Destiny Is Waiting On Us
“DESTINY IS WAITING ON US” (formerly posted on February 6, 2008)
My Writing Accountability Partner, Tisha Y. Lewis, spoke these words to me after hearing about my speaking opportunity at Bethune-Cookman University in January ’07: I was able to dialogue with Communication and Theater Arts students about linking their experience with opportunities while sharing from my book, Transition: Breaking Through the Barriers. This was an exciting and uncomfortable time: exciting because speaking here was one of my dreams; uncomfortable because I had never done it before. Yet through the mixed emotions, there was fulfillment!
“Destiny is waiting on us.” This phrase is fascinating, yet unnerving because destiny is often thought of as something we wait on. But similar to the scientific discovery that light is both particle and a wave; perhaps we too will realize that destiny is both given and received.
IT’S OUR CHOICE
We see an example of this in Genesis 12. God has a destiny waiting for Abram and calls him to leave his life behind and journey to an unknown land. I’m sure he had concerns, but the possibility of life beyond anything ever experienced stood before him. The choice to go is his… and he chooses.
The power to choose… I’ve met people who thought they had no destiny. I used to believe this about my own life. But the fact we are alive, means there is a destiny waiting for us. We may not know exactly what it is, but it is there… calling our names… And so we must choose whether or not to pursue it.
ARE WE PREPARED?
Only God knows everything. It is impossible to prepare for every situation. Even so, there are seven basic things we must do: 1. develop our gifts and talents; 2. learn to think critically about our surroundings; 3. study our strengths and weaknesses; 4. build a strong support system of trusted advisors; 5. routinely learn new things; 6. Guard our emotional, spiritual and physical health; 7. seek God’s guidance in all we do. We must take these steps to journey towards our destiny, while focusing our thoughts in order to establish our purpose.
We must count the cost. Our destiny will always be bigger than us – impacting the lives of others. As fantastic as the sound of destiny is, realize that struggle and obstacles are incorporated into its very fabric. As we press forward we will encounter resistance, because there is an unseen adversary that seeks our destruction. However, God promises to be with us in the midst of our trials, empowering us to learn and overcome. What destiny has God given to you? Will you pursue it or remain comfortable? Remember, that our destiny is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
As Mark Galli, the author of Jesus Mean and Wild states in his book, “God loves you and has a difficult plan for your life.” Your Destiny is awaiting your arrival.
ACTION STEPS FOR 2008:
1. Take your Bible to a quiet spot. Read Jeremiah 1:5; 29:11-13; 33:3. Ask God, ‘What destiny is waiting on me? What am I to do with my life?” Write what comes to you.
2. List your gifts/talents. These can indicate the type of life-work you could be involved in.
3. List your weaknesses and strengths. Perhaps your destiny lies in developing a way to help others deal with similar issues.
4. Revisit those deep dreams that have never left you. Is God trying to call them forth?
5. Determine where you need more development. Pray and brainstorm about how to grow.
6. Follow through… Even with good intentions, no growth or positive change will happen in your life without acting out the plan you have created. Follow Through!
-Allen Paul Weaver III-
Tagged with: Change • Destiny • experience • opportunity • Purpose • Transition
Filed under: Risks and Opportunities • Self-Help • Spirituality
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9 comments
I was really inspired by your article. I really desire to know what God has for me but then I\’m like - do I really want to go the extra mile? Am I really ready to die to everything that is familiar and live like God wants me to?
Melinda
P.S. STTAY UP!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for your honesty Melinda. Sometimes life gets tough, but do you know what\’s at the end of that extra mile? An aspect of the real you that you haven\’t met yet. I\’m often afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone, most of us are, but ultimately staying in our comfort zones leads to our falling asleep while the world passes us by. My wife said a few weeks back, \”It\’s amazing how we can be inspired and motivated by what someone says… and still do not change\” I\’ve been guilty of this - being \”inspired\” by what I hear or read or see, but not to the point of actually changing my life for the better. Everything begins with choice. Our lives can be better, if we CHOOSE to make the necessary steps to do so. Will it be difficult? Most likely yes. But then again, anything that is of any real value is worth working for. We appreciate it more. God has a destiny for all of us - the potential is there - but we must choose to go after and receive it. Only then can our potential become kinetic!
What a Rhema word! During one of my most demanding times your message helped to me to focus and re-energize my passion for my calling.
Thanks!
Destiny comes like a thief in the night………im ready for the unknowing to achieve whats hidden deep within me. I like the article.
Allen, I know for sure that God has a Destiny waiting for me. What that Destiny is I really can not say, but when the time comes I will have to make that decision. Right now I see my Destiny is to be humble before God and let him take his rightful place and guide me thru the trials and tributations that are getting in my way. Pray for my Husband Fabian. Each time you pray call his name.
God Bless
I really like the article. Destiny is calling my name, and I’m running toward it. Destiny involves us leaving the unfamilar things in life and wandering in unknown territory using God as our guide. Sometimes it’s hard for us to leave the things that have been familiar to us for so long…not just physically, but emotionally, even old mindsets. The best part about it is heeding the voice of God, moving toward it, brings us into a very special blessing that God has not only for us, but those around us as well.
You know that pursing ‘destiny’ is what I help people do…but I’m also always doing it for myself! So I’m a pilgrim on the path, just as much as I am a guide. Right now I’m about to launch a podcast on parenting with my wife, and we are preparing to build a house up here in the mountains. Not have it built, but build it. We feel called to. I’m reading through Exodus right now. It’s hard. Our brains (Ok, I’ll own the statement), my brain, isn’t wired to naturally expect trials in a pursuit that is a sure thing. If it’s God inspired, it’s the sure thing. But, as you said, that doesn’t mean it’s obstacle free. And it won’t be. Brings us back to that ‘faith’ issue, eh?
Hey, I haven’t talked to anyone else who has read ‘Jesus Mean & Wild.’ I thought it was a great book. I emailed back and forth with the author a couple times. It’s unfortunately one of those incredible books that’s running the regular gamut of publisher marketing and will do well to sell 3-5,000 copies. It’s a shame. I wish I had time to market all the books I’d like to see read by the masses.
Thanks for thinking deeply Allen!
Thanks everyone. The phrase, \”Destiny is Waiting on Us\” is beginning to totally change my mindset about the way life is lived. I am glad to hear that this post is impacting your lives at crucial times. And for those of you who haven\’t read Mark Galli\’s book \”Jesus Mean and Wild\” you should pick up a copy.
Great thinking. More people need to get focused on issues like this. Your priorities lead to your destiny, and if you don’t decide your priorities, you’ll spend the rest of your life at the mercy of other people who will. –Phil Cooke