Erika Kirk's Message At Riverside Christian Fellowship
So, picture this: I was grabbing my usual, suspiciously large coffee the other day – you know the one, the kind that practically requires its own postcode – when I overheard a conversation. Two ladies were chatting, and one of them sighed, a really deep, soul-bearing sigh, and said, “Honestly, sometimes it feels like I’m just… spinning my wheels. Like I’m doing all the right things, but nothing is really changing.” And it hit me. It really, really hit me. Because haven’t we all been there? That feeling of being stuck in neutral, even when your foot’s firmly on the metaphorical gas pedal?
It got me thinking, and then, serendipitously (or maybe divinely, depending on your outlook!), I found myself at Riverside Christian Fellowship for Erika Kirk’s message. And let me tell you, if anyone knows how to kick a stalled engine back into gear, it’s Erika. Her whole talk seemed to be a giant, warm hug to anyone who’s ever felt like they’re just… treading water.
The central theme, the one that really stuck with me like glitter on a craft project (and you know how hard that is to get off), was about intentionality. Not just going through the motions, but actively, purposefully engaging with life, with our faith, with ourselves. Erika painted a picture of a life that’s not just lived, but curated. And that’s a pretty powerful idea, isn’t it? Curated. Like a museum exhibit of your own existence. Whoa.
She talked about how easy it is to fall into autopilot. You wake up, you do the usual, you go to bed. Repeat. It’s comfortable, sure. It’s familiar. But is it fulfilling? Is it leading us anywhere new? Erika’s message was a gentle, yet firm, nudge to question that automatic transmission.
Think about it. We plan vacations down to the last detail, right? We meticulously research restaurants, book flights months in advance, and map out our sightseeing itineraries. We plan for leisure! So why, oh why, do we often approach something as significant as our spiritual journey, our relationships, or our personal growth with a shrug and a “we’ll see what happens”? Erika’s point was that this passive approach is exactly where that “spinning wheels” feeling comes from.
She shared this analogy about a gardener. A gardener doesn’t just scatter seeds and hope for the best. Oh no. They prepare the soil, they choose the right seeds, they water consistently, they weed diligently, and they provide sunlight. It’s a labor of love, yes, but it’s also a labor of deliberate action. And the results? Well, they’re usually pretty spectacular. Ever seen a truly magnificent garden? It doesn't happen by accident.
And that’s where the irony sometimes creeps in for me. We want the flourishing, the abundance, the beauty, but we’re sometimes unwilling to put in the consistent, intentional work. Erika wasn’t preaching some unattainable, perfect life. She was talking about making conscious choices. Small ones, big ones, but always, always, chosen ones.
One of the things she highlighted was the danger of comparison. You see someone else’s seemingly perfect garden – their successful career, their happy family, their seemingly effortless spiritual life – and it’s easy to feel inadequate. But Erika reminded us that we’re not privy to the hours of weeding and watering, the storms they’ve weathered, or the specific conditions that allowed their garden to thrive. We’re looking at the bloom, not the soil. And trying to replicate someone else’s bloom without understanding their soil is a recipe for frustration.
Her message felt like permission to be imperfectly intentional. You don’t have to be a seminary professor to live a deeply spiritual life. You don’t have to be a productivity guru to make meaningful progress in your goals. It’s about taking those small, consistent steps in the direction you want to go.
She talked about our spiritual disciplines – and I know, for some of us, that phrase can sound a bit… intense. Like something you do in a monastery while wearing a burlap sack. But Erika broke it down. It’s simply the practices that help us connect with God. Prayer, reading scripture, fellowship, serving others. It’s not about checking boxes; it’s about cultivating a relationship. And relationships, as we all know, require consistent effort. You wouldn’t stop calling your best friend just because you had a really great conversation last week, right? You’d keep nurturing that connection.
And this intentionality, it’s not just for our spiritual lives. Erika’s message had this beautiful ripple effect that extended into every area. Think about your relationships. Are you intentionally carving out time for your spouse, your kids, your friends? Or are you letting “busyness” be the excuse? Are you actively listening, or just waiting for your turn to speak? These are all questions of intentionality.
It’s the difference between a reactive life and a proactive life. Reactive is letting life happen to you. Proactive is choosing how you will respond to what happens. Erika’s message was a powerful call to proactivity. To be the driver, not just the passenger, on this incredible journey.
She also touched on the importance of clarity. If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there, right? But is “there” where you actually want to be? Erika encouraged us to be clearer about our values, our goals, and our vision for our lives. Not in a rigid, unbending way, but with a sense of direction. Imagine setting sail without a compass. You might drift beautifully, but you probably won’t end up at your intended destination.
And here’s a little something that made me chuckle internally: Erika mentioned how we often find ourselves in situations because of a lack of intentionality. Like, you wanted to save money, but you accidentally bought that ridiculously expensive gadget online at 2 am because you weren’t intentional about your online browsing habits. Guilty as charged! (Don’t judge me; that gadget is amazing.) The point is, these seemingly small lapses in intentionality can accumulate and lead us to places we didn’t intend to be.
But here’s the hopeful part, and this is where Erika truly shone: it’s never too late to become more intentional. The starting point isn’t perfection; it’s awareness. The moment you recognize that you’ve been spinning your wheels, that’s the moment the engine can be restarted. That awareness is the spark.
She encouraged us to identify just one area where we could inject more intentionality. Just one thing. It could be as simple as deciding to read for 15 minutes before bed instead of scrolling aimlessly, or committing to a weekly coffee date with a friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with. Small, manageable steps. Because building momentum is key, and momentum is built one intentional action at a time.
And when we start acting with intention, something magical happens. Things begin to shift. The soil starts to look a little richer, the sprouts start to push through the surface. It’s not always dramatic, overnight transformations. Sometimes it’s a slow, steady unfurling. But it’s progress. And progress, my friends, is a beautiful thing.
Erika’s message was a reminder that God has given us agency. We’re not robots programmed to follow a script. We have the capacity to choose, to act, to love, to grow. And when we exercise that agency with intentionality, we not only honor the gifts we’ve been given, but we also step into the fullness of what God designed for us.
It’s about moving from a life of occurrence to a life of purpose. From just letting things happen to making things happen. And honestly, isn’t that a more exciting way to live? A life where you feel like you’re actively participating, not just spectating?
The feeling I left with was one of profound encouragement. Not a “you should be doing more” kind of feeling, but a “you can do more, and here’s how to start” kind of empowerment. Erika Kirk at Riverside Christian Fellowship delivered a message that resonated deeply, not just with the people who identify as deeply religious, but with anyone who’s ever felt that nagging sense of being stuck. It’s a call to awaken, to engage, and to live a life that is not just experienced, but truly, beautifully, intentional.
So, what’s one small, intentional step you can take today? Just one? I’m curious to hear what you decide. Because remember, the biggest journeys always start with the smallest, most deliberate footsteps. And that’s a message worth sharing, wouldn’t you agree?