I recently found this word from Heather while reorganizing my files for the new year. What a delight to revisit the wisdom and insight she shares which was nurtured during her season with The Covenant Center. “These are not so much concepts that I have learned but practices I continue to live into.” I believe these are vital to the prophetically inclined voices.” A wise mentor once said to Richard and I, “God is more concerned with your character than your gifting.” As we grow in relationship with Him, he will take us through training so we can successfully walk with Him. Enjoy this timeless, encouraging word from Heather. God continues to equip and prepare His people for greatness! In His Love, Becky

Things I've Learned At The Covenant Center - Heather Celoria

Thinking back to my time at The Covenant Center, the lessons I learned in my ten years in the community are not really “things” that I have, but practices that I continue to live into. These are lessons I learned to learn. I don’t HAVE these things, unless I continue to DO them.

Heather Celoria

Emotions Matter -

When I first came here, I had absolutely no emotional intelligence! I literally had to keep a sheet with lists of emotions to journal with and practice recognizing. As prophetic people, we must have emotional capacity to grow in intimacy with the Lord because we are called to intimacy.

We are in covenant, which is relationship, with an emotional God who loves, rejoices, grieves and has longings. A God who suffers. He created our emotions in His own image, and  It is truly a learned skill, and a practice.

Dealing with emotions can be hard, but it is a learned skill. For those who have suffered much, or for the abused, it can be harder to heal than it was to experience the abuse itself, because we shut down to survive. But God wants to heal our hearts, including our emotions, and bring us back to life.

“Never Let Go of the Presence” by Being Present –

I have also become more able to recognize when I shut down, and I practice being present. When I’m too concerned about my future or past, I start to lose my heart. I find my heart again through acceptance and gratitude for my present life. We can only experience God now, and there are many ways to practice presence.

Pay Attention –

Own your own spiritual life! It is important to be grounded in scripture, to type out your prophetic words and dreams and to journal. Keep a record! Not so that you can live in the past, or be frustrated about promises you’ve not seen come to pass, but so that you can grow in intimacy and learn the unique love language that God develops with you.

Give Expression to the Impression –

God does bless us as individuals, but we are always a part of a larger community and purpose.

Expression of the impression helps to impart what God is revealing to you as well as to others. We are meant to be in a flow of continual receiving and giving out of our lives.

Practice Humility –

My best expression of compassion, pales in contrast to the healing power of the compassion of Christ that flows through me. Humility is not about debasing myself, it is about exalting Jesus and submitting to his life in and through me. Humility is a natural byproduct of keeping my eyes, on Him, and helping others to look at Him too.

Final Word – Trust the Process

I still have to catch myself when I start trying to figure things out. I am learning to make plans and hold them loosely. I am learning that God does fulfill promises and prophetic words, but rarely in a way that I expected. I am learning to wait, and to be in the journey.

In my time at The Covenant Center, I learned from experience in a loving community that God is for me, leading me, teaching me, and has my best interest at heart - while still having the best interest of community and Kingdom at heart at the same time. This is beyond my ability to understand and it requires trust.

I left The Covenant Center seven years ago,  with many beautiful blessings. Looking back, I can see that these lessons, which I wrote about then, are still with me and are the foundation of my walk with Christ: emotions matter, be present, pay attention, give expression, and trust the process.

As you grow together in community, I bless you in Jesus’ name to learn and to become the prophetic people and community God has called you to be.

Heather Celoria
Website: www.heatherceloria.com
Email: info@thecovenantcenter.com

Heather Celoria lives in Lakeland, Florida. She attended The Covenant Center for ten years, completing the CovenantU School of Ministry and attaining Ordination. She continued her studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 2016. Currently, she works as a marketing professional and enjoys a quiet, simple life with her two adult children and adopted greyhound, Vern.