As I prayed for the Lord to give me strength in this season, the Holy Spirit whispered a gentle reminder. He said, “This is not about you.” You see, I have been wrapped up in feeling inadequate, as I pursue the purpose that God has given me. But when the Holy Spirit spoke, He reminded me that this is not about me, it’s all about Him. My life – everything that I’ve gone through and everything that I am – is a culmination of the plan and purpose of God.
According to the holy word, we were not born out of chance. Even before we were conceived in our mother’s womb, we were set apart and appointed to fulfill the Lord’s purpose in the earth.
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 NLT)
All of the sudden, it’s like a weight was lighted off of my chest. No longer do I need to focus on my qualifications. No longer do I need to worry about how I will fulfill the assignments that God has given me. This is the Lord’s plan. I am here only to accomplish His purpose.
When we walk according to the Lord’s purpose, we do so in His strength.
Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (Zechariah 4:6 NLT)
As I sat and thought about what the Lord said to me, I couldn’t help but to be reminded of Moses’ response to the call of God. Most likely you are familiar with this story, but if not, it takes place in the book of Exodus, chapters 3 and 4.
The Lord called out to Moses from a burning bush and told him to return to Egypt to lead His people to freedom.
“...Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10 NLT)
But as the story continues, Moses is completely freaked out by the Lord’s instructions. He felt unworthy. He felt inadequate. He felt unprepared. But, today, I want us to focus on what the Lord said, a couple of verses before he gave Moses his assignment.
Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live…” (Exodus 3:7-8 NLT)
The lord said that He had “come down to rescue [His people] from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt…”
God was not telling Moses to rescue the Israelites from Egypt. God was the one doing the rescuing. He was simply telling Moses that he was the chosen vessel for the task. Moses was set apart to carry out this assignment.
The call of the Lord is not about us…it’s all about Him, and what He wants to accomplish in the earth.
This revelation is very freeing, if we allow it to be. You see, we are not meant to bear the weight of God’s purpose. We simply can’t handle it.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord . “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT)
If we try to comprehend and accomplish God’s plan in our own strength, we will fail every single time. But when we remember that God’s plan is not about us, and when we remember that it’s all about Him, we can proceed to accomplish His will in His strength.
Moses couldn’t handle the thought of obeying the Lord because he thought it was all about him– his talent, his capabilities, his strength.
But Moses pleaded with the Lord , “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” (Exodus 4:10-12 NLT)
I love the Lord’s response to Moses here. He’s basically telling Moses that He is in control. It was His decision to choose Moses…regardless of Moses’ deficiencies.
I want us all to understand this…
When the Lord calls us, he does so with our strengths and weaknesses in mind.
God knows us inside and out. He knows what we can and can’t do. He knows our tendencies, and what we lack. And still…He calls us. So, we must understand that when He does call us, He will also have a plan to enable us.
But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do…” (Exodus 4:13-15 NLT)
God provides for our deficiencies when we walk in purpose.
I love this so much. While Moses was pleading with God…God already had an answer. In fact, the answer was already on the way. This is so powerful to me. Listen…
You are set apart.
What does that mean? It means that you were singled out. Out of all the people that have lived, are living, and will ever live, you have been singled out to fulfill a very specific purpose. Your Father has appointed you. He has chosen you…with all your flaws and all your mistakes.
For a moment, I want to jump back in Moses' story. When we read the first two chapters of Exodus, it is evident that Moses was set apart from the beginning. You see, he was saved from death when he was only an infant, and by the grace of God, he was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and raised among the royal family.
If you haven’t read this story, I encourage you to take the time to read it. Through Moses’ life, you will see the sovereignty of God at work.
Moses wasn’t chosen for the task of leading the people of God to freedom by chance. No. he was set apart from the beginning…before he was convinced in his mother’s womb. Because of his past– his upbringing and experiences– he was uniquely qualified to walk in the purpose that God was calling him to.
Please hear me as I say this…
You are uniquely qualified to fulfill your purpose.
Everything you have been through is a culmination of who God has called you to be, and what He has appointed you to do on His behalf. There is no one on earth like you. No one with the same experiences. No one with the same testimony. And therefore…no one with the same calling. Only you can do this.
Your purpose might seem daunting but remember it’s not about you.
You are a part of a much bigger plan. God wants to accomplish something for His Kingdom, and you are the one that He has chosen to do it.
You are a vessel, and you are filled with His strength.
Never forget this. Because God has called you, He has also gone before you. Like Moses, he has sent the answer to all of your questions, reservations, and deficiencies, ahead of you. You have nothing to fear.
“...So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)
And remember that the fulfillment of God’s plan is not your responsibility. This is not your burden to bear. Your only responsibility is obedience. God, in all his power, sovereignty, and strength, will do the rest.
God will ensure that His plan prevails.
You can make many plans, but the Lord ’s purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21 NLT)
Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. (Joshua 21:45 NLT)
And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.” (Jeremiah 1:12 NLT)
God’s amazing plan will be accomplished through his mighty strength. You don’t have to be strong enough or wise enough. You don’t have all that it takes. All you must do is be an active participant in what He’s called you to do.
You are called; you are set apart. There is a plan to enlarge the Kingdom of God through your life. Will you take part? Will you allow the plan of God to be accomplished through you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that I am chosen and set apart to bring your holy purpose to pass. And thank you for reminding me that I don’t have to bear the weight of your plan, because you, Father, are the one that ensures that it will come to pass. My only role is to actively participate in what you already have planned, God. So today, I am renewing my commitment to your plan and your purpose. I will allow you to use all of my life’s experiences to bring glory to your name. I will follow your instructions, I will act with courage, and I will allow you to move with power through me. Father, thank you for loving me unconditionally. And thank you for allowing me to take part in your masterful plan. By faith, I declare that I will accomplish the mighty plan that you have for my life. And it’s all for your glory, Father. In the name of Yeshua, the Messiah, I pray. Amen.
