You Are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

Every one of us has a calling from God.  Every one of us has the potential to do something wonderful to change the world.

Every one of us that is born-again has a 'seed' in us, that when it's cultivated with Living Water and fed with the Word, can grow into a mighty force to change the world for righteousness.

Every single one of us.

Well, you might say, "There was only one Joseph...one Moses...one Joshua."  1 Corinthians 15:46 says, "However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual."  




Every single story in the Old Testament points to Jesus, the Saviour.  Every hero in the Old Testament was a physical example of a spiritual truth. Some have called it, the 'spirit of Moses, the spirit of Joseph, the spirit of Joshua' and I think if you look at 1 Corinthians 15:46, you can see how that would be true.

Joseph rose to a place of authority in a pagan world by humbling himself before God. He overcame a lot of obstacles before he reached the goal God had for him.  Moses set God's people free from bondage and led them in the wilderness, interceding on their behalf before God. He overcame a lot of obstacles before he reached the goal God had for him. Joshua took God's people across the Jordan river into the Promised Land. He overcame a lot of obstacles before he reached the goal God had for him.

Today, we're still called to do the same things.  Every single one of us. We will have to overcome a lot of obstacles before we reach the goal that God has for us.  Every one of these obstacles will cause us to either grow... or shrink back. We will either be an over-comer or we will shrink back and decide the road is too hard. The choices we make is what will make the difference.  

Because of the choices we make, some will greater realms of authority than others.  

In other words, God has given you a garden to tend. Compare it to the Garden of Eden. God gives us authority over a small area. If we are faithful in tending this small area, our area expands. It's a simple thing to understand that God is looking for those who will faithfully attend to the small things that He has given them so that He can expand their territory and save the lost. He's hoping we'll grow in our maturity, our faithfulness and our faith, and we'll begin to affect more people for righteousness.

The more humble we are, the more He knows He can give us authority. He more discreet we are with the secrets He tells us, the more things He begins to confide in us. The more we bless people as they persecute us and treat us hatefully, the more He knows we can handle bigger things.

Don't let the enemy lie to you and tell you that you are called to 'small' things.  Every single one of us is capable, in Christ, of doing mighty things.  Because it's Christ in us.  If we give Jesus control over lives and let Him do what He wants to do. The difference is; Will we submit our wills, our pride, our reputations to God?

Every one of us has received criticism.  If we've ever stood up for Jesus in any way, we've probably received criticism for that. Every one of us has been hurt. What we do with that hurt will determine what will happen next.

If we choose to forgive and bless and really love, we graduate on to the next level.  Because we need to understand that the next level only gets more criticism. The more people you have in your realm of influence, the more opportunity for criticism.  

I remember hearing Beth Moore, whom I just love, tell a story about getting an email from a lady who was criticizing Beth for getting her nails done. And poor Beth was defending herself and telling everyone how she takes her books with her and studies while getting her nails done!  Beth gets to have her nails done if she wants to! How sad that anyone would criticize her for this when she's doing so much to help others. But that's how the enemy is. He will use any tactic to make us feel ashamed or self-conscious or to hurt us.  

And sometimes he will catch us unaware and we take a hit straight to the heart.  

But we don't have to. We can abide in the shelter of the Most High. The closer we stay to God, the harder it is for the enemy to hurt us. God will protect us. He will strengthen our boundaries. He will heal our wounds so that even if the enemy shoots an arrow, we are able to recognize the weakness in others and it doesn't hurt us.

Every child dreams of big things. Every child dreams of flying and conquering and being mighty. They dream of dancing and singing and soaring. Even in our fallen state, before we are redeemed, that dream of who God has made us to be, is there.  

As we get closer to  God, our dreams change from 'US' being the star, to Him being glorified. But the amazing thing about God is that He makes us look so good! Some say He won't share His glory, but when He sees one of His children that truly wants to give Him glory, He really makes them look good.

Dream big! Dream of changing lives for Jesus! Dream of setting hundreds and thousands and millions free in Jesus! Because there are hundreds and thousands and millions of people out there who need Him. You don't have to go to a foreign country and be a missionary. Your next door neighbor might not know Jesus. The person next to you on the church pew may not actually know Jesus.  But they're seeking and you have an opportunity.

And the Word says to make the most of every opportunity. Start small. Be faithful. And let Jesus live BIG in you!

love and blessings~

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well."  Psalm 139:14