Shalom Shalom Family. Do you ever wish you had more time to bask in the presence of Yah? Sometimes we spend more time debating intellectual Hebrew interpretations than we do just spending time in the presence of our most awesome heavenly Father… I just wanted to drop in and give you a little word of encouragement on your spiritual journey today.
I know it’s been quite a while since we’ve connected here on the blog, but I want you to know you’re still in my thoughts and prayers. The time I spent away has been wonderful – much needed. I’ve been focusing more and more on authenticity, and allowing Abba Yah to really come inside and fill me up. I want to encourage you all to do the same.
The passage that was on my heart to share with you today is taken from Psalms 51. When I was reading it to myself late last night/early this morning, it reminded me of an old song that I wrote long ago called Words to Say… that song is about Yahuah dwelling inside of us and the feeling of being speechless just basking in His presence and running out of words to say. I don’t know about you, but I need more moments like that in my life. And so I added a new part to the song spontaneously that says, “Abba come in Inside … ” and I hope that as you watch the video, that you will allow Abba Yah to come inside of your heart and fill you up.
‘Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Set-apart Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your deliverance, And uphold me, Noble Spirit!’ Tehillim (Psalms) 51:10-12
Leave a comment below if you’d like to spend more time allowing Yah to come inside. We can all pray for one another to continue growing in Him. I pray the word of Yahuah lives on in our hearts as we continue to press in close and seek His face! Let’s all continue to shine His light in our four corners of the world. Never look back, Yahuah has a plan for your life.
See you in the comments below.
Hadarah BatYah
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I hate to admit this, but I tend to spend a little too much time thinking about the past, and dreaming about the future. Anyone else out there ever struggle with that? It’s a huge challenge for me to just stay right here in the present moment where everything is peaceful.
As much as I would like to deny it, I struggle with feeling overwhelmed when there is no real pressing or apparent reason for it. Shifting my thoughts out of overly emotional places is a consistent battle for me. Sometimes tears just take over my eyes without my permission, and I start to feel like I’ve lost the battle. Other times it feels like I’m winning and I feel calmness and peace of mind.
On the days when I’m winning, it’s usually because I chose to stay focused on the Word of Yah. This morning I noticed that I changed my pattern, and I didn’t like the results. Instead of reading The Word first thing and posting a scripture pic on social media, I started consuming social media. I was watching cute little babies giggle on Instagram, and happy smiling family pics. The pics brought me joy cause they were beautiful, innocent, inspiring moments, and yet seemingly out of no where – tears – not the happy ones – crept up and took over my face without my permission again. A downward spiral of thoughts followed suit.
What happens between the joy and the tears often remains subconscious and difficult to understand. But praise Yah cause He’s healing me day by day. I refuse to let go of the stability and peace that is found in His Word.
I’m also learning to notice my thoughts, take them captive (as it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5), and turn them over to Yahuah. I’m learning how to stop judging myself for my feelings when I have them, and learning to accept myself so that I can be more authentic in life.
Part of letting go of fear, which we discussed in the last blog post, is learning to see your reality for what it is – instead of what you imagine it to be. It’s staying in the present moment and doing what needs to be done because there is value in doing it, regardless of the excuses. We have to learn to recognize what really matters to us the most, moment by moment, and not judge ourselves for that. We have to start addressing the core issues lurking around at our deepest levels, and prioritize the things that keep us in balance – whatever those things may be.
I want you to be honest with yourself. If you sometimes struggle to feel like everything is in balance, maybe it’s because things have shifted away from what really matters the most for you. That’s what often happens for me. So i’m learning to be more authentic.
The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines authenticity as : real or genuine : not copied or false. : true and accurate.
If you want to spend more time focusing on the things that matter most, leave a comment below and type,
“I wanna be more authentic.”
Throughout this week, pay attention to the moments when you might be shoving things under the rug emotionally. If you snap unexpectedly, or say something emotionally driven, if you shut down and go silent, or if you “randomly” burst into tears – try not to let the moment go too far without stopping to ask yourself:
Wait… where did that come from?
Why do I feel like this?
Is this emotion based on something that is actually real? Or is this based on a story that I’m telling myself …
Do I need to reevaluate and look at this differently?
I know it’s not always easy, but see if you can set aside a little time to address some of the things that often go unadressed this week. You may have things going on within your relationships with friends or loved ones, at your job, or something going on in your own heart. Whatever is happening, no matter how simple or complex it may feel, just breathe, keep it real, and be authentic. And when it starts getting hard, be more authenic still.
‘I have strength to do all, through Messiah who empowers me.’ Pilipiyim (Philippians) 4:13
As we all try to figure out this thing called life, and the place we have in it, let’s just take it one step at a time. Seek ye FIRST, the Kingdom of Yah. Not second – but first. (Matt 6:33) Even if it’s just a morning thought that comes to mind as you read a scripture, that thought will carry you through the ups and downs in your day if you let it. Then focus on your family and your contribution to this world. You don’t have to be all things to all people everywhere at the same time, just focus on what really matters the most, right here and now.
Before I end this post I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been supporting the latest single I just released called, “Healing Me.” After releasing that song, I realized how desperately I need to remain and be more authentic in life. That song could not have happened without the journey that came before it, and the journey that I’m still on to this very day.
I’ve decided to stop putting any kind of pressure on myself to perform or produce music in any particular time frame, and just allow Yah to continue healing me authentically. As badly as I want to be fully healed right now, and continue making a significant contribution to the world with my music, I need to take my time, stay focused not only on my mission and vision, for Set Apart Heart, but also for the big picture of life.
I’ll be in California for the next 5 weeks enjoying my family and spending lots of time with my wonderful hubby. I may not be blogging a whole lot during that time, you’ll still be in my heart and mind. I pray the healing continues to flow in all our lives. Enjoy the video below if you haven’t already seen it. And if you have, share the video with someone who might need a little inspiration. I hope the song continues to make space for healing in our lives again and again.
If you’re ready to continue to focus on what really matters most in life, go ahead and say so down in the comment below. Let’s take off the masks and keep it real.
I wanna be more authentic… don’t you?
“Pray for one another, so that you are healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous one accomplishes much.”
Ya‛aqoḇ (James) 5:16b
Let’s keep pushing forward my friend.
You’re worth it.
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A wise person once said, “You can not heal in the same environment where you got sick.”
That’s a heavy thought to consider. Most of us have everyday habits and people in our lives that impact us on such a regular basis that we don’t even realize the depth or impact. Many of us are struggling with pain, and we don’t understand why the struggle is so hard, but the people, places, and environments we live in or create for ourselves are the exact same people and environments that caused us the pain to begin with.
Last week here at Set Apart Heart we started to discuss the big, obvious things we don’t want in our lives. We discussed situations we are tired of struggling with, things that are holding us back from our healing – things that could be keeping us from walking in our purpose. A lot of us left comments with very real and tangible struggles. And I read all the emails that came through my inbox as well.
This week I invite you to consider the things that are a little less tangible – the little things that may be hiding in the background… things that could be slowly chipping away at your ability to heal and have peace of mind.
Consider things like self-talk. What thoughts are you subconsciously speaking over yourself?
Consider your music playlist. What messages are in the songs being played over and over again in your mind?
Consider the books you are reading or movies you are watching. Do they build or edify?
Consider your closest family and friends. Do they encourage you to live a life that is pleasing to the Most High Yah?
Consider your emotional state. Are you in a space where you can think clearly and make decisions that will help you move forward?
Yesterday on FB and Instagram I was contemplating how the mind is SUCH a powerful thing. What goes in the mind always comes out – in one form or another. If we find ourselves struggling in certain areas, it is SO important to stop & consider what’s going on beneath the surface. What is really happening in our hearts and minds? And who or what are we allowing to have so much power over us?
[PERSONAL STORY]
This week I gained some much needed clarity in my life. I’m sharing this story in the hopes that it will encourage you as well.
Most of you know that I’m making music here at Set Apart Heart full time now. I just recorded my latest single, Healing Me, which will be available on December 4, 2018. And while waiting for the tracks to be mixed and mastered, I decided to start working on recording other songs for the album that will be released in the Spring of 2019.
While trying to record the music at home, I kept hitting roadblocks. For two whole days, for one reason or another, things just weren’t going as planned. I started to get frustrated, I even shed a few silent tears as I cried. For a moment I questioned whether I had bitten off more than I could chew, and even though I have my husband’s full support in every way, I wondered if I had made a mistake in leaving my full time job. I stopped and I said to myself – Hadarah, is this what you really want?
Because I know that Yahuah gave me the gift of singing and songwriting, I said to myself ‘Yes, this is what I want.’
What I don’t want is to be fiddling around with the technical aspects of recording. So instead of filling my mind with doubt and negative self-talk, I dried my tears, took a break, and listened to an audio version of the Bible. Doing this always comforts me when I get stressed out. After taking my break, I tried to record again, but by then my fingers were tired and I just didn’t have the strength to play the guitar again. So I decided to be done for the day.
That night my husband and I were talking about something totally unrelated to music, and it hit me – the solution came to me clear as day. I love making music, but I don’t like doing my own recording and wearing all the hats. Literally being the singer, songwriter, guitarist, recording engineer, cameraman, video editor, blog post writer and social media manager is just way too many hats to wear consistently. So I simply made the decision that in 2019 when I’m finished writing all the songs, I’ll just go back to the same professional recording studio where I recorded “Peace of Mind“, and “Yahuah Acoustics Vol.1 & 2“. This may seem like a very simple and basic decision to you, but isn’t it funny how when we get emotional and frustrated, even the most basic of decisions just don’t even come to mind?
Clarity can only come from shalom and peace of mind. We can’t make sound decisions that will help us to heal and continue to move forward if we are talking negatively to ourselves about how “we aren’t good enough.” Most of us are so disconnected from our thoughts that we don’t even notice all the little things that we are saying.
This little story may be super simplistic. Your life may feel or actually be way more complicated right now. But no matter what’s going on let’s learn how to recognize when there’s an opportunity for change. Opportunity for us to slow down, so we can calm down, seek Yah, get clarity, be realistic, find healing and move forward with peace of mind.
‘Commit your works to יהוה, And your plans shall be established. יהוה has made all for His purpose, And also the wrong for the day of evil.’ Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 16:3-4
So now I invite you to tell me – besides the big obvious things that are holding you back, like the job that you hate, the dysfunctional relationship you’re dealing with, or the lack of financial stability in your life – what are the little tiny things that might be affecting you on a deeper level that you may not even realize?
If you can’t name them right now, but you know there are areas where you can make some positive changes, whether that be reading more scripture, listening to more positive set apart music, doing away with negative self-talk, or choosing to love certain friends or family members from a distance, leave a comment below and say, “I’d like to make a change.”
That’s all you have to type. Just scroll down in the comments and say
“I’d like to make a change.”
Do it as a committment to yourself. Then take some time to seriously consider what the change might need to be throughout this week.
Below you’ll find the video with the sneak peek of my new single that’s coming out December 4, 2018 “Healing Me.” I posted it on youtube last week, but if you haven’t had a chance to take a peek at it yet, or if you just want to watch it again as you meditate, I pray you’ll enjoy the 2 min clip below. Prayerfully the song will inspire you as you consider the places in your heart and mind that may need to heal.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”
Romiyim (Romans) 12:2
May the little things we choose to change make a big impact in our lives. I’ll see you in the comments below, my friend. Don’t forget to leave a comment of commitment for yourself if you’d like to make a change.
-Hadarah BatYah
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Do you ever wonder about what The Most High has in store for your life?
I’ve been thinking about Yah’s plans for me A LOT lately. If you’re already following me on Facebook (Just started a new page) You might have seen the personal story that I shared about how I decided to leave my depressing day job and – with my husband’s support and approval – do music and creative projects full time here at Set Apart Heart. (More music & motivation for YOU – Yay!)
It’s a huge leap of faith, but I know that if I don’t do this now, BEFORE we start a family, I may never have the opportunity to give my all to this purpose again. Is there anything in your life that you wish you could give more of your time to? Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Do you feel like you could be doing more work for the kingdom? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Last weekend I went out for a long walk and I started thinking about where we are as a people, and how much healing still needs to take place from all the trauma of the last 400 years. I really wanna do something about it – even if it’s just through a few songs. I randomly took some pictures and video while I was thinking out loud. There’s also some music in the video for you. It’s “Let This Mind” from my album “Peace of Mind” I hope you enjoy the video, and that it inspires you to keep moving forward on your journey with Yah.
‘For I know the plans I am planning for you,’ declares יהוה, ‘plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and an expected end.
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 29:11
So next Friday will be my last day at my full time day job. I know that not everyone has the luxury of taking such a huge leap of faith – but tell me in the comments what you would like to be doing more of – regardless.
It’s ok if you’re not a signer or a speaker. Maybe you’d like to spend more time in prayer and really tune in to what Yah is guiding you to. Maybe it’s more time reaching out or listening to others who look like they need a listening ear? Maybe it’s something as simple as smiling at your neighbours? Or making an effort to reconnect with a long lost friend or someone in your family? If each one of us makes an effort to do something as a witness, a real live personal human being witness, we’ll be one step closer to the kingdom.
‘“You are My witnesses,” declares יהוה, “And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no Ěl formed, nor after Me there is none.’ Yeshayah (Isaiah) 43:10
Let’s continue this convo in the comments below.
It’s always great to hear from you – even if it’s just to say shalom 🙂
I’ll see you there.
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How often do you take the time to make sure that what you are putting out into the world is in sync with what’s actually happening on the inside? Do you post smiling pictures on social media when you’re actually struggling inside? When people ask “How are you?” do you say you’re OK – when the truth is you’re actually not?
There’s a time and a place for everything. I firmly believe that. And the reality is, most of us are wearing band-aids over our pain. For one reason or another, the band-aids keep getting torn off before we can fully heal. Sometimes we even tear the band-aids off ourselves, pretending like we never got hurt in the first place. I don’t know about you, but pretending to be happy is not good enough for me.
Life is more than digital. Have you taken time to heal? It is so easy to fool ourselves into believing that making videos, blog posts, and being present on social media is our sole purpose this digital world. It is not. Yes, these things can be used for good, but they are not the end all be all. Yahuah is looking closely at our hearts. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been living life with band-aids on. I’ve been doing so for a VERY long time. If I can be honest, likely since childhood. I’ll share the lessons I learn while I’m away when the next album is complete. But it’s going to take time. A significant amount of time. So I want to share this one song with you before I go. It’s called “Healing Me.” Leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post if it’s meaningful for you.
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” Malachi 4:2a
Life is not a race. Healing takes time. Living and learning takes time. And if we just keep running through life, we’ll reach the end and realize we’ve never actually lived. It’s the moments we spend living -breathing, praying, connecting, seeking – that become moments filled with meaningful lessons that we can share with the world.
I’ll be gone for a while, but I’ll be back. And while I’m gone I pray you will seek Yah’s healing in your life as well. As a nation we need healing, but first, as individuals, we MUST learn to submit to the will of Yahuah and walk it out by faith. We must look at the seeds in our heart that should not be planted there, and uproot them. Be it physical healing, or spiritual, whether we realize it or not, we all need Yah’s healing touch in our lives.
Let’s remember one another in prayer as we go through this life. There is healing in His wings, Mishpacha. Let’s keep on looking up and trusting in Him.
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Last night during rehearsal, I decided to turn on the camera so that I could share some of the music with you. I hope you enjoy what came out of it! In the video below you’ll hear Let My People Go, and Wade in the Water.
Those two songs are actually my favorite Negro Spirituals. I really connect with them because they remind me of our experience and the truth of who we are. Whether we were consciously aware of our true biblical history at the time or not, the Exodus story was so close to our hearts as a people, that we saw ourselves in those scripture-based songs and identified closely with them. I believe we sang those songs like they were our own stories because they were, and still are, our own stories. The Bible is our history book and it’s so important for us to be conscious of that. Yahuah has been calling us back into His arms ever since the days of old. He’s been so faithful to us. Finally, we’re listening to His voice and coming back to Torah. Finally, we’re choosing to follow His ways. HallaluYah! Thank you Father for your mercy.
With the New Year upon us and Passover right around the corner, I love to think about new beginnings and how the Exodus Story applies to our lives today. Can you imagine how it would feel to leave behind the slavery of Egypt, and literally walk through the red sea on dry land? Talk about new beginnings! The Father was and still is committed to His people. Just like our ancestors, He wants to immerse us in living water, and prepare us to shine His Light of truth to the world. I pray that as you watch the video below, that you will take a moment to imagine what it could have been like to be there. Let’s prepare our hearts and minds, because soon and very soon, we’ll be wading in those waters once again, as Yahuah leads us all the way home.
“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.”
Exodus 12:2 KJV
Happy New Year Mishpacha. I pray you enjoyed the video of Let my People Go and Wade in the Water. Before I go, I have to say thank you soooo much to all who have been supporting the new single, Heal our Land. I appreciate you more than you know. My prayer is that the music you find here at setapartheart.com will always be meaningful, and inspire you to stay close to the word of Yahuah.
Leave a comment below if you’re ready for new beginnings! Let’s stay humble and continue to pray as Yahuah prepares our hearts and leads us all the way home. I’ll see you in the comments below.
-Hadarah BatYah
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Hi there, I’m Hadarah Batyah. I sincerely believe that in order to have a spiritual walk that is authentic and true, the Word of Yahuah must be written on the inside of our hearts. That's why I write scripture songs and set apart music. Although I don’t have everything in my spiritual life all figured out, I know that Yahuah gave me the gift of music to serve Him and encourage your heart. I pray you'll be inspired by what you see on this blog. If you're curious and wanna know more- I tell it all on the About Page.
Shalom Shalom Family. Do you ever wish you had more time to bask in the presence of Yah? Sometimes we spend more time debating intellectual Hebrew interpretations than we do just spending time in the presence of our most awesome heavenly Father… I just wanted to drop in and give you a little word of encouragement on your spiritual journey today.
Hi there, I’m Hadarah Batyah. I sincerely believe that in order to have a spiritual walk that is authentic and true, the Word of Yahuah must be written on the inside of our hearts. That's why I write scripture songs and set apart music. Although I don’t have everything in my spiritual life all figured out, I know that Yahuah gave me the gift of music to serve Him and encourage your heart. I pray you'll be inspired by what you see on this blog. If you're curious and wanna know more- I tell it all on the