Be yourself, be free and true &#8211; Determined Faith

Make them happy. I have to be who they want me to be.

At least that’s what I thought at that time in my life. Damn, I didn’t have the slightest idea who I was or what I was called to do…

I just knew that happiness seemed to be:

A. keep you happy

b. make you love me and,

c. don’t fail.

If you were a happy person, I would transform and be happy (even if I was unhappy inside). If you like the service, I will serve you (even if I may be whining inside). If you wanted me to be funny, I’d try that (and walk away feeling completely unknown).

Once a company was interested in hiring me. I studied their entire website for hours, determined the exact profile of a person they wanted to hire, and presented that image. I got hired and hated every second of working there.

For what? Because I was a walking lie.

By trying to be everything to everyone, I became nobody to myself. Many who defy what God made them to be are living the ultimate lie.

Have you ever been there? Do you walk with a smile, but feel defeat in your heart? Are you offering people exactly what they need, but feel like your needs aren’t being met? Are you good at caring for others, when no one knows you or cares about you?

Maybe you spent years achieving someone else’s goals for you. Maybe you’ve spent decades adhering to established family norms. Maybe you feel obligated to follow a set of (perhaps unrealistic) internal standards, otherwise you will be judged. Maybe these things have held you captive.

Take a step back for a second and start asking yourself:

A. Who did God create me for?

b. How did God uniquely create me?

c. Why did He create me uniquely?

d. Does He care that I am uniquely created?

These are important questions to answer.

As I have examined these questions and scriptures, I have learned: One of the greatest forms of honesty is to be true to who I am as God created me. Likewise, one of the biggest lies is to defy God’s truth about how He created me and the unique personality He gave me.

My job is not to fit in; my job is to stand out, to stand out. This is part of what it means to be “holy.”

In all of this, it is extremely important to remember how loved, known and purposed we are in Jesus Christ, for example:

God personally knows what we will talk about:

“You know what I’m going to say

before you even say it, Lord.

You go ahead of me and follow me. (Psalm 139:4-5)

God, like a master craftsman – like the ultimate carpenter – makes us a collector’s item, an original work of art (in personality and appearance, in thoughts and heart):

“You created all the inner and delicate parts of my body

and woven me in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your work is wonderful, as I know it well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

God has precious thoughts about who he has made us to become:

“You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life has been recorded in your book. Every moment was arranged

before a single day has passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

We can’t number them!

I can’t even count them;

They are more numerous than grains of sand!

(Ps 139:16-18)

We are created with amazing and unique things to do:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. » (Eph. 2:10)

To be inferior to you is not only to deny what God wants to do through you, but it is also to reduce the glory that will be given to Him.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. » (Eph 2:10)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mt 5:16)

Not sure who you are? Are you relentlessly seeking to please others rather than joyfully knowing who you are in Christ Jesus? Don’t know what God has called you to do? Are you lost in the face of His purpose for your life?

If this is you, I highly encourage you to come to one of the last two Transformation Prayer Intensive events. There are times when you have to wait on God for a change in your life and there are times when you have to take steps of faith that change everything. Going out often means putting yourself in the arms of Jesus (think of Peter getting out of the boat). It takes great faith to move.

With that, my prayer for you today is that you will be able to discern what to do and that He will give you great courage to take bold action. And if He calls you to wait for Him, may He give you great and lasting power to do so! In the Name of Jesus.

Either way, having a firm grip on your Christ identity will be incredibly life-changing.

Intensive prayer for transformation

Date and location options:

1. August 21-24 (Naples)

2. September 18-21 (Charlotte)

Understood:

• Accommodation and refreshments

• All meals

• Prayer that liberates

• Spirit-led workshops and devotions

• Cardiac transformation throughout life

• Personal and intentional ministry time