“Hey Myron this is _, i’m apart of Level 10 and kelli let me know you said you were proud i got baptized and i wanted to thank you because you played a big role in my decision after listening to what you had to say because i have struggled respecting women in my mind and when you said when you have those thoughts think of them as gods daughter it clicked in me and when i have negative thoughts about just people it makes me think how they are gods children just like me and that’s my journey isn’t all about me it’s about the Lord and helping spread the gospel to others and i wanna just thank you for speaking your circumstances into me because it just had an amazing impact .”
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15
I received this text last night from a young man that I had the privilege to speak to as part of a larger group. God knew that I needed encouragement after a day of identity crisis and attacks by the enemy causing questions of value, purpose and impact. This young man’s text righted my thinking and again confirmed my purpose for the Kingdom.
I am led to share with most groups that I speak with or meet with individually that their identity is in Christ Jesus. I share with them the truth that we are God’s chosen children whose value and purpose lies within Him. I often discuss my 35 year imprisonment as a slave to addiction, when Jesus said that just like the Israelites 40-year wandering because of lack of faith, freedom, identity and purpose was a 14 day walk. Imagine, the Israelites wandered for 40 years of what was a 14 day walk from Egypt to the Promise Land. What are you trapped in that Jesus can free in moments?
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
Never underestimate the patience, cunning and evil that Satan desires to unleash on you. He hates that he has lost you for eternity. So now his plan is to minimize your impact for Christ by causing you to question who God says you are and the purposes of your life. Many Christians that I meet and meet with struggle with accepting the freedom from sin assured when surrendering their lives to Jesus.
You are free. You are free from the past. Your future is given through those difficult to accept gifts called Grace and Mercy. You are a child of the most high God who forgot your sins and past the second you asked for forgiveness and invited Him as the Author and King of your life. He plans a wonderful story that is you and your life reflecting him.
Oftentimes freedom comes from a different life lenses. Seek and allow God to change your perspective from guilt and shame to experience and purpose. Our past is only a ball and chain around our ankle if we don’t accept that we have been freed from the past through Christ. You have been freed.
To my young brother, ‘thank you for your encouraging text.’ Thank you for sharpening me. Thank you for your courageous example. Your life of purpose is coming into focus and it is beautifully marvelous. Too marvelous to understand, so simply accept, trust and obey.
To my brothers and sister in Christ. The past is forgotten by our Heavenly Father. He awaits your willingness to accept the future that He has created you to live. You are His beloved daughter or son. That is enough.
You’ve got this!