Is Life Passing You By?

Habakkuk 2:2-4 “Then the Lord replied:  ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald my run with it.  For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.  ….but the righteous will live by his faith'”(faithfulness as it says in the footnotes of my Bible.)

Ever feel like life is passing you by? Have you ever prayed for God to give you that “burning bush” to help you to know what direction to go in life? Five years ago I took part in class at church that changed my purpose and vision for my life. It is called Chazown and it helped me discover the spiritual gifts that God has entrusted on the inside of me.  Once I discovered what my gifts were, I was not sure what or how to work within them.

Finding your life’s purpose is a noble cause, and everyone is talking about it.  You have to know this about you before you discover what your life is all about, and it’s really more of a recovery versus a discovery.  In this life’s journey we are on, this process takes time and it’s important to delve deep into what your purpose is.

Once you realize the value of doing so, it’s also important to let your gifts develop within you.  Years ago after the class, I wrote this mission statement about what I wanted to do in life.  “To compassionately communicate truth in a real and honest way that impacts and serves others.  To be a voice and a catalyst for service, purpose, acceptance, redemption and freedom in Christ”.

It takes time to let God develop the gifts He puts inside of you.  We all learn differently and I learn with my heart first then my weakest part, my mind. 

How about you?  What’s rewarding for me personally is that I feel like my mission statement is finally being fulfilled in my own life.  Walking in your purpose comes over time.  I haven’t always been here though but God has given me some freedom to do what it is that He has put as a deposit long ago.

My recent mission trip to Africa God unlocked something inside of me that I didn’t know where was lying deep.  It’s like the story of the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan River in the days of Joshua.  They encountered some really high water at the shores.  They didn’t understand how they were going to cross the river with its tide raging, waters higher than they could cross.  Joshua told them to put their feet into the water and they would be able to cross.  They had to step out to find out.  But once their feet hit the waves, they parted miraculously.  They stood in the middle until everyone crossed with no fear of the water swallowing them.

That is the purpose of this post today, is that we have to let God develop our gifts with no fear of where He wants to take them.  Your journey will look different that others and that’s okay.  Your journey could be longer than others that is also good.  We are slow learners and that is the best way to see the hand of God in your life.  You might wonder if you have gifts to even be developed.

You do.  Believe today that you are reading this for a purpose and God has plans for you too.  It will look simply different than others.  The place we get caught is comparing our gifts with those of others but friends, that only results in detours and roadblocks.  Celebrate the gifts that God has put inside of you. 

Are there are things that only you sense from the Lord?  That’s a good, and an awesome thing! He is telling you these things because HE ALONE knows what you are capable of.  And it’s okay that it doesn’t look the same or like the next person’s.  Envy of others only brings disunity but celebrating God’s handiwork brings unity.  We are all the body of Christ when it comes to the kingdom of God.  Take a step of faith and see what is in your inner being.  You will be surprised at what your gift looks like.  What’s the next step?   We will walk by faith and not by sight and will not be intimidated by the wall of water that looms on the shores.

So I challenge you to find out what your purpose is and once you discover it, let God develop it. If you go to this website, you will get step by step free instructions, including a spiritual gifts tests to help you determine your gifts and empower you to be all that you can be for God. Go ahead, I dare you. Check out this website and find out for yourself.

My next step is to keep close to the Giver, and keep trusting in His process. Keep to what He has faithfully shown as I look forward.