I grew up in a church that was focused on following the Ten Commandments and being a good person to get to Heaven. I think my “works based” up-bringing spilled over into the way I approached life for many years. I was on a pursuit to do as many good things as I possibly could. I was a total “Yes girl” and I did a lot of great things to prop myself up to feel important and on the right path.
In College, I learned about having a personal relationship with Christ and discovered that I didn’t need to measure up to go to Heaven. I remember feeling so free from having to perform that I honestly didn’t know what to do with myself. I had worked hard for so long, it was kind of ingrained in the way I lived life and those habits took time to die away. I still to this day have a tendency to want to whip the world for Christ! I mean, I really long to do great things for Him, but over time I have come to realize that He wants a relationship with me more than He wants me to strive in doing good. He simply wants me to rest in His loving arms! This is such a tough concept to grasp when you have lived your life in such a different way for so long.
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to seek God’s plan through a Life Coaching experience. It was a phenomenal adventure and time where God gave me a clear vision for my calling in this life. The vision statement that I sensed Him putting on my heart was this…
“I am a woman of God who is LOVING, LEADING, and LIFE-GIVING who desires to ENCOURAGE, EQUIP, and ENGAGE people (especially women) to pursue God’s plans and purposes for their life.”
I thank God for the opportunity to catch His vision for my life. It gave me a renewed sense of purpose and it has given me permission to clearly know what I should say “Yes” to and when I should clearly say “No” to an opportunity that is presented before me. I also thank God for this clear calling on my life because it has helped me to embrace the new season that I am in, the one has my teens leaving for college in a couple of years.
Prior to Life Coaching, I was holding on to the past, uncertain of the future ahead of me. I thought that all that was left for me was menopause and mammograms. Now I know that God has great things in store for me. I don’t necessarily know what my future holds, but I do know who holds my future. I am confident that God isn’t done with me yet, that there are still things that I can and will do to make His name famous. I am excited to see what God has around the bend and I am claiming His promise in Jeremiah 29:11 that says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a HOPE.” I praying this promise for your life, too!
Thanks for sharing the post with us. It was really helpful. I truly believe these rules of self-development will work on everyone if they follow it thoroughly.