Does life appear to be a roller-coaster? One moment you are up, the next down. Do you suddenly get joy moments and then feel life is meaningless. Are you unenthusiastic about life’s daily routines?
If you answered, “yes” to any or all of the above questions, you are not alone. The unfortunate reality is that most people find the least joy in what they do the most. A lack of zest ensues around work places, schools, homes and various other occupations.
It would be unfortunate to spend five days a week at the office, or in a class, and yet be so disgruntled. It is with this assertion that I wish to share some principles behind living a fulfilled life that rejoices even amidst trials.
Others define the term “alive” as the ability to breathe, or to inhale and excel air. I say, to be alive is to live a vision-driven life. The bibles says, “where there is no vision, the people perish...” (Proverbs 29:18) I cannot overemphasize the importance of possessing a God- given vision to propel your life. My prayer is that you read on, discover ways you can realize vision and bring your vision to life.
Vision could be described as the ability to have foresight, a mental picture or vivid dream of something in your future. It is through this ability that God reveals a unique assignment, or purpose, for each one of us. In pursuing it, we find pleasure, satisfaction and a fulfillment in life.
You might ask, “How do I discover my God- given vision?”
The A,B,C’s
Within God’s word lies your vision.
a) consult your manufacturer. When you buy a camcorder or some electronic device, you are expected to check the maker’s guide or manual. The manual illustrates the purpose of an appliance. It describes everything it potentially can do. Once faced with a malfunction, the manual has information that links you to the manufacturer for technical
assistance. God’s word links you to your “manufacturer,” and the source of your vision.
In discovering your purpose there is no short cut. You must first consult your creator. Read the manual, (The Bible) and discover your utmost potential. Within God’s word lies your vision.
Lord, show me what I am capable of achieving for your glory. Help me plan my path as you direct my steps. Give me a glimpse of what you have in store for me.
I have so many aspirations and I am gifted in more than one field. How do I discern my God-given vision?
Within your selfless passions lies your vision.
(b) Assess your childhood and current interests. God will not give you a vision contrary to what you would enjoy doing. Revisit those little, selfless actions that brought you great joy- perhaps the time you aided a helpless stranger, or the time you stood up for a righteous cause. Within your selfless passions, lies your vision.
Within your potential lies your vision.
(c) Know your potential. The fact that you can stand up before a horde of people and speak boldly and confidently may be a hint of your purpose and vision. Maybe you are particularly skilled in a certain subject or talent. Be cautious of what your potential is. It is unlikely God has not already gifted you with the ability to carry out His calling. Within your potential, lies your vision.
Are you frustrated to see street kids seeking alms? How about when people waste their lives with drugs and alcohol? What about the standard of education within your community?
Within your positive frustrations lies your vision.
d) Discover what nudges your heart to make a change. God will place within you a hunger to make a difference in a current status quo. Within your positive frustrations lies your vision.
Having discussed how to discover what your vision is, this article would be incomplete without considering ways to cause your mental picture to come alive.
Just like discovering your vision, constant communication with the Vision Giver plays a key factor in realizing it. Seek God’s face constantly coz only He can give you the strength to make it through.
Educate yourself- read widely and know all you can about your vision field. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to achieve something you have little or no knowledge about.
Commit yourself to your God-given vision. As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day.” It is more than likely your vision will take time before it’s completed. With earnest commitment comes discipline.
Discipline yourself to keep away from anything that will hinder progress in achieving your vision.
Keep your passion alive. You can do this by revisiting your purpose. In other words, remember the purpose of the unique assignment God has given you. Passion is stirred when your priority lies in what your vision can do for others and not necessarily what you can get out of it.
Keep company with vision- driven people. “Birds of the same feature flock together. Bad company corrupts good morals.” Watch your crowd. Not everyone will be pleased with your purpose- driven life. Hang around people that bring out the best in you. They will propel you and act as a catalyst towards achieving your vision.
Set goals and plan your moves. God will direct your paths, but you have to take the steps. Make goals and set time frames that will monitor your progress. Example:
“I will read such and such books (making a specific list) on this subject by such and such a time, I will save so much every month towards this goal.” Be clear and specific, giving detail to goals that will help you achieve your vision.
Write your vision down. This is, in fact, the first step to making your dream a reality. What you saw only in your mind is now on paper. Congratulations! You acted in faith and are that much closer to achieving your God- given vision.
Have faith and know that He who started a good work in you will see it through (Phil. 1:6).
Make your life meaningful. Discover who you are wired to be. Know your vision and live a life of purpose. Be fulfilled in the occupation you have, knowing it is simply preparing you for your destiny. Be who you can be today, and become who you can become tomorrow.
That is why I am called a Christian.
Peter Chipepo
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
DREAM KILLERS
You are on your knees praying when all of a sudden you feel that God is speaking to you and giving you an idea for a business, a ministry or a prophetic word concerning your future. Excitement fills your heart so you get up and devise a plan as to how you will approach this idea or prepare for it. For a few weeks or months, the idea is like fire burning in your heart. You have the zeal and determination to go through with it until you face an obstacle that seems to stand in the way of you and your dream.
The excitement dies down and you are back right where you started- discouraged, depressed and, once again, earnestly seeking God for the next big Idea. You begin to doubt whether you heard God at first or it was just your emotions speaking.
This has happened to me in the past. Several times God has given me these “AHA” moments and I’ve run with them for some time until I hit a snag in my path toward destiny. I call these moments “Dry Spells of Passion.”
Have you ever wondered how you lose passion for God’s revealed ideas, plans or purpose for your life? How you could sustain your passionate pursuit of vision only for a time?
Realizing how we fall prey to dry spells is important because we cannot afford to lose sight of God’s direction for our lives, not even for a few moments. That sounds extreme but that’s the harsh truth- for life lived without purpose and vision is suicidal, even if it’s just for a moment.
These spells, however, are detractors from God’s purpose, vision and Kingdom agenda for your life; and I call them VISION KILLERS.
I recently taught on this subject of Vision Killers based on Joseph’s life. And as I shared in my last article, “Unlocking Your Destiny”, by examining Joseph’s life, not only do we find the keys to discovering our purpose and destiny. Most importantly, we find the key to success, which is protecting yourself from Vision Killers.
What then are these Vision Killers?
Vision Killer #1: Disconnection from the Source
God is the author of all things including vision and purpose. Therefore, it is imperative that you make sure you are pursuing a God- given vision, because God will only support vision as it relates to his eternal kingdom purposes. Remember that for every God- given vision there is always God- given Pro-vision.
Since God is the source of every vision it follows then that only he can sustain and bring the vision to reality. Joseph knew this fact, and that’s why he learnt to walk close with God. The bible tells us that the “Lord was with Joseph and he prospered (Genesis. 39:2-6)”.
Joseph’s progress and prosperity were directly dependent on his continued connection to the source of his vision. Therefore, Vision Killer number 1 is Disconnecting from the Source of your vision.
Jesus illustrated this point when he talked about the principles of a productive life in John Chapter 15. He says that He is the vine and we are the branches, and that for the branches to produce fruit they must be connected to the vine. Why? Because the vine distributes the nutrients that the branches need to produce fruit.
In other words, for you to be productive, you must remain connected to God, your Source of all the re-sources you need to accomplish his assignment for your life.
My favorite verse is verse 5, which says, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (Amplified version).”
After our initial connection with the vision giver, we must always remain connected to him for the vision to come to pass. Remaining connected is the key, because cut off from vital union with him we can do NOTHING. The devil will do anything and everything to keep you away from God, because he knows that to be much for God, you must be much with him.
Therefore, spend some time in honest conversation with God every day and at every chance you get. We call this prayer. Remember that it’s a dialogue, not a monologue.
Secondly, spend some time reading and meditating on his word, because the secret wisdom of God is revealed to those that diligently seek it. God told Joshua that if he remained in the word he would find Good Success (Josh 1:8) and its there for you too.
Vision Killer #2: Laziness
Most people want the best things in life but are not willing to pay the price to have them. There is no such thing as something for nothing under the sun. Everything comes at a price. This mentality of wanting something for nothing is called Laziness, and it is the second major Vision Killer.
Laziness has two main results: Firstly, if you are lazy you will be poor. Poverty is a choice. Let this fact be established in your mind. You have to decide which one you will be- rich or poor, the choice is yours. Proverbs 10:4 says, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Choice is the most powerful thing we have and we can choose our destiny today (More on the subject of choice in another article).
Secondly, laziness will make you a slave to someone else. My mentor says if you don’t deploy yourself someone will employ you. In fact Proverbs 12:24 says it the best, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.”
I hear some of you hard workers screaming at me, “I’ve been working for a long time but am still poor!” My question to you is, “Do you have a vision for your life; and is that what you working hard for? Or are you simply working to make ends meet?” Why you are working is important. I know that most people simply work to survive, which in most cases is unavoidable. However, let me encourage you to work because your vision demands it and not because the pressures of life demand it.
Joseph understood the principle of work. His willingness and ability to work hard opened doors for him. No matter where he was he found favor with the authorities, because God was with him and he was a dependable, hard worker. God made Joseph a success partly because he was a diligent worker (Read Genesis 39).
The bottom line is this. If you want to fulfill your purpose and realize your vision, you must work hard and work smart; you cannot fulfill your purpose or assignment without work.
The truth of the matter is that God created us to work. In fact he didn’t let anything grow on the earth until he created man. Why? Genesis 2:4b-7 says because there was no one to work and care for the Garden.
Affirm this in your spirit and say it loud so the devil can hear you. Say “God created me to Work.”
Work existed before sin, but sin changed the conditions i.e. struggle, sweat and pain. That’s why work can sometimes be uncomfortable, but its not a curse or an evil to be avoided.
In fact, work is a blessing and has tremendous benefits. Financial return is perhaps the most common and preferred benefit of work.
Secondly, work reveals and unleashes your potential. You will never know what God has put in you until you apply yourself to work. Through work God teaches you how to use your talents and abilities. “Through work God stretches you because work requires you to take on new challenges and dares you to risk failure to show your capacity for success (Myles Munroe- Releasing your potential).” Work is your friend. Therefore, embrace it.
Vision Killer # 3: Lack of Planning
Perhaps one of the hallmarks of Joseph’s life is that he was a strategic planner. When God revealed the meaning of Pharaoh’s dreams and put him in charge of making sure Egypt had enough food for the famine, Joseph went to the drawing board and formulated an elaborate 14-year strategic plan for the survival of a nation (See Genesis 41:46-57). God interpreted the dreams but trusted Joseph to make a workable plan, and ultimately chart the course of a nation. Joseph’s life teaches us that God expects us to plan for our lives. Therefore, a lack of strategic planning will kill your vision.
Many people think that if God gives them a vision, they should just fold their hands, pray and “wait” on the Lord to work it out. This is not true because the bible tells us that “to man belong the plans of the heart, but from God comes the reply of the tongue” (Pro 16:1); furthermore, the bible says, “commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Pro 16:3). But perhaps the verse that expresses what I am trying to communicate is verse 9 of chapter 16, which says, “In his heart man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” God directs us according to the plans we’ve made in agreement with the vision he’s placed in our hearts, which is motivated by our purpose for existence. In other words, when you have a vision, you need to chart a course to fulfill that vision, BUT God navigates you through the plan.
Planning gives your life direction and precision. If you know what you want to achieve everyday, you will make less mistakes. Your plan will will help you set goals and objectives which act as progress markers and help you determine your priorities; the things that are important to the fulfillment of vision. Not everything you do is important to your vision and most people go through life doing everything and anything. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will lead you there.
To live life pursuing your purpose and destiny, you must have a vision and you must protect your self from the things that might kill your vision. Certainly there are some other vision killers but I feel that these are the major ones.
Therefore, always remain connected to God your source, be a hard and smart worker, and always move and make decisions according to your plan.
My friend, I promise you that if you follow these steps and commit wholeheartedly to your vision, you will succeed. You will wake up everyday knowing exactly what you want and what you need to do in order to get what you want in relation to your vision. I practice these principles and am still working to refine them, but ever since my Leadership Mentor taught them to me, my life has never been the same. Its not magic, but try them, reap the benefits, maximize your moment and fulfill your destiny.
Campbell Lumbila
The excitement dies down and you are back right where you started- discouraged, depressed and, once again, earnestly seeking God for the next big Idea. You begin to doubt whether you heard God at first or it was just your emotions speaking.
This has happened to me in the past. Several times God has given me these “AHA” moments and I’ve run with them for some time until I hit a snag in my path toward destiny. I call these moments “Dry Spells of Passion.”
Have you ever wondered how you lose passion for God’s revealed ideas, plans or purpose for your life? How you could sustain your passionate pursuit of vision only for a time?
Realizing how we fall prey to dry spells is important because we cannot afford to lose sight of God’s direction for our lives, not even for a few moments. That sounds extreme but that’s the harsh truth- for life lived without purpose and vision is suicidal, even if it’s just for a moment.
These spells, however, are detractors from God’s purpose, vision and Kingdom agenda for your life; and I call them VISION KILLERS.
I recently taught on this subject of Vision Killers based on Joseph’s life. And as I shared in my last article, “Unlocking Your Destiny”, by examining Joseph’s life, not only do we find the keys to discovering our purpose and destiny. Most importantly, we find the key to success, which is protecting yourself from Vision Killers.
What then are these Vision Killers?
Vision Killer #1: Disconnection from the Source
God is the author of all things including vision and purpose. Therefore, it is imperative that you make sure you are pursuing a God- given vision, because God will only support vision as it relates to his eternal kingdom purposes. Remember that for every God- given vision there is always God- given Pro-vision.
Since God is the source of every vision it follows then that only he can sustain and bring the vision to reality. Joseph knew this fact, and that’s why he learnt to walk close with God. The bible tells us that the “Lord was with Joseph and he prospered (Genesis. 39:2-6)”.
Joseph’s progress and prosperity were directly dependent on his continued connection to the source of his vision. Therefore, Vision Killer number 1 is Disconnecting from the Source of your vision.
Jesus illustrated this point when he talked about the principles of a productive life in John Chapter 15. He says that He is the vine and we are the branches, and that for the branches to produce fruit they must be connected to the vine. Why? Because the vine distributes the nutrients that the branches need to produce fruit.
In other words, for you to be productive, you must remain connected to God, your Source of all the re-sources you need to accomplish his assignment for your life.
My favorite verse is verse 5, which says, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (Amplified version).”
After our initial connection with the vision giver, we must always remain connected to him for the vision to come to pass. Remaining connected is the key, because cut off from vital union with him we can do NOTHING. The devil will do anything and everything to keep you away from God, because he knows that to be much for God, you must be much with him.
Therefore, spend some time in honest conversation with God every day and at every chance you get. We call this prayer. Remember that it’s a dialogue, not a monologue.
Secondly, spend some time reading and meditating on his word, because the secret wisdom of God is revealed to those that diligently seek it. God told Joshua that if he remained in the word he would find Good Success (Josh 1:8) and its there for you too.
Vision Killer #2: Laziness
Most people want the best things in life but are not willing to pay the price to have them. There is no such thing as something for nothing under the sun. Everything comes at a price. This mentality of wanting something for nothing is called Laziness, and it is the second major Vision Killer.
Laziness has two main results: Firstly, if you are lazy you will be poor. Poverty is a choice. Let this fact be established in your mind. You have to decide which one you will be- rich or poor, the choice is yours. Proverbs 10:4 says, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Choice is the most powerful thing we have and we can choose our destiny today (More on the subject of choice in another article).
Secondly, laziness will make you a slave to someone else. My mentor says if you don’t deploy yourself someone will employ you. In fact Proverbs 12:24 says it the best, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.”
I hear some of you hard workers screaming at me, “I’ve been working for a long time but am still poor!” My question to you is, “Do you have a vision for your life; and is that what you working hard for? Or are you simply working to make ends meet?” Why you are working is important. I know that most people simply work to survive, which in most cases is unavoidable. However, let me encourage you to work because your vision demands it and not because the pressures of life demand it.
Joseph understood the principle of work. His willingness and ability to work hard opened doors for him. No matter where he was he found favor with the authorities, because God was with him and he was a dependable, hard worker. God made Joseph a success partly because he was a diligent worker (Read Genesis 39).
The bottom line is this. If you want to fulfill your purpose and realize your vision, you must work hard and work smart; you cannot fulfill your purpose or assignment without work.
The truth of the matter is that God created us to work. In fact he didn’t let anything grow on the earth until he created man. Why? Genesis 2:4b-7 says because there was no one to work and care for the Garden.
Affirm this in your spirit and say it loud so the devil can hear you. Say “God created me to Work.”
Work existed before sin, but sin changed the conditions i.e. struggle, sweat and pain. That’s why work can sometimes be uncomfortable, but its not a curse or an evil to be avoided.
In fact, work is a blessing and has tremendous benefits. Financial return is perhaps the most common and preferred benefit of work.
Secondly, work reveals and unleashes your potential. You will never know what God has put in you until you apply yourself to work. Through work God teaches you how to use your talents and abilities. “Through work God stretches you because work requires you to take on new challenges and dares you to risk failure to show your capacity for success (Myles Munroe- Releasing your potential).” Work is your friend. Therefore, embrace it.
Vision Killer # 3: Lack of Planning
Perhaps one of the hallmarks of Joseph’s life is that he was a strategic planner. When God revealed the meaning of Pharaoh’s dreams and put him in charge of making sure Egypt had enough food for the famine, Joseph went to the drawing board and formulated an elaborate 14-year strategic plan for the survival of a nation (See Genesis 41:46-57). God interpreted the dreams but trusted Joseph to make a workable plan, and ultimately chart the course of a nation. Joseph’s life teaches us that God expects us to plan for our lives. Therefore, a lack of strategic planning will kill your vision.
Many people think that if God gives them a vision, they should just fold their hands, pray and “wait” on the Lord to work it out. This is not true because the bible tells us that “to man belong the plans of the heart, but from God comes the reply of the tongue” (Pro 16:1); furthermore, the bible says, “commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Pro 16:3). But perhaps the verse that expresses what I am trying to communicate is verse 9 of chapter 16, which says, “In his heart man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” God directs us according to the plans we’ve made in agreement with the vision he’s placed in our hearts, which is motivated by our purpose for existence. In other words, when you have a vision, you need to chart a course to fulfill that vision, BUT God navigates you through the plan.
Planning gives your life direction and precision. If you know what you want to achieve everyday, you will make less mistakes. Your plan will will help you set goals and objectives which act as progress markers and help you determine your priorities; the things that are important to the fulfillment of vision. Not everything you do is important to your vision and most people go through life doing everything and anything. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will lead you there.
To live life pursuing your purpose and destiny, you must have a vision and you must protect your self from the things that might kill your vision. Certainly there are some other vision killers but I feel that these are the major ones.
Therefore, always remain connected to God your source, be a hard and smart worker, and always move and make decisions according to your plan.
My friend, I promise you that if you follow these steps and commit wholeheartedly to your vision, you will succeed. You will wake up everyday knowing exactly what you want and what you need to do in order to get what you want in relation to your vision. I practice these principles and am still working to refine them, but ever since my Leadership Mentor taught them to me, my life has never been the same. Its not magic, but try them, reap the benefits, maximize your moment and fulfill your destiny.
Campbell Lumbila
A BLESSING IN HIS EYES
Living in an individualized society can make for a life full of adventure and prove to be a life of achievement and self-fulfillment. Children grow up with the belief that their dreams can come true. They can become whatever they desire to be in life. There is a sense of hope that all things can be possible.
A popular belief in our individualized world says that the life we live, we live unto ourselves. While it is true that God has a purpose for each of our lives as individuals, the bible does not support the selfish way of living that increasingly defines the world today. As Christians we know that our lives are not our own. We were bought at the cost of Jesus’ life. I heard someone say recently that our bodies are on loan from God. What does the word of God have to say? Well, Paul exhorts us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).
No man is an island. We live unto God and we are accountable to God for how we live our lives. In our last issue of Destiny Awaits I wrote about living life in the driver’s seat. How we grow and develop in character, and how we manage our time and finances- the resources God has given us to accomplish His purpose and plans for our lives- not only affects our present and future, but it matters to our families, our friends and the entire kingdom of God. In fact, whether we live our lives for God or the enemy of our souls we are ultimately accountable to God. We can either bring blessing or curses upon our future generations.
David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13). He was a courageous shepherd boy who defeated the mighty Goliath. He was the musician who calmed the evil spirit that tormented King Saul with his peaceful and Spirit-inspired melodies. He was the father of King Solomon who built the temple of the Lord. David is even named in the bloodline and family tree of Jesus Christ. Yet, David stumbled and sinned. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and brought calamity upon his family. Just read the account of David starting in 2 Samuel 11.
Esther came into the palace, as the bible says, “For such a time as this…” She was faced with the choice to either stand up and defend the cause of God and her people or protect herself and her own interests as the queen of Susa (Esther 4). She chose to put her own life on the line and approach the throne of the king, which could have meant her death. This act of faith exposed the evil of Haman and brought deliverance and salvation to God’s people.
These are just two examples of the many people in history who have been faced with the reality that their choices had the power to shape the lives of those around them. Each of us can testify to the fact that there are cycles of sin perpetuated in our families. Maybe your family has been plagued by irresponsibility with time and money. Perhaps your family has left a legacy of sexual promiscuity before marriage. Much of our spiritual struggle is a result of the strongholds and sin in the lives of those who have birthed us.
The word of God says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6). It is only by the grace of God that we can escape the punishment that is ours because of the sin of our father’s, father’s fathers- not to mention our own sin. But Jesus paid it all! Amen? The curse of sin is broken and the Lord declares deliverance and blessing for us today. God can and will break down those strongholds and curses in my life through the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in me, because my life belongs to Him. I am a child of the King and my inheritance is in Christ! I can be numbered with those who “love the Lord and keep His commandments.”
Will you offer your lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God? Can you discern the will of God and live a life that is pleasing in His sight; and be a blessing for the generations to come. The Lord determined the times set for us and the exact places where we should live (Acts 17:26). Could it be that like Esther we, too, have come to the Kingdom “for such a time as this?” Live the truth and walk in it (obey). Receive the blessings of Christ and be a blessing for all the generations to come.
Amanda J. Lumbila
A popular belief in our individualized world says that the life we live, we live unto ourselves. While it is true that God has a purpose for each of our lives as individuals, the bible does not support the selfish way of living that increasingly defines the world today. As Christians we know that our lives are not our own. We were bought at the cost of Jesus’ life. I heard someone say recently that our bodies are on loan from God. What does the word of God have to say? Well, Paul exhorts us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).
No man is an island. We live unto God and we are accountable to God for how we live our lives. In our last issue of Destiny Awaits I wrote about living life in the driver’s seat. How we grow and develop in character, and how we manage our time and finances- the resources God has given us to accomplish His purpose and plans for our lives- not only affects our present and future, but it matters to our families, our friends and the entire kingdom of God. In fact, whether we live our lives for God or the enemy of our souls we are ultimately accountable to God. We can either bring blessing or curses upon our future generations.
David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13). He was a courageous shepherd boy who defeated the mighty Goliath. He was the musician who calmed the evil spirit that tormented King Saul with his peaceful and Spirit-inspired melodies. He was the father of King Solomon who built the temple of the Lord. David is even named in the bloodline and family tree of Jesus Christ. Yet, David stumbled and sinned. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and brought calamity upon his family. Just read the account of David starting in 2 Samuel 11.
Esther came into the palace, as the bible says, “For such a time as this…” She was faced with the choice to either stand up and defend the cause of God and her people or protect herself and her own interests as the queen of Susa (Esther 4). She chose to put her own life on the line and approach the throne of the king, which could have meant her death. This act of faith exposed the evil of Haman and brought deliverance and salvation to God’s people.
These are just two examples of the many people in history who have been faced with the reality that their choices had the power to shape the lives of those around them. Each of us can testify to the fact that there are cycles of sin perpetuated in our families. Maybe your family has been plagued by irresponsibility with time and money. Perhaps your family has left a legacy of sexual promiscuity before marriage. Much of our spiritual struggle is a result of the strongholds and sin in the lives of those who have birthed us.
The word of God says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6). It is only by the grace of God that we can escape the punishment that is ours because of the sin of our father’s, father’s fathers- not to mention our own sin. But Jesus paid it all! Amen? The curse of sin is broken and the Lord declares deliverance and blessing for us today. God can and will break down those strongholds and curses in my life through the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in me, because my life belongs to Him. I am a child of the King and my inheritance is in Christ! I can be numbered with those who “love the Lord and keep His commandments.”
Will you offer your lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God? Can you discern the will of God and live a life that is pleasing in His sight; and be a blessing for the generations to come. The Lord determined the times set for us and the exact places where we should live (Acts 17:26). Could it be that like Esther we, too, have come to the Kingdom “for such a time as this?” Live the truth and walk in it (obey). Receive the blessings of Christ and be a blessing for all the generations to come.
Amanda J. Lumbila
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