Rise and Roar: Bold and Brave Hearted Steps in the Spirit by Erika Gonzalez

Hello Brave Hearted Steppers,

Let me be honest right from the start: I didn’t want to write this blog. And I’ll tell you why.

When I received the invitation from Maria (the Founder of Brave Hearted Ministry), I was physically and emotionally drained. That very day, I had walked five miles as part of my new morning routine—the first time I’d ever gone that far. By the time her message came in later that night, I was already in bed, unable to move my legs from the soreness.

Her message was kind and gracious. She asked if I would be interested in writing a blog for Brave Hearted Ministry, and said to let her know if I would be open to it. She used the word “open.” My immediate internal response? No—I am not open to the public right now. I am closed for maintenance. 🙂

Still, I took a deep breath and responded with a “Yes.” I thanked her for the invitation and said it would be an honor. Then I asked, What will the topic be? thinking perhaps she had a new theme for the month.

When she replied that the focus would remain the same—“Rise & Roar: Bold and Brave-Hearted Steps in the Spirit,” based on Proverbs 28:1—I instantly regretted saying yes.

I thought to myself, No. I am not the right person to talk about Rising and Roaring” right now. I’m a lioness under maintenance. I need to be encouraged—I should be reading this, not writing it!

I wrestled with God in my thoughts. Father, You know exactly what I’m going through. Why would I be asked to write about this?

After having my little “moment,” I finally responded to her  with, “Wow, nice topic—very challenging!” and set the phone down. But since I had already said yes, now I had a commitment. (Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no.)

So I said to myself, I guess I’ll pray and wait. I have two weeks to prepare and hand it in.

Surprisingly, early the next morning, I began to hear and see in my spirit exactly what I was meant to write. I started to realize how closely my own experiences were connected to the topic.

So let's begin! 

At the end of 2024, I clearly heard the word “Increase.”

 I believed 2025 would be a year of increase and double grace. To my surprise, my brother—who lives in Georgia and is absolutely on fire for God—received the same word, confirmed by a humble elderly man. That was all the confirmation I needed. I took that word and ran with it!

Now it's January 2025, and I’m boldly declaring “Increase!”—expecting to see it everywhere, especially in my finances. Let’s be honest—we all do it. When we hear the word “increase,” we think: better job, bigger house, new car, open doors, unexpected checks in the mail—you name it.

But as time went by, nothing looked the way I imagined.

That’s when the Lord began to show me what increase truly means—where it begins and how it works. And you know what? It doesn’t start in your bank account. It starts inside of you.

Remember when I said I didn’t want to write this blog?

This right here… is what I meant.

To Rise & Roar, Change Is Required

Before God entrusts us with anything of lasting value—whether or not it’s material—He first prepares us.

And His preparation goes far beyond our human understanding. It often comes through pain. Because let’s be honest: change is painful. Healing is painful. Growth takes time, courage, discipline, and a surrendered heart. If we want to step into “the new” that God has promised us in Isaiah 43:19, we must allow Him to shape and mold us—just like the clay in the hands of the potter in Jeremiah 18:4. We must be active collaborators with Him.

The title of this blog includes the word “Steps,” and that’s exactly what God has been showing me in my personal walk. The increase He’s bringing and the new He is giving us both require steps. And every step demands change.

To receive something new, we must first release the old: old mindsets, old habits, and even old beliefs that were rooted in error. Sometimes, we have to unlearn in order to learn.

It’s in the small, daily choices that transformation happens.

You might need to start with:

•  Making your bed every morning.
•  Drinking more water.
•  Eat healthier.
•  Initiate a conversation with someone new.
•  Move your body. 
• Watch less TV or maybe none.
• Reduce the time on social media and read your bible daily.
• Use your money wisely.
• And forgive—not once, but minute by minute if you have to.

This is where the roaring begins. Quietly. Consistently. In the discipline of daily steps.

The Power of “Rise”

The word “Rise” carries a powerful meaning. It means:

• To move from a lower position to a higher one; to come or go up.
• To get up from lying, sitting, or kneeling.

As a noun, it also refers to:

1. An upward movement; an instance of becoming higher. “The bird has a display flight of steep flapping rises.”
2. An increase in amount, extent, size, or number.

We see the symbolism clearly—to rise is both a physical act and a spiritual calling. But with rising comes preparation. Just like you can’t pour new wine into an old wineskin, we can’t expect new growth while clinging to old patterns.

Jesus taught us this truth in Matthew 2:22 AMP:

“No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wineskins. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”

This principle is often overlooked. We desire the new—new blessings, new purpose, new seasons—but forget that transformation must first happen within us.

Nothing comes by magic. You and I are responsible for putting into action what God is teaching us. Be a partner with Him in your growth. Work daily. Rise from old habits that are keeping you from going higher. Be bold. Be like that bird—start flapping, even if it’s hard at first, and trust that you will rise.

And when you rise, don’t forget to help others rise too.

I’ll end with this reminder from Proverbs 28:1:

“The wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

Say it again:

The righteous are as bold as a lion!

So keep working. Keep growing. Keep increasing.

You will rise again.

You will roar again—and this time, in a powerful, different way—God’s way!

Be blessed,
Erika Gonzalez

Founder of Temprano te Buscare-Connecticut (Temprano Te Buscaré- Connecticut | Facebook)