Intense. The Last 3 blog posts here at Set Apart Heart have been a little bit intense. Honesty, I struggled with whether or not to even write them, much less share them with you.
After interacting with those who left comments on all the previous posts, and listening to the things that were on your mind, I’m actually really glad that I did. Sharing what’s real and authentic in life brings us all closer together as a community, and allows the presence of Yah to keep moving through us all.
If you’re just joining in on the ongoing conversation we’ve been having at Set Apart Heart, let me quickly recap for you before moving forward. First, we talked about Yah’s Purpose and Plan for your life. We talked about the big picture ideas that stemmed from Jeremiah 29:11, and Isaiah 43:10. In light of the fact that we are Yah’s witnessess and His servants whom He has chosen, we also touched lightly on reconnecting with your spiritual gifts, and what you might want to spend more time doing in life.
After discussing the big picture, we focused in on some of your struggles. The things that were holding you back and getting in the way of your healing, so that you could move closer to embracing your purpose in life. We concluded that understanding the things you don’t want in your life can often help you to get more clarity and redefine the things that you actually do want. Reading James 1:12 helped us to remember that our struggles are only for a time, and that if we press forward and endure, there will be a reward.
Then finally we discussed the little things that could be holding us back. The subconscious thoughts and the negative self talk that we may not even notice is having an affect our emotions and the decisions that we make. We touched briefly on renewing our minds so that we can move forward, and some of us made personal commitments to ourselves about wanting to make a change. We read Romans 12:2:
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”
So now what?
You want to make a change. But how? Where do you begin?
We are spiritual beings, so let’s begin with spiritual things. Moving forward with intention and purpose in life is deeply connected to the connection we have with our Creator. Yahuah is in control of our lives, and as chaotic as things may seem in the world around us, the more we submit to the will of Yah, the more things will re-allign, and the easier it will be for us to hear His direction so that we can know what steps to take in order to move forward.
[PERSONAL STORY]
Earlier this week, on Tuesday night, I was awake for most of the night. Rarely does that ever happen to me anymore – and this time it was different. In the past I’ve struggled with sleeping peacefully, but on Tuesday night, strangely enough – being awake was a really good thing. Yahuah was working with me. He was filling me and directing me clearly on how to make my next steps with music. You see, all my life I’ve been holding back from fully walking in my purpose. You may be surprised to hear that from someone who has been releasing Set Apart Music since 2014, and shared so much content on youtube. But it’s true, I’ve been holding back. A lot. And regardless of the singing and songwriting Yah’s given me the grace to do in the past, the truth is there is so much more music and motivation that Yah wants me to share.
I struggle with perfectionism – big time. I always want everything to be exactly right. I say I want to do the will of Yah, but I get distracted and make up a lot of excuses. Anyone else ever been there? I often let “life” get in the way of me doing the things I really need to do. I say things like “I’m too busy with this” or “I’m too tired because of that” or “I just don’t feel like it right now.” I have to have the exact perfect conditions in order to be creative. But the reality is this: Those excuses are a symptom of a MUCH deeper problem. And Praise Yah, this week that became very clear to me.
Standing in between ourselves and the desire to submit to Yah’s will, we often find this little tiny thing called fear. This tiny thing called fear can make a big huge impact. It can be disguised as a whole number of other excuses like the ones I shared in my personal story.
A wise person once told me that FEAR is actually False Evidence Appearing Real. We know the spirit of fear is not from Yah. At the root of it all, if we can allow the Spirit of Yah to help us look at our excuses for what they really are, more often than not – what we will find is fear.
Fear of failure… Fear of judgment… Fear of excellence…. Fear of being filled with pride, which we KNOW goes before the fall. (Prov 16:18) Fear is what’s holding us back from healing, from our purpose, from giving and recieving love… Fear holds us back from living our true authentic lives.
I want you to take a look at your life, and ask yourself this question:
What am I really afraid of?
What do I really have to lose?
What do I actually have to gain?
If fear were not in my way, what would I do today?
If on some level, you know you need to make a change, and some shifts need to happen in your life – perhaps examining your heart on a deeper level with the questions above would be a good place to start. Look inside and ask Yah to show you what fears are lying around in disguise at the root of your struggles and pain.
If this concept resonates with you, and you’re ready to move forward, I want you to leave a comment and say “I’m ready to let go of fear.”
You don’t have to type anything else.
Just write, “I’m ready to let go of fear.”
And throughout this week, be intentional about making space to hear what Yahuah is asking you to do in your life. Even if it’s in the middle of the night. When you wake up in the morning you can say to your Abba…
“Yah, what do you want me to do today?”
“Who do you want me to connect with?”
“What do you want me to say?”
Remember – You are here for a reason. Your life has a purpose, and the healing that will flow when you choose to let go of fear will guide you to the place Yah wants you to be.
I love you, and I’m praying for you, and I know you’re praying for me. I can’t wait to share the new music Yah’s given me with you… so you might get a surprise next week if it’s ready 😉 Let’s keep on growing together in the truth of Yahuah. For Yah has not given us a spirit of fear. But of power, of love, and a sound mind.
‘For Elohim has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of self-control. So do not be ashamed of the witness of our Master, nor of me His prisoner, but suffer hardship with me for the Good News according to the power of Elohim, who has saved us and called us with a set-apart calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and favour which was given to us in Messiah יהושע before times of old,’
Timotiyos Bĕt (2 Timothy) 1:7-9
Now go ahead and leave that comment. If you’re ready to let go of fear – say so. Do it for yourself, and do it for the kingdom. We need you. Let’s keep moving forward together.
I’ll see you in the comments below. Let the healing flow.
A wise person once said, “You can not heal in the same environment where you got sick.”
That’s a heavy thought to consider. Most of us have everyday habits and people in our lives that impact us on such a regular basis that we don’t even realize the depth or impact. Many of us are struggling with pain, and we don’t understand why the struggle is so hard, but the people, places, and environments we live in or create for ourselves are the exact same people and environments that caused us the pain to begin with.
Last week here at Set Apart Heart we started to discuss the big, obvious things we don’t want in our lives. We discussed situations we are tired of struggling with, things that are holding us back from our healing – things that could be keeping us from walking in our purpose. A lot of us left comments with very real and tangible struggles. And I read all the emails that came through my inbox as well.
This week I invite you to consider the things that are a little less tangible – the little things that may be hiding in the background… things that could be slowly chipping away at your ability to heal and have peace of mind.
Consider things like self-talk. What thoughts are you subconsciously speaking over yourself?
Consider your music playlist. What messages are in the songs being played over and over again in your mind?
Consider the books you are reading or movies you are watching. Do they build or edify?
Consider your closest family and friends. Do they encourage you to live a life that is pleasing to the Most High Yah?
Consider your emotional state. Are you in a space where you can think clearly and make decisions that will help you move forward?
Yesterday on FB and Instagram I was contemplating how the mind is SUCH a powerful thing. What goes in the mind always comes out – in one form or another. If we find ourselves struggling in certain areas, it is SO important to stop & consider what’s going on beneath the surface. What is really happening in our hearts and minds? And who or what are we allowing to have so much power over us?
[PERSONAL STORY]
This week I gained some much needed clarity in my life. I’m sharing this story in the hopes that it will encourage you as well.
Most of you know that I’m making music here at Set Apart Heart full time now. I just recorded my latest single, Healing Me, which will be available on December 4, 2018. And while waiting for the tracks to be mixed and mastered, I decided to start working on recording other songs for the album that will be released in the Spring of 2019.
While trying to record the music at home, I kept hitting roadblocks. For two whole days, for one reason or another, things just weren’t going as planned. I started to get frustrated, I even shed a few silent tears as I cried. For a moment I questioned whether I had bitten off more than I could chew, and even though I have my husband’s full support in every way, I wondered if I had made a mistake in leaving my full time job. I stopped and I said to myself – Hadarah, is this what you really want?
Because I know that Yahuah gave me the gift of singing and songwriting, I said to myself ‘Yes, this is what I want.’
What I don’t want is to be fiddling around with the technical aspects of recording. So instead of filling my mind with doubt and negative self-talk, I dried my tears, took a break, and listened to an audio version of the Bible. Doing this always comforts me when I get stressed out. After taking my break, I tried to record again, but by then my fingers were tired and I just didn’t have the strength to play the guitar again. So I decided to be done for the day.
That night my husband and I were talking about something totally unrelated to music, and it hit me – the solution came to me clear as day. I love making music, but I don’t like doing my own recording and wearing all the hats. Literally being the singer, songwriter, guitarist, recording engineer, cameraman, video editor, blog post writer and social media manager is just way too many hats to wear consistently. So I simply made the decision that in 2019 when I’m finished writing all the songs, I’ll just go back to the same professional recording studio where I recorded “Peace of Mind“, and “Yahuah Acoustics Vol.1 & 2“. This may seem like a very simple and basic decision to you, but isn’t it funny how when we get emotional and frustrated, even the most basic of decisions just don’t even come to mind?
Clarity can only come from shalom and peace of mind. We can’t make sound decisions that will help us to heal and continue to move forward if we are talking negatively to ourselves about how “we aren’t good enough.” Most of us are so disconnected from our thoughts that we don’t even notice all the little things that we are saying.
This little story may be super simplistic. Your life may feel or actually be way more complicated right now. But no matter what’s going on let’s learn how to recognize when there’s an opportunity for change. Opportunity for us to slow down, so we can calm down, seek Yah, get clarity, be realistic, find healing and move forward with peace of mind.
‘Commit your works to יהוה, And your plans shall be established. יהוה has made all for His purpose, And also the wrong for the day of evil.’ Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 16:3-4
So now I invite you to tell me – besides the big obvious things that are holding you back, like the job that you hate, the dysfunctional relationship you’re dealing with, or the lack of financial stability in your life – what are the little tiny things that might be affecting you on a deeper level that you may not even realize?
If you can’t name them right now, but you know there are areas where you can make some positive changes, whether that be reading more scripture, listening to more positive set apart music, doing away with negative self-talk, or choosing to love certain friends or family members from a distance, leave a comment below and say, “I’d like to make a change.”
That’s all you have to type. Just scroll down in the comments and say
“I’d like to make a change.”
Do it as a committment to yourself. Then take some time to seriously consider what the change might need to be throughout this week.
Below you’ll find the video with the sneak peek of my new single that’s coming out December 4, 2018 “Healing Me.” I posted it on youtube last week, but if you haven’t had a chance to take a peek at it yet, or if you just want to watch it again as you meditate, I pray you’ll enjoy the 2 min clip below. Prayerfully the song will inspire you as you consider the places in your heart and mind that may need to heal.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”
Romiyim (Romans) 12:2
May the little things we choose to change make a big impact in our lives. I’ll see you in the comments below, my friend. Don’t forget to leave a comment of commitment for yourself if you’d like to make a change.
Not everyone knows what they want in life… Understandably so. At a young age, we graduate from high school and rush off to college and university. There, with little to no real-world experiences, we are expected to choose the direction that we will take for the rest of our lives. I don’t know about you, but I changed my major 5 times in university, and finally settled on doing a BA in Journalism – just because I liked writing and I had to pick something. The truth is that all I really wanted in life was to be a good wife and a mother some day.
We may think we don’t know what we want in life because society often tells us that what we want “isn’t enough.” Well-meaning parents and loved ones will often steer us away from choosing a career focus based on anything that isn’t predictable. So we are often guided to follow paths that are not authentic to our true selves.
But let’s be real – we are not children anymore. What do you really want?
In the last blog post, we started talking about your life purpose and reconnecting, at least on a surface level, to the spiritual gifts that Yahuah has blessed you with. Let’s go a little deeper today. If you don’t know what you want in life, or what Yah’s calling you to do, let’s try the reverse. What is it that you don’t want. If you’re in a job that you despise – I’m sure you can list all the things that you don’t like about your job. If you’re in a relationship that was never right to begin with – I’m sure you can list all the problems with your relationship. So why not take some time to consider what you don’t want? What are the things you are really tired of… What are the things you wish that you could change… And what do those things say about your values? What do they say about who you are?
Understanding the things you don’t want in life can help you figure out what you actually do.
Last weekend I asked people on my Instagram and FB page if they had any prayer requests. The responses people shared got me thinking… although making music is powerful and prayer changes things, there are specific needs in our community that need to be addressed; needs that often simply just go ignored. It’s almost like, as a community, we want to believe that if we are spiritual enough, all of life’s problems will go away on their own. Yes, Yahuah still works miracles – but there isn’t enough discussion around the practical steps that we can take as individuals in order to reach the place where we can find healing. When we find healing, it’s then that we will find ourselves ready to fulfill our purpose in life.
So many of us are struggling with relationship problems, family dysfunction, financial issues, depression, anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional, and even physical pain… Leave a comment below if you’re going through any of the above. I’m just coming out of a season of depression myself, and the healing began when I started to get real about what was really going on, and taking practical steps to change my situation. Although we may not be able to fix every problem in a single blog post, or heal every wound with a set apart song, the least we can do is start talking about what’s really going on. I’ll be sharing more about this topic in the future, but let’s all start by being open and authentic about our problems. That is where true healing beings.
Sharing the struggles that we go through in life not only brings us closer as a community, but it helps us to wake up and realize that it’s time for change. If we want more meaning and purpose in life, if we want to be a light in our local communities, how can we do so if we are overwhelmed, stressed out, burdened with past problems, and struggling with present pain?
“Blessed is the man who does endure trial, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Master has promised to those who love Him.”
Ya‛aqoḇ (James) 1:12
I invite you to leave a comment below and share what’s on your mind. Maybe you’ve had some really tough experiences that taught you more about what you don’t want in life. Let’s discuss and share together in the comments below. If you do know what you want in life but something is holding you back from getting it – you can leave a comment about that too. And if you’d rather just send me an email or a DM instead, that’s cool. I may not be able to reply to every email, but I will always read them privately and pray for you. Let’s stay connected as a community of believers and be authentic so we can lift one another up.
You are here on purpose, and Yahuah has a plan for your life. I keep saying that again and again because we need to remember that it’s true. Life can be overwhelming when you’re swimming in problems and pain, but believe it or not, those very same problems, once you’ve overcome them, could be the very things that fuel your purpose and direction in life.
So tell me in the comments, in one or two words, or twenty-five lol – What is getting in the way of you pursuing your purpose in life? What problems are pushing up against you right now? What is it that you’re tired of dealing with? What do you wish you could change about your life, your community, or your walk with Yah? What is blocking your healing and causing you pain?
Hi there, I’m Hadarah Batyah. I sincerely believe that in order to have a spiritual walk that is authentic and true, the Word of Yahuah must be written on the inside of our hearts. That's why I write scripture songs and set apart music. Although I don’t have everything in my spiritual life all figured out, I know that Yahuah gave me the gift of music to serve Him and encourage your heart. I pray you'll be inspired by what you see on this blog. If you're curious and wanna know more- I tell it all on the About Page.
Intense. The Last 3 blog posts here at Set Apart Heart have been a little bit intense. Honesty, I struggled with whether or not to even write them, much less share them with you.
You want to make a change. But how? Where do you begin?
Standing in between ourselves and the desire to submit to Yah’s will, we often find this little tiny thing called fear. This tiny thing called fear can make a big huge impact. It can be disguised as a whole number of other excuses like the ones I shared in my personal story.
Remember – You are here for a reason. Your life has a purpose, and the healing that will flow when you choose to let go of fear will guide you to the place Yah wants you to be.
Hi there, I’m Hadarah Batyah. I sincerely believe that in order to have a spiritual walk that is authentic and true, the Word of Yahuah must be written on the inside of our hearts. That's why I write scripture songs and set apart music. Although I don’t have everything in my spiritual life all figured out, I know that Yahuah gave me the gift of music to serve Him and encourage your heart. I pray you'll be inspired by what you see on this blog. If you're curious and wanna know more- I tell it all on the