want for the sake of our best “yes” in this season trusting God has far better in store for us?

I also knew I needed to return to setting goals in every area of my life, both monthly and quarterly. Once those goals were set, I knew I could reverse engineer those goals into my daily tasks and time block for them. I’m no longer letting each day roll by with a loose plan, but I’m being extremely intentional with each day, have begun stewarding my time better, and am determined to live each day to the fullest with goals, purpose, and intent in my heart.

These are the keys God has revealed to me that were necessary for the gathering of thrust for my lift off in 2025. What is it for you? What do you need to put into place for your engine to be ignited, your propulsion system to begin to burn fuel, and for you to build the momentum you need to launch you into what’s ahead?

Want to go to the new heights in Him? Ask God what your keys are for turning on the ignition, then implement them to fuel your rocket’s engines. Write down what He’s shown you and let that prophetic vision be the map that guides you to where you’re going. Don’t be surprised when you feel the ground beneath you begin to shake. It’s just the engines coming to life and gathering the energy needed for lift off!

08/01/2024

What new things is He doing in your life this month? How is He making all things new? We'd love to hear your testimonies!

By Andrea & Brian Johanson

07/25/2024

“Govern your time or Time will rule over you.”

This is a refrain I’m hearing over and over again in the Spirit. I sense the urgency around this.

Time is an insidious ruler making us believe the lies of busyness equaling effectiveness; always being ready to help others is showing kindness and compassion; and rest is laziness.

Time sucks come in pretty packages. They’re not gifts; they’re parasitical leaches.

Just as you’re encouraged to track your spending over a month, and then create your budget, a very practical exercise is to track how your time is spent over a week and then partner with Holy Spirit as you review what you’ve tracked and make a plan around improving the investment of your time.

Did you catch that distinction between spending and investing time? We’re called to be good stewards over every aspect of our lives and made to have dominion, with ALL things put under our feet. This includes responsibly managing and ruling over Time.

“You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” (Psalm 8:6, NKJV)

Said again in another translation:

“You have delegated to them rulership over all you have made, with everything under their authority, placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers.” (Psalm 8:6, TPT)

Stop allowing Time to rule over you. Govern it. Use it as the tool it’s been created to be for you.

Remember God stands outside of time and is the Creator of it. If you feel out of alignment with your timeline, ask God to realign you with where He intended for you to be at this time in your life.

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8, NASB, 1995)

God sees the bigger picture and has given us the responsibility of redeeming time.

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesian 5:15-17)

What does it mean to redeem time? Cash, exchange, convert, or transfer it. Release, liberate, free, deliver, rescue, or restore it. What would that look like for you?

Govern your time or Time will rule over you.

I've been re-implementing time blocking and time batching strategies and have been finding it super helpful. Want the links I've been digging into and using for templates? Let me know - I'd be happy to send them.

Need prayer? I would love to lift you up to the Father's heart!