"PURPOSED TO FINISH"

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU THIS VERY MOMENT!

Peace be unto you and peace be multiplied. I give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in my prayers daily. It is my honor and pleasure (as always) to bring to you Monday Moments. It is my prayer today that this word will strengthen, encourage, uplift, empower and activate you in your God-ordained purpose. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6:10.

DESTINY DECISIONS

“PURPOSED TO FINISH”

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

My former Pastor, Superintendent Wayne H. McDonald of the Odom Memorial Church of God in Christ in Denver, Colorado, an anointed giant and Father in the ministry, ministered to the people of God from the above thought and passage of scripture sometime ago. The message so pricked my heart that I still remember it and, today it provoked an immediate assessment of my current status as it relates to “finishing.” After all, it is neither about me nor what I desire to say, but it is about what God desires to say to HIS people. Today, I release this Life-Giving word to you. With that being said: “He that hath an ear, let him hear………” Revelation 2:7. (Thank you Pastor Mc Donald for that Life-Giving Word).

How many of you have begun an assignment, stepped out to fulfill a vision given you by God, made a decision to make some much needed and beneficial changes in your life only to get derailed by the hand life has dealt you? If I have some really honest people reading this, I know you are waving both your hands and feet at me! I gotcha,  I’m waving too!

What about that dream to complete your college education but, a couple of difficult or failed courses, lack of financial resources, job and/or family issues placed the dream on the back burner. Remember that yearly resolution to become health conscious and physically fit. You made a good attempt but somewhere along the line, when your best efforts didn’t pay off with an immediate “six-pack” you reverted back to purchasing that 12 pack of Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Mountain Dew ……..you feel me, right?

Well, to be certain, no matter who you are, your station in life or what your circumstances may be, life has its share of unexpected and unplanned events. And, it is also certain that there will be many aspects of your life that may seem to challenge you repeatedly, (I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THAT ONE!) leaving us to ponder whether or not certain things are worth the continuing effort.

Oftentimes we feel that life is a failure or a moot point unless “WE ARE” getting a lot out of it. However, here in Acts 20:24, Paul considered his life worth nothing unless it was used in the service of the Lord. The Apostle Paul concluded that WHAT HE PUT INTO LIFE WAS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT HE GOT OUT. (Okay, I’ll wait and let that one marinate. Don’t worry, I’m thinking too)! Paul was of a single and determined mind. I’m certain that you are well read concerning the many treacherous evils Paul endured while fulfilling his purpose. However, Paul did not have the “fair weather” mentality. He did not equate fulfilling his purpose with “ideal weather conditions.” He had a mind that was prepared to endure whatever hardship or challenges that came his way because he was focused on his goal and determined to fulfill his purpose despite the obstacles. The mind Paul had is the mind needed by anyone who is determined to achieve in life and especially for those who are determined to do God’s work. This is the mindset that empowers us to stay the course and “finish” regardless of the odds.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us in I Peter 4:1 concerning what our attitude or what our “mindset” should be in the last days: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourself likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”

In order to obtain that mind we must first determine to set the purpose God has called us to higher than our sufferings. Many of us become weary and concede defeat altogether because we do not understand that there is a “sacrifice” in the battle. A boxer, no matter well trained he or she is, no matter how well informed they are of their opponents weaknesses, do not enter the ring and not expect to get hit! As a matter of fact, they are trained heavily on how to sustain a punch and keep fighting. Why? The goal is to win the fight and walk away with the prize! Sometimes God is simply trying to fashion us into a “heavyweight” in the spirit but, because we don’t understand the process of the sacrifice of the battle we just “punk out.” However, regardless of the sacrifice, we must have a commitment to our purpose that endures and transcends the great struggles that relentlessly encourage us to give up before we complete the task.

I’ve come to know that when you are anointed for a purpose, it is those storms that God will allow to come to strip us from the accessories so that we can find the necessities. Understand that because God knows our beginning, our ending and all points in between, the challenges that sometime come are not designed for you to abandon your purpose or “jump ship” but unload you of unnecessary baggage to enable you to move in sync with your purpose so you can “ease on down the road!”

So, how do we finish when the dark clouds of difficulties and despair arise? Well, Jesus never promised us ideal conditions. Jesus didn’t promise us a smooth flight either but he does promise us a safe landing because he promises never to leave nor forsake us. For those of you today (and yes, me too) who have given up when the heat got too hot and the obstacles seemed more than you could handle, allow me to encourage you with the words of Bishop T.D. Jakes to “Reposition Yourself” and the words of Superintendent Wayne H. McDonald to get back in the race. You have been “Purposed to Finish!”

My Prayer for Us:

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for the wisdom of your Word. I ask today in Jesus name that even as you have called us with a holy calling and have reminded us that we are “Purposed to Finish” empower us with the diligence, discipline and the dedication that will cause us to be strong in weak moments, faithful despite the odds, and dedicated to the completion of all that you have assigned our hands to do. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Please feel free after reading Monday Moments each week to share your thoughts and, please covenant with me as I walk in His will and purposes for my life.  Please forward you thoughts and comments to latterraindeliverance4u@yahoo.com or share right here in the comments section.  I look forward to hearing from you!

In Purpose,
Pastor Linda

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