Bible Verse of the Day

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”

Today’s Daily Devotional for Women

Today’s devotional is about 3 big lies the enemy uses to keep you from being who God made you to be. Tell me what you think in the comments section – I love hearing other perspectives!

Unfortunately, in this world, a lot of people will tell you what THEY think you should be, And they’ll tell you to follow their advice because they’re “so full of wisdom.” But here’s why that method is flawed.

Most people in this world never went beyond status quo and lived their AUTHENTIC self. Research says about 98% of people gave up on the dream they had as a child and settled for a 9-5 that let them pay the bills and have a “normal” life.

Now is there anything wrong with that? No. As long as THAT’S what God created you to be. So ask yourself – are your instincts telling you that God wants you to live a status quo life? Or is God telling you to do something bigger than what everyone expects you to do?

98% of your family and friends are not living in their purpose. They made the choice they thought they needed to make to survive. Only 2 out of every 100 people you know will actually put in the work to step out on faith and achieve everything God created them to achieve.

Don’t take advice from people who aren’t on the level you want to be.

Because when you DO decide God wants you to do something bigger – here are three lies the enemy uses to distract you from being what God created you to be.

Lie Number 1: God did not create a specific purpose for your life.

That’s a lie because Psalms 139:13-14 says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”God designed you from the beginning of time and put you in your mother’s womb with a specific purpose.

Remember, Romans 8:28 says ^“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, and that includes your purpose.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”

You have a specific gift and a specific service and a specific work God created you to do, that the Spirit personally distributed to you and only you. It’s yours. You are made with a specific purpose. It’s your piece of the body of Christ. So if anyone tells you that you don’t have a specific purpose for your life – they are lying. God says the Spirit has distributed gifts just to you.

Now let’s look at lie number 2: God wants you to make the most money possible. There are so many problems with this one. First of all – money isn’t even what we need to have all of our needs taken care.

Philippians 4:19 says: ¹⁹ And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” 

God will supply all of your needs. Money has nothing to do with it. If it did, there’d never be a millionaire who committed suicide because they’d have everything they need to be happy. But they DO commit suicide, because money doesn’t fill you up. Only God can do that.

He wants you to get on a career path that is your authentic self – the person He created you to be. And financial freedom comes as a result of you stepping into your authentic self and letting God’s light shine to the world through your gifts and abilities.

When I was struggling with anxiety, it was because my spiritual tank was empty. Even as I started to make more money and see my bank account grow, I was still anxious, because I wasn’t getting the RIGHT riches.

Once I finally said “yes” to what God was asking me to do - and finally started doing it - I’ve never had another anxious day in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I still have sad MOMENTS, but they are temporary. They are fleeting. Because the positive, excited energy I get as a result of doing what God asked me to do – of living my passion and purpose and being the authentic self God called me to be – overrides that sadness and snaps me out of it.

Abundance comes as a result of living in your passion and purpose – not the other way around. So first focus on doing what God called you to do -- and God's blessings for your obedience will provide all your needs.

Now let’s look at lie number 3: God’s purpose for your life will be easy for you to accomplish.

Ha! God never said His purpose for your life will be easy for you to accomplish. NO GOAL is easy to accomplish.

Galatians 6:7 says “Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows…”  

In order for you to reap success - you MUST put in the hard work for God to bless. Remember the Israelites had to walk 40 years to get to the promise land.

And the best example that it won’t be easy to accomplish our purpose for God? Jesus Christ Himself!

His purpose was to come down to this earth and die for our sins. Was it easy? No! He had to be CRUCIFIED in order to accomplish His purpose. He had to be whipped and bruised and BEATEN.

He SUFFERED to accomplish His purpose. But He didn’t give up. And now we get to have eternal life by believing in His name. Praise be to God!

Your purpose should NOT be easy. In fact, if it’s something you can easily do on your own – it’s probably not God’s purpose for your life. Because the idea is that you have to rely on God to open the doors for you.

Hear me, beautiful daughter of Christ. Your purpose is IMPOSSIBLE for you to do on your own. The only way to do it is through GOD and hard work.

Here’s what I mean - James 2:14-26 says 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that—and tremble with fear. 20 But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

I sum this up by two words: APPLIED FAITH. I heard a pastor say it like this: “work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on God.”

Catch that, sister of Christ. Work like it all depends on you. Pray like it all depends on God. Because as you work, God will send opportunities to get to the next step. Then when you work on that next step, God sends you opportunities to get to the next one.

Oprah says success is preparation meets opportunity, and that’s exactly right, except she left out that God sends you that opportunity AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THE PREPARATION necessary to receive it.

I’m going to say that again – success is preparation meets opportunity, but God only sends you that opportunity AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THE PREPARATION necessary to receive it.

Here’s how that happened in my own life. I said yes to God’s calling for me to make a Christian film when I was 18. When I finished the script, God sent a cinematographer into my life who was interested in shooting a feature film – for free.

Once I had him, I got a job and saved the money I would need to film the movie. Once I had the money, God sent actors and filmmakers into my life who wanted to work on the movie – for free – just so they would have the experience.

Then I scheduled the movie. Once we finished filming the movie, God sent me a student who owned her own editing equipment and wanted the experience of editing a feature film.

Once she finished it, God sent me a teacher who said he was proud of me and wanted me to have a premiere at the school.

Once we had the premiere, God sent me an opportunity to have the film picked up by a distributor. And the film ended up getting distributed in Red Boxes an Walmart's across the country. Notice none of those steps could have happened without the previous.

Here’s God’s truth. Your purpose in this world is the great commission. And the way you’re supposed to share God’s gospel is the calling He has for your life. Yesterday we talked about how the biggest indicator of your calling is your passion - It’s already there. Go back and check out that message if you missed it.

Because when you are faithful with the resources you have now, God will bless you with greater resources in the future. Start being faithful in the small things - and He will bless you with the big things. 

And I want to remind you how SPECIAL you are in God’s eyes with this affirmation:

God made me with a divine passion and purpose. God made me to succeed. And through His name, I deserve success. Victory is my right. It IS my birthright. Because I are the chosen daughter of a Risen King. And that makes me royalty.

A-men!

Like these inspirational messages? Get your copy of my daily devotional "Unleash Your #Legend" so you can learn my BEST strategies for gaining clarity on God's purpose for your life, confirming your purpose with Christ, and create a realistic strategy to make your purpose happen. Grab it now  by clicking here.

In tomorrow’s devotional, we’ll talk about how to believe in your God-given purpose.

God bless you always, sister of Christ.

You are the chosen daughter of a Risen King… And that makes you ROYALTY!

XOX,

Stephanie

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