Launched Into DestinySample

Launched into Destiny!

“If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it.”

~ Henry Blackaby

My sister used to laugh heartily whenever she shared with others my crude description of our upbringing. I had told her, “We weren’t raised, we were yanked up by the hair of the head.” She thought that was hilarious, but she agreed this statement was the perfect depiction of our childhood. In truth—we never had one. As hard as things were, I don’t regret a single experience of those days. My life is now a testimony to share and, hopefully, encourage others who are struggling to overcome traumas of the past.

You, too, my friend, will learn to look back and use your life experiences to overcome whatever scars were left behind. Not only that, but you will use them to help others with similar histories to shake free from the debilitating emotional rollercoaster and move on to their destiny, as God originally planned. You are strong and determined to change the course of history for yourself, your family, and others whom God brings into your life. How do I know this about you? You are reading this devotional, which tells me you are searching for ways to deactivate the triggers sending you into a frenzy of uncontrollable emotions, causing pain and hurt for you and those around you. I also know because I was in the same position for many, many years—a vicious cycle of pain, regret, remorse, repentance, and repeating the cycle over and over again. Yeah, been there—done that!

One thing from that early season followed me throughout most of my life—the spirit of rejection. This caused such a lack of confidence, which stunted my ability to step out at the prompting of the Holy Spirit to do the things the Father was expecting me to do. It is a dangerous thing to ignore the Father’s direction or assignment. Just ask Jonah—he ended up in the belly of a whale!

“The LORD gave this message to Jonah, son of Amittai: "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are." But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:1-3 & 17, NLT)

It took years to understand I had a loving Father who cared about every aspect of my life and who had never rejected me and never would. I learned to move at His prompting no matter how it felt, looked, or the seeming impossibility of it. I have never regretted it for a single moment. Do I still have to calm myself when a word comes to move into another season or territory? Oh yes, but I do it anyway because He is there to lead me, guide me, and protect me every step of the way—every single time.

“In the place where they were told, ‘You are nobody,’ this will be the very place where they will be renamed ‘Children of the living God.”

(Romans 9:26, TPT)

My Prayer for You:

Father, I ask for wisdom and understanding to flow for this beloved child of yours. Help them hear you clearly and to readily distinguish your voice from the many voices flooding our thoughts each day. Give them clarity and direction, leading to your will for their lives. I pray for peace and harmony in all relationships for them. Father, protect them and their families as they step out in faith to fulfill the destiny you planned for them. Let them flow in the gifts as well as the fruits of your Spirit. I ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our King. Amen.

Declaration:

I will hearken to the voice of the Lord, and I will follow His will for my life. I will give myself to Him fully and completely as I seek to fulfil His plan, not my own. Take me, Lord, and use me to advance Your Kingdom as You see fit. This is my desire and hope—to be a beacon of light for those around me. This is my desire, and I will do everything in my power to fulfil my destiny in Christ.