DISCOVERING GOD'S PURPOSE - Part 2
Many of us are driven by our past and these have become the driving forces for our future.
I know three things that have driven me:
GUILT - For many years I have been driven by guilt, spending a lot of time running from regrets and hiding my shame. Isn't it great though, that these products from our past don't have to keep us prisoners.
"Oh what joy for those whose guilt is FORGIVEN, whose sin is put out of sight." Psalm 32:1
"Even if we feel guilty, GOD IS GREATER than our feelings. If we don't feel guilty we can come to God with confidence." 1 John 3:20&21
RESENTMENT AND ANGER - This, unfortunately, has been a real driving force for me over the last 2 years. Just when I think I have let them go, the hurts still come back and haunt me. I read about people who are doing what I want to be doing, but instead of feeling happy for them, I keep saying `it's not fair'.
Still, I have learnt from pass experiences that bitterness only leads to more hurt, so I keep praying that one day I will be totally free from this resentment and anger.
"Surely resentment destroys the fool and jealousy kills the simple." Job 5:2
FEAR - This is the worst one of all, because fear prevents me from becoming who God truly wants me to to be. It is debilitating as I lie in bed many mornings, unable to get up because I am afraid of facing another day of failure. Fear has become a self imposed prison that is keeping me from stepping out in faith.
Isn't it great to know though that God doesn't give up on us and His perfect love does `cast out fear'.
"Such love has no fear, for PERFECT LOVE casts out fear." 1 John 4:18
NEED FOR APPROVAL - This has probably been the hardest one for me to fight against. Psychologists have told me it is a symptom of `middle child syndrome' or `rejection syndrome'. I don't know, but I for me it is still, at times, a terrible, debilitating weakness.
It seems strange, since I have said that peer-pressure never used to bother me. It may have kept me from falling into temptation in some areas, but it didn't take away that constant need to be accepted by friends and family.
I have discovered over the years though, that I may have missed God's purpose in my life, by allowing myself to be controlled by the opinions of others.
"May the Lord our God show us HIS APPROVAL and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!" Psalm 90:17
You are who you are for a reason
You're part of God's intricate plan.
You're a precious, perfect, unique design
Called God's special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb
You're just what he wanted to make.
That trauma you faced was not easy
And God wept that it hurt you so.
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into His likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are beloved
Because there is a God.
Russell Kelfer.
I know three things that have driven me:
GUILT - For many years I have been driven by guilt, spending a lot of time running from regrets and hiding my shame. Isn't it great though, that these products from our past don't have to keep us prisoners.
"Oh what joy for those whose guilt is FORGIVEN, whose sin is put out of sight." Psalm 32:1
"Even if we feel guilty, GOD IS GREATER than our feelings. If we don't feel guilty we can come to God with confidence." 1 John 3:20&21
RESENTMENT AND ANGER - This, unfortunately, has been a real driving force for me over the last 2 years. Just when I think I have let them go, the hurts still come back and haunt me. I read about people who are doing what I want to be doing, but instead of feeling happy for them, I keep saying `it's not fair'.
Still, I have learnt from pass experiences that bitterness only leads to more hurt, so I keep praying that one day I will be totally free from this resentment and anger.
"Surely resentment destroys the fool and jealousy kills the simple." Job 5:2
FEAR - This is the worst one of all, because fear prevents me from becoming who God truly wants me to to be. It is debilitating as I lie in bed many mornings, unable to get up because I am afraid of facing another day of failure. Fear has become a self imposed prison that is keeping me from stepping out in faith.
Isn't it great to know though that God doesn't give up on us and His perfect love does `cast out fear'.
"Such love has no fear, for PERFECT LOVE casts out fear." 1 John 4:18
NEED FOR APPROVAL - This has probably been the hardest one for me to fight against. Psychologists have told me it is a symptom of `middle child syndrome' or `rejection syndrome'. I don't know, but I for me it is still, at times, a terrible, debilitating weakness.
It seems strange, since I have said that peer-pressure never used to bother me. It may have kept me from falling into temptation in some areas, but it didn't take away that constant need to be accepted by friends and family.
I have discovered over the years though, that I may have missed God's purpose in my life, by allowing myself to be controlled by the opinions of others.
"May the Lord our God show us HIS APPROVAL and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!" Psalm 90:17
You are who you are for a reason
You're part of God's intricate plan.
You're a precious, perfect, unique design
Called God's special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb
You're just what he wanted to make.
That trauma you faced was not easy
And God wept that it hurt you so.
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into His likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are beloved
Because there is a God.
Russell Kelfer.
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