Hunter Beless believes God has called her to seek after those He has awakened to guide them back to their Heavenly Father. She passionately exercises this God-given design as a wife, mama, podcast host, and writer. Though they stumble often, she and her husband Brooks, strive to display God's covenant-keeping love through their marriage and oneness. They have two little girls, Hadley Grace (3) and Davy Kathryn (1) and currently reside in Fort Campbell, KY where Brooks serves in the US Army. As a family, they love journeying through life together for the glory of God.
IF YOU NEED A REMINDER OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER YOUR DREAM, THIS WAS THE EPISODE FOR YOU.
Listening to this episode, you’re going to be bathed in scripture, whether you realize it or not. This woman knows her bible, and it inspires and spurs me on to get to reading (and memorizing!) mine with more regularity. Hunter reminds us that God is so powerful that He can fulfill dreams regardless of circumstances. You’ll learn about re-orienting your fear of the things of this world to the God of the universe and how that gives us courage to keep taking the next step. She also teaches us about embracing our limitedness with the grace and freedom to do what is within your capacity and let go of the rest!
And for all you moms with little ones at home, I asked Hunter after we stopped recording about the resource she’s used to help her 3-year-old daughter memorize God’s word. Here's a link to Foundation Verses on the Children Desiring God website. I purchased mine this week so my daughter and I can get started before Baby arrives!
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CONNECT WITH HUNTER & JOURNEYWOMEN PODCAST:
Website || Hunter’s Insta || Journeywomen Insta
MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
X-Ray Questions by David Powilson
Charles Spurgeon quote: "The sovereignty of God is a sweet pillow you can lay your head on at night. It's a beautiful true north. Not only that God is in control over all but also that He is working everything out for your good and for His glory."
Hunter’s definition of “devoted”: “When I think of the word devotion I think of one who has pledged herself to a higher purpose. And for us that is God's will and His glory.”
Stewarding Your Passions in a Season of Motherhood article by Ann Swindell
Podcasts:
The Journeywomen Podcast; new episodes every Monday
Books:
The Bible (ESV)
Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung
SCRIPTURE:
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
~ Proverbs 3:7 (ESV)
Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
~ Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
~ 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
Remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.
~ Isaiah 46:9-11 (ESV)
And this is the confidence that we have toward him,
that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
~ 1 John 5:15 (ESV)
Without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
~ Proverbs 15:22 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
~ Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
So commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
~ Proverbs 16:3
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.
~Romans 11:33-36 (ESV)
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
Hunter and I talk about being a 1 on the Enneagram [3:15]
Her dream to seek after those He has awakened to guide them back to Him [3:55]
Her dream since she was 13 years old [4:13]
The season in which marriage to Brooks felt like it might be the death of her dream [4:25]
How God fulfilled the dream anyway in her own backyard and inside a 4x4 closet [5:09]
The struggle of wanting to do more or desiring more training to follow her dream [9:04]
On pride, fear of man and risking failure [10:00]
Opportunities for confession, repentance and looking to Jesus [10:40]
Re-orienting her fears to the only one worthy of her fears [11:03]
Quote from her college mentor about fear leading to faith that births courage [11:22]
A favorite verse Hunter is memorizing with her 3-year-old [11:45]
Fixing her eyes on Jesus instead of the obstacles [13:11]
How she’s grown by walking in confession in the context of community [15:05]
Help she’s found as a result of washing herself in God’s word [17:17]
On her encouraging practice of confession in her day-to-day life [17:53]
How confession provides continual encouragement and refreshment [19:48]
X-ray questions by David Powlison that shed light on your idols [20:41]
Asking forgiveness in community because our sin affects the Body of Christ [21:33]
Living a transient military lifestyle and finding ways to maintain an “inner circle” of women [26:40]
Overestimating her capacity [28:32]
Embracing her limitedness and pressing into the limitlessness of the gospel [29:00]
On cutting back, even on the good opportunities that come her way [29:50]
Establishing a baseline and sticking to it, to avoid over commitment [30:35]
Her favorite verse of scripture right now [33:30]
On the sovereignty of God, a quote from Charles Spurgeon, and some difficult news [34:39]
God is near to the brokenhearted [37:03]
Hunter’s advice to pray, seek wise counsel and walk forward humbly toward your dream [37:47]
When we ask, God hears us [38:27]
How to know the way we are walking is pure [39:26]
Does your dream align with God’s word? [39:42]
The gospel gives us a freedom to experiment and play when it comes to our dreams [40:04]
Our dreams are for His glory [41:20]
Resources Hunter recommends to the devoted dreamer [42:20]
The challenge of pursuing your dream in the context of mothering little people [44:05]
On the difficult days, remembering God’s mercy and kindness in allowing us to dream in the first place [46:00]
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