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

Several years ago Rhonda Byrne wrote “The Secret”, followed by “The Power” and “The Magic.” Her intent was to impart “the secret” to millions of readers so that they could believe it’s principles, learn them, and use them to gain whatever they “attracted” from the universe. After all, “you are what you think”, right?

Dr. Henry Cloud then came out with a book, “The Secret Things of God”, written to “unlock the treasures reserved for everyone” but found in the Word of God. Although his book was not intended as a “Christian argument for or against “The Secret”, he pointed out that her book affirmed “the deep spiritual hunger” that a number of Christian’s were seeking but could not find. His intent was for Christians to go to the Word of God and seek out God’s commands for every day living and to listen to them.

When I was a child, oftentimes when my friends wanted to get my attention, they would ask, “Do you want to know a secret?” and would whisper something in my ear. We would end up giggling over what this secret entailed. Adults tend to play this game by whispering something in their friend’s ears from time to time.

Growing up in the 60’s and as a star-struck teenager, I often listened to music by the Beatles, a popular boy band, who wrote a song entitled, “Do You Want To Know A Secret”, which was a love song. The one thing you had to do was “listen to the secret and promise not to tell.”

As a Christian, I am often reminded of how Satan tries to whisper in our ears by making a lot of promises in order to get us to do something contrary to our very own Christian principles. A perfect example is how he tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness but Jesus knew the scriptural teachings and did not succumb to the many promises Satan enticed him with.

Let’s take a look at some of the “secret” scriptures in God’s Word in order to understand it’s definition. (NIV translation)

• Job 15:8: “Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?”
• Psalm 25:14: “The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.”
• Psalm 27:5: “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
• Psalm 25:21: “My integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.”
• Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Another song that I really enjoy singing is “In The Secret…I want to know you. I want to hear your voice…I want to know you more.” Shouldn’t this be the desire of every Christian–to truly know God and to hear and listen to His voice no matter what is happening in our lives.

Psalm 18:30 tells us that “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.” This is a reminder that God will be with us no matter what circumstances we come up against in our lives. He is our strength and shield.

Psalm 18:2-3: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise and I am saved from my enemies.”

Let us all seek out the teachings in God’s Word with an attitude of gratitude and being thankful for all that you receive from God whether great or small, good or bad. He is our refuge, our strength, and shield in whom we trust. This is a “secret” uncovered by untold millions who listen to His voice, His teachings, and His direction and drown out the wrong whispers.

May the Lord strengthen you as you read His Word and continue to follow Him daily.

Blessings,

Yvonne