It started with inspiration….inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God.

~”These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”~2 Corinthians 2:10, English Standard Version~

I just got my Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University. I am thankful to God for this degree and the impact that His Holy Spirit will cause for me to have on others, as a result of following His will to receive this degree. My time in school is not finished yet though.

As I prayed, the Lord showed me that He wanted me to return to school…NOT seminary school, but for my calling in the secular field. His Holy Spirit showed me that I am meant to press into the high calling of God that is in Christ Jesus by obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in order to bring the Lord glory by giving healing, help, and hope, to the lost and saved. This is so that I can obtain my license in professional counseling and become a licensed professional counselor (LPC, or Sarah Dickens, LPC).

~”I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”~Philippians 3:14, New International Version~

I already knew that I would return back to school to become a counselor. But, I did not know when I would return to school, for such a time is this. This all falls back to my life experiences.

I went to Lebanon a couple of years ago for a missions trip. While on the trip, I met a friend, who has since inspired me through her calling in counseling in the secular field and as a tool for ministry, to go into counseling as a career. I thank God that I met this special friend because of the great impact that His Holy Spirit has allowed her to have on my life through sound Biblical counsel as well as to make an imprint on my life through her call, as a counselor.

I have asked this friend for advice for how to solve various problems (such as my family dynamics, issues with friends, boundary setting, etc.), and the Holy Spirit has been able to use her to show me how to solve life’s problems through counseling as a calling, career, and tool for ministry. I believe that the hand of God has orchestrated for the both of us to meet so that God could take me into the next level of elevation for my life that is counseling, as a profession and calling, in the Name of Jesus Christ. I also believe that God allowed us to meet so that she could be like a mentor-figure in my life as the Holy Spirit of God showed her how to lead me in the ways of God that are relevant to the teachings of the Bible and counseling that are realistic, sound, and profound to the Body of Christ and the lost.

I thank God for my friendship with this person because of the blessing that was birthed out of it that is my calling and profession: counseling.

Now, I have a calling that I need to pursue. I have a calling that I need to chase after. I have a profession that is in the secular world, but not of it, as I am a follower of Jesus Christ and His Spirit is my witness that I can do all things.

I am set to graduate from Liberty University with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in December 2021 and then become a licensed associate professional counselor (LAPC) before I obtain my LPC in a couple of years. My goal is to become an LAPC before I become an LPC in the state of Georgia. 🙂

I thank God for using people and life’s experiences that eventually led to me pursuing my calling in Christ Jesus. Thank You God! Thank You Jesus! Hallelujah!