CHAPTER 1
EMBRACE YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Life is definitely a journey. Sometimes the things you often set out to do is not necessarily what God had intended for you. And although many of us may have taken similar paths, our testimony's are never quite the same because of the experiences we've encountered, which allows us to tell our version of the story in a way that is only remarkable to where we've come from. This is why we must never compare ourselves or wish to walk in another person's shoes without understanding the things that they've experienced. Because when they stumble during their course, instead of recognizing their journey we become critical not realizing that their process is the unfinished product that is still in the making.
What's inside of you is greater than what you see around you. Your purpose has already been spoken over your life, and your task is to execute the thing that already exists in you. But here's the delay, many of us are not able to identify with what we're supposed to be doing, so we end up taking a detour from our assignment. Sure, life's circumstances and sometimes the influences of our environment can cause us to lose sight and take us off course. However we can't sit back and blame our situation on those things that caused our setback. At the end, there's an individual accountability that will question what we've done and was supposed to do with what was given.
Your purpose is driven by the passion that fuels your ability into wanting to achieve that desired goal. Think about it, when you were a child and someone asked you what you wanted to become in life, you probably list a plethora of things. Now in the adults mind they would say to themselves that it's not possible to be so many things at once. But with assurance they'd say "you can be anything you want to be."
Looking at life from the child's perspective, you didn't realize the process it takes to become these things. Instead what you saw in a spiritual sense is the many talents you possessed and wanted to fulfill. Many of us are gifted with multiple talents while there are those that have a few or just one. Either way, it is what we do with the talent that determines what we become. Learn how to embrace the gift that sets you apart from others because it is only significant to your journey. We must do away with the one size fit all mentality as the world is large enough for us to showcase our individual trait and creativity. Whatever it is that you need it's already in your reach. Just be sure that it's within your destiny.
CHAPTER 2
THE PROCESS
You've ever driven on a road where it seems like it'll take miles and miles before your exit appears? As you continue enroute to your destination you start seeing signs indicating that the next exist is up ahead, but not yours. Slowly cars begin to merge quickly preparing to get off their stop. Inside you wish that it was your turn, and that you had been the other driver getting closer to your arrival. While on your journey traffic suddenly begins to slow down. There seems to be something going on up ahead but it's unclear from your distance. Frustrated with having to now sit in traffic prompts you into looking around for the nearest exit to get off. Once you get closer to that exit not knowing what you'll face up ahead, you merge onto an unfamiliar path where the road is no longer straight but is filled with bends and curves. After finally reaching the intersection it never appeared to you that now your travel time may take longer than expected because you came off of the road that was designed to carry you to your destination.
You've slowed down your pace. Looking around helplessly in search of someone to point you back to the right direction. Finally you see someone walking ahead as if they know where they're going, only to find out that their not familiar with their surroundings. Your aggravation sets in and you begin to wonder how is it that they're not familiar with the area, yet their walking around and not seem bothered by the path that their taking. That's because some folks we meet along the way may have come to a place of contentment. Where despite the fact that they're treading upon unfamiliar territory they've adapted to a lifestyle that is uncommon to your own.
When we hasten our steps without waiting on God to deliver us through our current situation, we end up allowing our impatience to drive our emotions to a whole other level. We suddenly become dissatisfied, and start thinking of things of old while celebrating in this woe is me fiasco. Never learning to be content with our present environment. Everything that we were once familiar with and had no problems with before, suddenly becomes a problem. Don't get me wrong, sometimes a little change is good. But you have to pay attention to the signs that exist to determine whether or not you're making the right turn.
Waiting, for many of us is a process we try so hard to avoid as we're constantly in search of a quick fix to our problems. But do you know that the more we microwave our process, is the less we pay attention to the time as well as the transformation it takes in order to complete our course? Depending on the circumstance you find yourself in, learn how to wait until your exit comes near, because it is during your process where it will shape your patience and character. Even if it means that you move two feet ahead as the traffic slowly clears, and break quickly remembering that someone else's process is ahead of yours.
If you had remain on the original road to your destiny, what you would've seen as you got closer and closer to the thing that caused the back up of traffic was the two cars that collided with one another which has now ended their process. Due to the rate of their speed trying to hurry up their travel time, they left behind the remains of what once was their vehicle used to escort them through their journey. It is uncertain however if they had finished their course or if they had died with their purpose unfulfilled. You now proceed with caution as you come to realize that you are still on the road to pursuing your purpose and can't afford to hinder the process. Until you hear the voice of the navigator letting you know that your destination is up ahead.
CHAPTER 3
THE LEVEE IS BROKEN
Every time I try to move forward it seems like I get pushed 10 feet backwards. Sounds familiar? Ok maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but I'm sure we've all said this one time or another in our lives. There is a season that we go through where it seems as though all hell has broken loose and the flood gates have opened and we're drowning. Unable to find our way out, when all we can see is the water rising above our heads. Suddenly we're in a state of panic. We try so hard to hold on to what's left of our faith, believing that things will turn around for the better, only to find that it's getting worse.
You see the enemy laughs at our defeat because it shows that we're at a breaking point in our salvation and maybe on the verge of giving up. But my charge to you is, don't give up or give in to his unscrupulous sounds. Learn how to push pass your troubles. But then there are some folks that might say, "how? How do I push pass my troubles when it seems like I'm being attacked on every side? Yes I pray and fast, I even get others to join me in prayer, but still nothing has changed."
If you're in that category, my question to you is, did you change your attitude? What you must understand in life is that your attitude towards your situation can influence your breakthrough. If you pray with certainty that things will turn around for the better. Then you have to believe and act as if your turn around has already come. It is the enemy's plan to have you wallow in your despair. But just think about it for a moment. The time you said you prayed and fast and there was no answer, if no one heard you and you thought that your situation was greater than your victory, then why didn't you die during that experience? That's because despite how high the waters rose above your head, you were able to survive as you had been wearing your life support jacket all along.
It is sometimes through the storm that God find ways to capture our attention. Your journey may be at a standstill for days, months, or even years. But during this experience, pay attention to what's happening around you. There are some things that you have to be willing to let go of, the "thing" that you have attached yourself to and has not supported your growth. Let it go in order to move on. Only when you learn how to release yourself from the "things" that have been holding you back and keeping you from pursuing your purpose is when you will be able to tap into your inner strength.
It's not going to be easy at first as there are layers upon layers that you have to hammer your way through in order to find relief. Learn how to pull yourself up out of the hole and anchor your way on top of the roof of your situation. Then continue signaling for help, despite the fact that it seems like no one is around and can hear you. Cry out until you finally hear the sounds of help hovering above your head.
Help has finally arrived. Your battle is over. You have been lifted up from your problems, and suddenly the waters have now started to recede.
CHAPTER 4
HE'S LISTENING
At times when we find ourselves in a bit of a jam, we quickly seek after someone to vent how we're feeling at the moment. We do that to not only allow ourselves to get off of our chest the thing that we have been carrying but to get some sort of feedback, even if it's not what we want to hear at that particular moment. In most cases all we're really looking for is someone who would listen.
It can be a bit frustrating when you start talking to God and telling Him all about your troubles and He doesn't give you an immediate response. That doesn't mean He hasn't heard you, He's listening. What you have to understand is that He's a counselor in the time of need, and for any true counselor to be able to get to the root of your problem they must listen as you begin to tell all. Not leaving any unhidden truths lingering behind that will continue to cause your frustration.
Allow Him to listen to your thoughts, He wants to know. Of course this isn't the norm of what we consider to be true communication as it should work both ways. You know when we speak and God doesn't respond right away, it's sometimes feels like when you're talking to a friend and their silent, not adding anything to the conversation. It then cause you to question their thoughts by asking, "Why are you so quiet? Why aren't you saying anything? What do you think?" At this point we start thinking all sorts of things. Our mind gets carried away and we never leave satisfied as there was no reception of communication. It is at this point when we begin to take matters into our own hands and not wait for God to speak which can interfere with our process.
When God is ready to speak to your situation you have to be able to listen without interfering. It is when you interrupt the flow of communication this is when messages become distorted and it leads to confusion. There becomes a battle with how things are interpreted. Allow God to speak to your spirit. You'll know when He responds, whether it be through prayer, Him leading you to a scripture that brings assurance to your spirit, or the preacher whose message relates to what you're going through. Or how about that person who decides to share their testimony and it encouraged you to continue pressing forward. You see, He's listening.
There will be times when God speaks and you might not want to receive the answer you have been praying for. But just take heed with obedience because it is only for your good. You told Him the matter in the natural, now let Him direct your steps according to His spirit. He's listening.
Remember you can't proclaim His goodness if you don't seek Him and prove Him that He will answer you and deliver you from your problems. Seek Him. He wants to hear from you. He's listening.
CHAPTER 5
BE CAREFUL OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
You were not meant to be everywhere every time someone calls. You have to be able to try the spirit before venturing out into different territories. I'm sure there were times where you received an invitation, and with joy your flesh said yes to something your spirit wasn't invited to. Deep down inside it's almost as if you regret saying yes, so you think of an excuse to render in order to undo your decision, but you don't want to disappoint the one who invited you, so you give in.
Still inside you try hard to suppress the truth within. That's because the feeling that you struggle with is your spirit simply letting you know that you don't belong there. You see when we venture off into places that we have no business going the enemy knows that once we get there things may change in his favor. But what he doesn't realize is that when God covers you, no devices from hell can harm you.
God dispatches His angels around us, and in many cases they're battling on our behalf, keeping us from being harmed despite the enemy's plans. Remember you have a purpose to fulfill. So pray about the offers you receive before accepting. It might seem weird at first, but understand that you are a gift from God and what's inside of you is priceless. Think about it for a moment, when someone receives a gift, they cherish it. Depending upon the gift, they don't lay it around carelessly. Instead they put it away from being harmed. No, I'm not saying you should hide yourself from the world. I'm just letting you know to guard your spirit. Everywhere is not meant for everyone.
So now you decide to go to the event you've been invited to. Still feeling a little uneasy, but as time goes by the load is lifted. You become a little more relaxed. That's because the battle is won. The victory has been proclaimed and the enemy's weapons have been seized. The surrounding territories have been secured. All surveillance cameras are in place and every God sent angels are on their post, because of who you are, and what's inside of you. Next time, follow your spirit.
CHAPTER 6
WAVERING FAITH
You ever seen a feather floating in the air and wondered where it came from. Or how long gravity has allowed it to glide without any point of direction to which it will land. The force of the wind causes it to sometimes go high, or low. It even loops around in a circle maybe repeating a step once taken. Fascinating isn't it. This reminds me of our faith in God.
The light weight of a feather is symbolic to the strength in which we place our belief. There are times where we profess the name of Jesus and proclaim His greatness as a witness of our faith. But if the foundation of your faith is not established on the premise of knowing who Christ is, then, like the feather, your faith will take off with the wind. When the winds pressure starts to increase, suddenly you forget that the God that you have just praised for taking you out of your situation becomes the same God whose ability you now question, and even wonder about His time management skills as you ask, "How long will you allow this thing to exist?"
Having faith in God is not always an easy task. Depending upon the circumstances we find ourselves in, determines our belief. You ask God to make financial provisions for you and He does. But why can't you believe that the same God who did that can do even greater in your life. So what the situation may be a little different, isn't He still the same God. What's funny in life is that when someone tries to down play our knowledge and our abilities we become angered by their behavior and often time say to the person, "don't insult my intelligence." Well aren't we doing the same thing? We say we know who God is, but yet when we are put to the test we insult His abilities to intervene on our behalf. We owe God an apology for our confined faith.
Don't let the enemy deceive you in believing that God won't come through for you. That's a lie from the pit of hell. God did it many times before, but we're so busy looking for the big things that He has done and sometimes compare what He did in our lives to those of others. Remember your life's experience is not the same as others. Despite how small our matters may be, know that He sorted it out on our behalf.
"Oh ye of little faith" (Matthew 8 v. 26 KJV), He has said many times in His words. Why do we lose sight of His power? His infinite abilities allowed Him to speak those things that was not, into existence. Never underestimate His authority despite the direction the wind blows. Hold on to your faith. He's got you. And wherever He allows you to land, it's for a purpose. You won't remain in that position for long.
The wind is blowing again. This time glide amongst the air as if you know He's carrying you. And don't allow what you see to hinder your faith.
