Test Me and See

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”—Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the “iron” pool at Ojo Calient

June 23rd, 2025

📍Salida, Colorado, USA 🇺🇸

Greetings from the wilderness!


I returned to Salida yesterday evening after a long weekend road trip with my parents to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, where we soaked in the mineral and mud baths. The luxurious soaking pools were excellent, and I’m looking forward to many more trips back to this hot spring resort (less than a 3-hour drive from Salida). 

 
 

My parents and I had a wonderful time creating fond memories together, exploring the rich history of the Taos Pueblo people, and being blessed by the sacred sands in the Santuario de Chimayo

 
 

Walking through the clover field

As much as I loved the rust-hued land of enchantment, I’m delighted to be back in the green landscape and cool temps at the higher elevation of the cabin lands. Upon returning home to 9200ft, I spent the evening circling the clover field, grounding myself in my ancestral roots* and soaking in the Lord’s blessings in my life.

For those who have been following me over the years, you already know that I have daily dates with God. While I’m in Salida, those dates usually consist of a slow walk to the prayer waterfall, practicing surrender. Last night, it was walking barefoot in the clover.

Instead, I found myself looking down, watching where I was going, and walking carefully, so as not to step on any bees or rocks. I remember thinking that if I were wearing shoes (like I do when walking to the waterfall), I could walk more quickly. Then the Spirit reminded me that these prayer walks aren’t about moving fast, but slowly and in trust—trust fueled by faith.

 

*I respectfully acknowledge the unceded and ancestral territories of the Ute and Cheyenne Nations and the traditional keepers of their land. I would like to express my gratitude for allowing me to live, work, and play on your lands.

 
 

This got me thinking about Joshua leading the Israelites into the promised land—conquering the walls of Jericho, not through weapons and might, but through trust and obedience. God had promised them a victory. They were not to “fight” for victory but from a place of victory. I was reminded that, as children of the One True King, we don’t have a battle to win; we have a victory to claim through faith.

 

Then I heard the Lord say to me, “Test Me and see My victory.” So I began to walk, looking up.

My soul cried out:

I trust that You are removing the obstacles before me.

I trust that no harm will come to me when I am moving in flow and obedience.

Lord, I trust that anything that You do allow,

You do for my good (Romans 8:28).


Again He said, “Test Me and see Me.” So I kept walking barefoot, looking up, not being afraid of what my feet might encounter along the way.



I trust that You are removing the obstacles before me.

I trust that You are changing the odds in my favor.

I believe that You have given me the power to cast out the darkness,

That I may ask anything in Your name and it will be given to me (John 14:12-14).



Jesus, in Your name, I have been given the power to cast out the darkness.

All of the obstacles before me have been removed (Iasiah 57:14),

I need only step out of the boat in faith.

By faith, my feet will not sink.

I will walk on the water, in Jesus’ name.



As my feet continued to move through the green meadow, I never stumbled nor encountered any rocks or bees in my path. “Test Me and see.”



I am walking on the water (Matthew 14:29-31).

No harm will come to me,

In the name of Jesus.

All things that can harm me will be moved out of my way (1 Thessalonians 3:11).

I trust that I can walk on water.

I know You are making my path straight.



“Look up, daughter, look up! Slow down, walk with intention. Trust Me.




I know You are the Light shining brightly into this world.

In Your name, Jesus,

I have the power to cast out the darkness.

I trust You.

I consent to Your continued working in my life.

I have the power to call down protection over my path.

I claim the power of the resurrected Christ in me (1 John 4:13),

Fill me.

Raise me up so completely out of the darkness that I walk differently.

I am safe in His love.



I kept walking, even slower. Circle after circle, round and round through the meadow. Listening to one of my favorite soaking songs on repeat, I heard the Lord say, “This is what it looks like to abide in Me—walk humbly with your God. Trust.”

 
 

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

I have the power to walk on water and not drown.

I release what is not for me.

I have the power to cast out the darkness (John 15:7).

I am safe in the Light of Love.

I claim Your victories in my life.

I know You have gone before me (Deuteronomy 31:8),

And I enter into Your green pastures.

I can rest now.

I am not afraid.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”—Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬



Once my feet got too cold to continue, I made my way over to the patio to warm my toes around the fire pit. With the final moments of sunlight dimming behind the mountain, the Spirit reminded me of how far I have come in the battle with my fears.

It was last summer that I started painting my prayers in the nude at the base of Mt. Shavano, when I had begun practicing vulnerability through nakedness. I remember how hard it was for me to be outside, exposed ot the elements. Despite no one being around, I remember feeling so much fear that someone would see me, that they would criticize my body and my brazenness.

 

It was during one such painting session that the Lord gave me a vision that changed my life, reminding me that I had been liberated from my fears through Jesus’ death on the cross. Since that pivotal moment last summer, I have performed naked water rituals in the prayer waterfall, soaked in a hot spring in the nude at a clothing-optional resort, and danced around naked under the full moon with other women.

In the last year, I also left my home of 13 years and my comfortable lifestyle in Denver to embark on the journey of a lifetime as a global digital nomad (having traveled solo through five countries over the last 12 months). I have come a long way as a liberated woman from the dark power of fear, a long way indeed. Thank You, Jesus, for walking alongside me through this wilderness.

 

Test Him, and see what He won’t do for you in your life.

 

My boldness is a testament to the freedom I find in Jesus and the power of learning to trust Him by practicing vulnerability. By doing so, I’m healing my receptivity wounds, overcoming the fears/darkness that have been holding me back. It’s been a long, hard road (many years), but I’ve been walking through my valley of the shadow of death with Jesus.

I’m learning how to trust and be vulnerable with myself, with God, and others. To do so required me to work through the church hurts and trauma wounds that had hardened my heart to God’s abundant Love. Now I’m walking in the freedom of Jesus Christ, co-regulating safety inside my body. Living more and more out of my Highest Self—Being in flow.

I’m healing.

 

You don’t need to skydive, paint naked, or travel solo to learn how to overcome your fears. Sometimes the journey of trust requires us to simply take our shoes off and walk through the clover, looking up.

What does walking in trust look like in this season of your life?

How is God asking you to surrender to Jesus in this time of global chaos?
Where is God telling you to claim victory in Love over the oppressive darkness?

Where do you need healing?

With Love and in healing,

Jennifer

P.S.—I’d love to hear from YOU! Rather than emailing me or dropping me a DM, please post a comment below 👇


 
 

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Jennifer Axcell

Jennifer is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, artist, and contemplative who curates sacred spaces for integrative mind-body-soul care, drawing inspiration from her global travels, modern neuroscience, and ancient somatic healing practices to encourage others toward spiritual flourishing.

https://www.instagram.com/axcell_jennifer
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