Interview (Part II) with Courtnaye Richard, author of "Identified" (book)

Please welcome Courtnaye Richard to the blog again! She's the author of this book:

Courtnaye has more to talk about regarding this book and the reason she wrote it. Enjoy Part II of Courtnaye's interview featuring her book, IDENTIFIED! :)

Here's the interview: 

Alexis: You advise your readers to not let people dictate what they think they should be, but instead to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading. Why is that so important?

Courtnaye: I believe it’s important because if you’re not rooted and grounded in who God says you are through the leading of His Spirit and His Word, then you can be easily persuaded to believe what others say about you over what God says. And that’s when things can get cloudy and confusing. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading will be crucial for victory as you walk out your purpose.

Alexis: In Chapter 3 of your book, you say that Jesus has chosen us to be His disciple. How do you know? And what does that mean for each of us?

Courtnaye: Once you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are then born-again and you become a follower of Christ, which is the definition of a disciple. But it’s also about becoming a student under His leading through Bible studies, church meetings, personal devotion and study time, or additional schooling for your calling.

Alexis: What does it look like to be “hungry for truth” and “want more of God?”

Courtnaye: I would say that it looks like a personal life devoted to Christ. And nothing satisfies you more than getting full in God’s word and spending time with Him at all costs. In the natural sense, when you’re hungry, you look for something to eat. And quite naturally, you won’t stop until you find it. It’s similar with God and wanting more of Him. You’ll search until you find what you’re looking for. And God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Alexis: Why do you say that prayer is our “lifeline?” How does that relate to our daily living?

Courtnaye: The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Meaning, “Don’t stop praying.” It’s the way we connect and communicate with God. Think about Jack and Beanstalk. The only way they could get up there was through that beanstalk. We can’t live this Christian life successfully without staying connected to God through prayer and through Jesus’ name. Prayer is our lifeline. It’s how we reach Him from day to day, hour by hour, and minute to minute.

Alexis: What does it mean to be identified as a Christian?

Courtnaye: It means knowing who you are in Christ and having the godly character that goes along with the title and your devotion to Him.

Alexis: How can we stop (and free ourselves from) the game of comparison?

Courtnaye: I believe it can stop by identifying and embracing who you truly are in Him. It’s also about not doubting who God has called you to be. And when you grab hold of this fact, that’s where the freedom can enter in. That’s when you can move forward in faith and with a God-confidence.

Alexis: Tell me about your favorite plaque that says, “Thank God for what you have. Trust God for what you need.” Why did you buy it? Why is it special to you?”

Courtnaye: I bought it because it encouraged me to be thankful for what He’s done in my life already, and to be reminded to trust Him in everything for the future. I shared this with the readers because I believe that He wants to remind them as well. He wants to remind them to remain thankful for what He’s done, and to know that He’s got them going forward. All they have to do is keep trusting Him and follow His direction as they walk out their purpose.

Alexis: What does it mean to be courageous and step forward in faith?

Courtnaye: Being courageous is all about trusting God and moving forward in faith in the face of fear. It’s trusting that God has you in the heat of the battle or in the midst of apprehension. If He tells you, “Go and be strong and courageous,” then do it. Because He’s telling you that He will be with you. The next thing to do is to step out in faith courageously!

Alexis: Why is this message of your book important now in today’s modern world?

Courtnaye: I believe it’s very important because it’s time for us to stand up and be identified as Christ’s followers. Christianity is being crowded out of a lot of things in our world today, and so I believe God is raising up His daughters to advance the Kingdom of heaven now. He wants more people to be identified in Him before He sends His Son. I believe that we’re living in very dire times and that Jesus’ return is drawing closer and closer. With that being said, we’ve got work to do before that great day comes.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: When I started writing this book, I thought ______________________________________and when I wrote “the end,” I felt ______________________________________.

Courtnaye: When I started writing this book, I thought “Lord, what do You want to say to Your current and future daughters?” And when I wrote “the end,” I felt like I’d done what He commissioned me to do. 

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NEWS: It's not too late for you to WIN a copy of Identified! Visit Part I of Courtnaye's interview and enter the book giveaway contest by filling out the Rafflecopter widget in the blog post. Here's the link, http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/2016/09/interview-with-courtnaye-richard-author.html

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Author bio: Courtnaye Richard is a Christian writer, blogger, speaker, and founder of Inside Out with Courtnaye (a ministry especially designed to help women grow in their daily walk with the Lord, live out their purpose, and be ready when Jesus Christ returns). 

She's all about real life, real talk, and real faith! She posts a weekly blog every Monday @ 7:30 a.m. on www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org, hosts a “LIVE” call on 1st Tuesdays, and shares a weekly Two-Minute message with her audience every Wednesday. 

For more info, please visit www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org. 

Connect with Courtnaye: "Like" her page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.