Reanna

Today, Reanna speaks to us about being bold and fearless, a loss that helped her determine the person she wanted to be, and a creative way to heal.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: So, I grew up in a Christian home attending church at a very young age. I grew up in an extremely supportive and loving home, and for that I am extremely thankful! My childhood is filled with beautiful memories I will never forget.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: Honestly, so many different passages speak to my life at every moment, reminding me of God’s truth and grace for my life. But a passage I have really clung to at this moment in my life would be Deuteronomy 1:8: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” The fact that Jesus goes before us helps me to step into each situation with a lot more confidence, comfort and peace. Everything is in his hands and that is something I need a constant reminder of when I anxiously overthink everything.

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: Can I be honest? This season has been probably the most challenging, spiritually, often as your mid-20s can be. A focus for this season of my life has been discipline as well as boldness/ fearlessness. I have been trying to step into everything the Lord has in front of me, knowing that He has prepared me with everything I need. I have been equipped! In all honesty, I grew up, you could say, a great kid, but I definitely have sin struggles, still, as we all do. Being disciplined and thinking through everything I do as it aligns with Jesus has been a huge focus for me, right now.

“I have been trying to step into everything the Lord has in front of me, knowing that He has prepared me with everything I need.”

Profession: Right now, I am working in the floral department at Horrock’s market since graduating. I am currently on the job hunt for a full time worship leader position, so I can do what I got my degree for. I know this waiting season has such a purpose though.

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? Wow, a huge question. I think it would be so cool to write a book about my life and experiences. I feel like I have so many experiences in my life in that the Lord has taught me and grown me through that can definitely help someone else. I think my focus for this would be stepping into fearlessness being, boldly, who the Lord made you to be; also, I struggle with overthinking so I would love to write a book on that. Also, what living with ADHD is like. So maybe a fitting title: Don’t overthink who He made you!

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? To be honest, I have encountered Jesus several times throughout my life. In big and small ways. I know for fact that He has been with me every moment, and I strongly believe He has been with me my whole life. I would like to say that I encountered Him when I asked Him into my heart when I was five, or when I was unsure if I was good enough in 3rd grade at summer camp, or in middle school for my parents approval. But if I had one pivotal moment of really meeting the true Jesus and being completely overwhelmed by His love it would be in my bedroom at 2 a.m. my junior year of high school. I had just been through a huge season of struggling with a pornography addiction and God really just brought me out of that in that moment. So maybe I don’t know the exact moment because there are too many to count but a pivotal moment was definitely that moment in high school. Jesus pointed me to the verse John 6:33 a very important verse! (“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”)

“But if I had one pivotal moment of really meeting the true Jesus and being completely overwhelmed by His love it would be in my bedroom at 2 a.m. my junior year of high school.”

How would you describe Jesus? Jesus is my Heavenly Father and best friend. He is loving gracious, always there to listen, and He always understands. He also is tough on you when you need to hear the truth and need to be challenged to be better. He wants the best for you for your good and His glory.

“He wants the best for you for your good and His glory.”

How has your relationship with Him changed you? Having a relationship with Jesus has changed how I make decisions, how I wake up every day, the attitude I have, the way I feel towards others and myself. Having a relationship with Jesus really does change everything and gives you immense purpose. Having a relationship with Jesus is my why!

What has been the darkest time in your life, and how did you see God in it? Well, [there] have been several dark times in my life; it’s hard to pick a specific time. But I honestly believe being a Christian was never meant to be easy and in those really hard moments, I really see God working the most. Even when I can’t see I see Him working. For me, it was probably when my great grandmother passed away about two years ago. Her death was difficult for my entire family because she just was the best great grandmother anyone could ever ask for. I think her death really taught me the type of person I want to be. It woke me up in a sense. Though it was hard, it really made me think about my life and the type of person I was becoming. Jesus brought me deep healing and showed me he was there in the midst of my suffering and tears. He showed me that He had a plan and purpose for me and my life. It honestly helped me to refocus on what was really important.

“But I honestly believe being a Christian was never meant to be easy and in those really hard moments, I really see God working the most.”

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Prayer journaling! Prayer journaling helped me to process through different things in my life. There is so much power in prayer, and the spirit always guides us. It has also helped me to rethink how I may be reacting or not reacting and how I can really be better and do better. It has molded who I am and my life.

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I am a jumper– I guess is what I would call it! *laughs* I do a lot of different readings depending on what the Lord leads me to read that day. Some days, I will open up a devotional book or read a daily bread or open up my Bible app, or recently I have really been trying to finish reading through the book of John, but in all honesty, I am so bad at it. As you can see that is why discipline is defiantly a focus for me in this season. Each of my readings have really been teaching me more of who Jesus is and his heart. It has taught me how I can be more like Him in my life.

Top three essentials: My phone (terrible but true, it holds my notes, Bible app, the internet, people I want to talk to, and music, which is a huge necessity), a journal or something to take notes on (could also be my phone), my guitar (just have to jam out, sometimes).

How did God speak to you recently? God has been reminding me who I am in Him and to really just have peace in His plan in my life. He is in control. I should not be afraid or anxious about anything.

Hobby: Songwriting! It has become a huge hobby of mine. I just love it! It’s my biggest outlet, and it is so therapeutic. I would call it a creative way to heal.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: I have 4 hope that is ok! 1) pray continually when you don’t know go to prayer. Jesus literally preaches to pray without ceasing it should be a priority of your life. 2)run to scripture. Scripture is how we know how to live our lives. It speaks truth it is something we need to use as a weapon as we walk in the wicked world. 3) find your healthy outlets. We all face struggles every day. It is up to you how you deal with it and handle it. Let it be in a healthy way! For me this is guitar and journaling. 4) Surround yourself with the right people. the people you are around become the person you are. every person in your life has a huge influence on your life. Are they lifting you up to Jesus dragging you down?

Favorite person in scripture? Wow! I mean other than Jesus, probably Esther. Sidenote, if I get the privilege to have kids and have a daughter there name will be Esther. It’s happening. She is just courageous! Her fearlessness is something I really long to have. She stood up for her people knowing she could die. That’s the type of person I want to be with my people.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I just want them to know that God loves them, and they are never alone!

How do you engage with your community? I intentionally really try to get to know everyone around me and intend to learn from them and hope they can learn from me. doing life with people is important! 

Favorite holiday? Ooh every holiday is great! I am sure the Christian answer is Christmas but I have to be honest. Thanksgiving is my favorite because I love food a little to much, and it always makes me full of thankfulness. Even though every day I should be thankful, having a day dedicated to it is extremely cool. Though I don’t really like the history behind this day, it’s cool that we get to eat a lot of food with the people we love.

A goal you have? Sooo many honestly a huge goal for me would be to get my music out to the world at some point. I want my music to impact and encourage people. I long to help everyone around me and speak into their lives. 

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: Normally, every year, we go to the candlelight service at the church I grew up at. It’s probably my most favorite thing. Singing with everyone silent night on Christmas Eve is just so special and unexplainably beautiful. It makes you feel super connected to everyone around you. At the moment, my parents are church hunting so I don’t know if this tradition will continue, but I hope to continue it with my children one day. It really reminds you what Christmas is all about.

Thing you want to raise awareness about: I would raise awareness for to addictions because they are one of the hardest battles to overcome, and they can rob people of the free life God gave them.

What does your morning routine consist of? Well, on a good day because I am not gonna say every morning is perfect or that I am motivated to get up every day because who is? What normal person has a great morning routine every morning? Please tell me. But on a good morning, I would get out of bed early, probably around 7:00 or 8:00 depending on what time I work. Then, I would go for a walk outside if it’s nice or go to the gym and listen to motivational music, a podcast or a sermon to really get my mind in the right place to start my day. Then, I would do my skincare routine. I can’t skip that! Next, get myself ready, which includes: hair, makeup, shower, whatever I need to do, take a moment to be still and pray and read a little Scripture before I go into work. Slow mornings are the best mornings where I don’t feel rushed but rather still at peace and ready for whatever life throws at me.

“Slow mornings are the best mornings where I don’t feel rushed but rather still at peace and ready for whatever life throws at me.”

What is on your nightstand? A book even though I am such a procrastinator when it comes to reading, but if I need something to refocus my mind reading is definitely something I gravitate towards, my journal to process through all my thoughts, my diffuser (lavender oil or really defusing any essential oil really calms me and it’s just nice to have a good smelling room also the sound is extremely calming), a clock because gotta know what time it is, my phone cause alarm and I like to listen to a sound machine on Spotify to fall asleep, a cool candle. Lastly, the essentials: a glass of water and some tissues, and medications. It’s pretty full! 

Define Christianity in a sentence: Don’t like the word Christianity cause it has such a bad rap in the world we live in, but to me it means a follower of Christ who lives their lives in a relationship with Jesus and has Jesus guide their life.

For more Reanna:

Instagram: @reanna_the_singer

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XX