Last summer I began reading a book entitled, “Defined” by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough, which was about living a life of purpose/meaning, value, and love and being who God created you to be and that “what God thinks of you and can do through you is much more incredible than you think.”
Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God was talking to Jeremiah who prophesied in the kingdom of Judah as Jerusalem is being destroyed and God’s people are being carried away into Babylon because of their sin. It is a time of judgment and of suffering for all the people and for Jeremiah personally. But Jeremiah also cites God’s promise of restoration. Sin has its consequences but also that through Jesus, our mediator, God’s last word is about forgiveness and eternal life. (NIV)
How many of us have quoted Jeremiah 1:5 during times of indecision, changes going on in our lives, and whenever we have sinned against God? But God knew us before we were born and set us apart and appointed us to be a light in this darkened world. Each of us were created in His image to live a meaningful life, but we need to discover who we were created to be.
Before a construction worker begins a job, he has to make sure he has the right tools in order to get the job done right. After looking at his blueprints, he then begins to tear down an old building or whatever his task may be before he creates something new.
This past week, our home has been undergoing some demolition in two bathrooms. There has been a lot of tearing out of the old vanities, light fixtures, a tub, and old tiles that were cracked in order to create better bathroom spaces. The process of the renovations is supposed to take two weeks, but somehow after the project began the general contractor discovered some issues that needed to be taken care of first before he could resume his original plan. Programs on HGTV showcase these types of projects.
God has a plan for us as well but oftentimes we deviate from what God created us to be by straying off the path to “do our own thing” until we realize something is not quite right and God has to steer us back onto the right path again.
As Christians we need to have the right mind-set and believe that “with God all things are possible” and that He knew us before we did. He already has a plan laid out for each and every one of us to follow. We just need to continue to seek Him for His direction. Life happens and things happen along the way, but we need to continue to keep our eyes on Him.
We are therefore not defined by what others think of us but we are “defined by God’s great design” for us so that we can live a life full of purpose/meaning, value, and love. May you continue to seek His will and follow His calling for your life–not the life someone else says you are to have. He is our potter and we are the clay to be molded in His image.
Blessings,
Yvonne