Publisher Shearon Hurst-Roach   www.wherepeacefulwaters.com   Issue 39  March 06, 2004

Don�t Lose Sight Of Your Purpose
FINISH WHAT YOU�VE STARTED  

  Scripture Reading:

2 Corinthians 8:10-11  I suggest that you finish what you started a year ago, for you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to begin doing something about it. Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it.

Have you ever experienced going into a room to get something then forgetting what you went in the room for? I know I have. You start towards the room with a purpose, but once there, something on the television caught your attention; maybe someone asked you a question or the phone rang, causing you to stop moving towards your purpose in the room. And after that phone conversation, or speaking to the person who stopped you with that question, you think, �Now what did I come in here for?�

When God created us He had a purpose in mind.  He didn�t create us just to give Himself something to do. Every man and woman has a work assigned to them by God. This becomes their purpose, their reason for being, their calling, and their destiny.  Therefore, each and every day of our lives should be used to further fulfill God�s purpose for our lives.

Often times distractions come up and things happen in our lives to cause us to put our purpose on hold, stop thinking about it, or even stop pursuing it.  We started out with good intentions, but somewhere along the way we lose sight of our goal.  It could be divorce, job loss, financial, health, etc.  So many things in this world will try and cause us to lose sight of God�s purpose for our lives.  No matter what the situation in your life is, always remember that God is already aware of it and He knows what to do about it. Nothing takes our Lord by surprise. He is working it out for you. 

Be encouraged, God has not forgotten you. The Lord has a purpose for you and a destiny for you to fulfill. But things may not go the way you think they should. That is because the Lord is calling you to something bigger than yourself, something beyond your ability, something you cannot originate or perpetuate without Him, and it will take time. It�s all in timing � HIS timing.  So please don�t lose focus.

There are purposes that must be fulfilled that require timing- God�s timing. Don�t become discouraged and don�t let the enemy distract you when you don�t reach your destiny overnight.  I know He said weeping would endure for a night, but He never said how long the night would be.  Abraham was one hundred years old before he finally saw God's promise come true. Moses spent forty years in Egypt and then forty years in the desert before God sent him to deliver His people. God never said when He was going to deliver. He just promised that He would.  It is better to wait five hundred years for grace than to work for five minutes without it. Be assured of this: God has promised to fulfill the purpose in your life, but it is up to you to stay focused in Him, trusting Him to bring it to pass.  God is calling you to finish what you have started. 

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Now that we know reaching your destiny may not happen overnight, let�s not think that we are to become inactive (or LAZY) while waiting on the Lord.  Was Joseph lazy in prison while waiting for God to deliver him? No, Joseph stayed focused on the Lord and continued to use the gifts the Lord has blessed him with and God opened doors for him, fulfilling the purpose in Joseph�s life.  Do what Joseph did, use what God has blessed you with right where you are.  What is it you have in your hands that you aren�t using?  Don�t let distractions or minor setbacks cause you to lose focus.  Now is the time�use it or lose it

Reaching our destiny or purpose has two dimensions. The first dimension is God's part. It is God's plan for each person. Then we have our part in reaching our destiny. Our part is exercising our faith in His Word.  This is the part God will not do - He has assigned this to us.  Remember when the children of Israel were at the Red Sea and Pharaoh�s army was fast approaching?  They cried out to Moses for help, and Moses cried unto the Lord.  But what did the Lord say to Moses?

 Exodus 14:15-16  And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:  But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

God had already given Moses the authority (the power) to deliver His people. God�s power in Moses had been demonstrated over and over again in Egypt. All Moses needed to do was speak the Word and it would come to pass. God didn�t want Moses to cry out to Him, but to exercise the power that He had given him, lift up the rod, stretch out his hand, divide the sea and walk through it. 

Many want to blame God because some prophetic word or promised gift does not automatically come to pass. They expect their destiny to be fulfilled without any effort, work or obedience on their part. Here is your wake up call: Faith without works is dead (James 2:20).  You can't change, alter or correct God's Word, you must do your part: you must exercise your faith in His Word. 

It is time for you to take action. You must begin movement in your life. You cannot bring anything to pass sitting still. You must move towards your destiny. You will never just suddenly arrive at your destiny; you must take action to get there. Lay aside everything that is slowing you down.  You may be praying and waiting on God to show you the path, but God is waiting on you to start walking in obedience to what you already know, and He will direct you.

And never let other people's words and opinions keep you from moving in the direction God is showing you.  Everyone will not share in the vision that God has given you.  If you expect them to, then you will never reach your destiny.  You must be able to keep yourself encouraged while walking towards your destiny because you will have to fight the spirits of discouragement, doubt, and disbelief along the way.  These are the tools the devil will use to keep you from reaching God�s purpose for you.  Recognize them and be ready to fight!

If your prophetic word does not happen when you think it should, don't give up.  Put on the whole amour of God and fight the good fight of faith!  Hebrews 6:12 says "Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherited the promises�. Don't lose your sight of your purpose. 

We must always remember that God will make room for us to fulfill our purposes no matter what the situation may be. God's purpose is not dependent upon situations but on God being God and on us praying, waiting and trusting in Him. Don't lose sight of your purpose, but press through the distractions, press through the opposition and don't allow the enemy to have you wondering, 'now what am I in here for?' Set your heart and mind on your purpose today, and watch God bring it to pass.

Many people start out on a journey or a project, but never finish. Sometimes they become discouraged. Sometimes they are distracted. Sometimes they just give up.

God has called each of us to complete a journey. Our prayer should be that we will accomplish the purpose of our journey, that we won't be distracted or discouraged along the way. 

Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey. Genesis 24:12 (NLT)

Is there something you started but have never finished? Something you felt was a part of God's plan for your life, but it just seems too difficult? Perhaps you've tried, but become discouraged.

It might be something in your spiritual life, your prayer life, your personal Bible study, involvement in ministry�It might be a relationship that needs healing, or a career move, or giving up a bad habit. Whatever it is, I want to encourage you to finish what you started. To complete what you know God wants you to do.

Jesus makes it possible

Therefore; since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. Hebrews 12:1-4 (NLT)

God's word tells us to run with endurance the race that He has set before us. The key? Keeping our eyes on Jesus. Trusting Him. Jesus is our hope. God has made provision for us to finish what He has called us to do.

Satan will do anything he can to distract and discourage you. He will send bad circumstances your way. He will lie to you. He will try to convince you that you cannot succeed.

But Satan is a liar.

He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (NLT)

Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is your hope. And with Him you can finish what He has called you to do.

THINGS TO HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED:
 
1. IdentifY the problem. If something is hindering you from finishing what you started, I encourage you to identify the problem. If you are blaming something or someone else instead of dealing with the real issue, you will never move on . . .you will never complete the task.

2. fInd strength in the Lord. This is what you must do. If someone has let you down, remember that God has never failed you and never will.

Remember that God is always up-He's never down. I've never gone to God and found Him discouraged. I've never gone to God when I was sick and learned that He was sick. He is always whole. He is always there for you. He is faithful.

This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. Psalm 91:2 (NLT)

3. inquire of the Lord. When you become discouraged...when everything seems to go wrong - ask God what to do. No matter what anyone else says or thinks, I encourage you to do what you know God is calling you to do. He will help you. He will show you the way.

If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6 (NLT)

You must get into agreement with God's Word. Trust Him for the answer.

God has a plan for your life. A special plan. And as you put your hope and faith in Him, He will help you accomplish all that He has called you to do.  All of it. Not some. Not the easy things. All of it. You can finish!  

Don�t Lose Sight Of Your Purpose FINISH WHAT YOU�VE STARTED

A Word of Encouragement:

Set watch for distractions that will divert your attention from what God has called you to do.  Do not assume that your current trial is beyond My ability to bring you through to victory. The tests that you are now facing can either become a stepping-stone or a tombstone. Now is not the time to give up; Now is the time to establish yourself in faith and obedience to My leading. These trials will bring great insight and discernment to know the difference between spiritual reality and soulful fantasy.

�The lessons of that you are facing are of great value and will produce eternal fruit, but you must rise above the point of your own victimization and yield to My work in you� says the Lord.

I shall call upon you to do what you cannot do. Without Me you can do nothing. And yet through Me all things are possible. Do not be limited by what your eyes see, your ears hear or your mind perceives or knows. You will break the mold. Your destiny will draw you into uncharted waters. And I say unto you, arise and go forth in blind faith but with a heart steeled to obey.