Transition Series – Who Am I?

Over my 25 years of ministry, I have at times thought I was each of the five-fold giftings. I thought I was a youth pastor. In fact, I was convinced of it! At another time, I thought I was a worship minister, then an evangelist, then on to a teacher, a prophet, and an apostle gift to the Body. This confusion came from a lack of identity. I didn’t know me well. Each time, I was content doing the thing I was doing and I was tolerably good at it, I think. Although I may not have been the best to ask about that. Finally, the Lord showed me that He was trying to put a little of this in me and a little of that in me, and give me lots of experience and wisdom. If I had not come to that understanding, I would be in the wrong ministry today.

When I shifted roles, I had some people tell me I was missing God. They were sure what I was, because they needed the gift they saw in me. But, God had moved me on to the next training season. With each change, I was convinced that now we were getting somewhere and I was finally moving into my true calling. We were all dealing with preconceived notions. This is exactly what kept the Jews from accepting Jesus when He came. They thought, “He’s supposed to look like this, and be like this, and do this, and say this, and be one of us…and on and on.” John the Baptist, and even the disciples, struggled with this. They couldn’t figure out what Jesus was doing, because it didn’t match their theology perfectly. Don’t let your preconceived notions keep you from hearing clearly from God.

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9; NASB)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Ask the Lord to help you rest in the season of life you are in. If He has a change in mind for you, when He is ready, He will move you on.
• If you are in the middle of a transition affecting your life role in some regard, ask Him for clarity and rest. Shut out every voice other than His. Where is His peace, Where is His grace? Where are the open doors?
• Sit and talk to God about your preconceived notions. If He moves in evangelism in a way you didn’t expect or using people you don’t expect, are You going to recognize it? Will you be okay with it?
• Intercede for the Body of Christ, regarding our corporate preconceived notions. These look like denominational beliefs, moral codes, which may not line up with the Bible, pet projects, eschatology, how the book of the Revelation plays out, and many other things. Ask God to line us all up with His Word, first.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, who am I? Maybe I don’t need the full answer to that right now, so can You help me to rest in the place you currently have me? I want to be able to walk in the Hebrews 4 Rest of God, feeling loved by You and stable in my ways. I can’t please people and go every which way they would have me go. I only want what You want for me, right now. As I move into any new path or life course, help me keep my eyes fixed on You. I don’t want to be swayed by what others think I should be doing. Humans have a bad habit of pigeon-holing each other into places where it appears we are gifted. There are times You are revealing new gifts in us, new talents we didn’t even know we had, but You knew. Keep me from falling prey to man-pleasing. Help me see the open and shut doors in front of me. Grace me to embrace new skills and environments and mantles. I want my life to glorify You! Keep me from preconceived notions about how You move and about what the Word says is going to happen in the earth. Keep Your Bride ready, and willing, and watchful for the way You are freshly moving. Keep us in the Word, but don’t let us lock ourselves into mindsets where we could miss Your current movement in the earth, Jesus. Amen.

Today’s decree:

Men think God does things a certain way, but He is moving in new ways! Know who you are in this season and watch carefully for how He is revealing Himself to us now!