Today's Walk by Jim Reynolds

Destiny

  Hope. Promise. Vision. Fulfillment. Destiny. Powerful and compelling words because most, if not all, of us want our lives to count for something. We are in a “search for significance” as one author puts it. We don't necessarily want to be the next Billy Graham (or even Rick Warren) but we want to know we matter… that our efforts in the Kingdom of God produce results. And if we were eye level honest about it, more often than not, we want those results to be noticed . Therefore, many of us spend a lot of time trying to find something with the potential for significance. We might weigh ministry opportunities not against what God desires, but against what could happen. We might reject certain choices because it looks like a “dead end.” We might even (dare I say it?) begin to treat our Christian lives like a “career track,” wondering with each decision – though we would never say it aloud – “what's in this for me?”

It is easy to allow this kind of thinking to infiltrate our hearts. Examples of “success” are all around us – from the leader in your church that everyone applauds to the author of the latest best seller on the bookshelves… from Biblical characters who leap from anonymity to prominence during a single event to the church down the street that seems to be outgrowing every new facility they build… from the guy down the block who has a better car to the family in the church who never seem to have any trouble with their kids… from the person who got the promotion you deserved to the woman who found Prince Charming. Sometimes I fear we sit back, stare from afar with hurting eyes, and wonder “Where's mine?” Where's my burning bush? Where's my Mount Carmel ? Where's my Miss Right? Where's my “Plexiglas pulpit?” Where's my significance?

  I haven't been in ministry that long and I probably haven't studied the Bible nearly as often, nor as intently, as some of you. But, I have discovered something about God's economy that surprised me. This is key. This is right in line with the whole of “Walk WITH Jesus.” Are you ready to find your destiny? Every decision, made in line with God's will, holds the potential to transform your destiny – to bring you closer to God's promise, and to transform not just you, but the world around you. Think through some well known Bible stories… lives that we are still reading about and pondering thousands of years later. How did their significance begin? What launched their rise? What was their “destiny point?” Awesome sweeps of God's power, right? Thousands changed in an instant. Miracles. Promotions. But most often, destiny points are far more simple… common… even mundane.

  Abraham packed his belongings and moved his family across the country. He had normal marital relations. Joseph conscientiously cared for his responsibilities. Jacob worked for 14 years. Moses herded sheep. Joshua fought in a war. Ruth stayed with her mother-in-law. Saul went looking for some donkeys. David went on an errand for his father. Peter was fishing and Matthew was sitting at a toll booth. More current examples? Henry Blackaby wrote “Experiencing God,” never believing anyone would read it. As I understand it, Ted Dekker wrote his first novel as a kind of a catharsis to help him deal with the sudden death of his brother. Both men have sold millions of copies of their books and have watched as God used their efforts to transform the lives of people all over the world. In a MUCH smaller way, Deanna and I starting journaling our experiences with Nicole while she was alive – and that experience impacted people all over the world and part of its outgrowth is this (and hopefully WWJ will continue to grow!)

  Every decision, made in line with God's will, holds this potential. That is why “walk WITH Jesus” obedience is so important. It is our job to obey and God's job to do whatever He wants to with our obedience. With each decision, sometimes even the seemingly small ones, we will either press through to the promise, continue in the same old, same old patterns, ignorant of His desires for us, or we will neglect or refuse God's call to us and be judged accordingly by Him.

  Now, this is not to say that we should become wrapped up in our performance… analyzing and strategizing every decision. I know people who would could drive themselves crazy trying to decide what God wanted them to have for lunch! It is simply a reminder and an encouragement to stay as close to Him as possible. I am not sure that He would ever use the lunch menu to launch your destiny, but I am positive that if He were going to, He would clearly communicate that to you. “Be dancing when the spotlight hits you” as one teacher says… because you never know what ordinary day could become miraculous.

An Example:

1 Samuel 1 tells the story of Hannah. Her son would become pivotal in the life of the nation of Israel . But first God had to come through because Hannah was barren. As such, in that culture, she was less than a woman, defeated, frustrated. As a woman, she was hurt, disappointed, and depressed. After enduring the torturous insults of her husband's other wife for so long, she seemed to come to an “enough is enough” moment and headed for the Temple .

  We read her prayer in verses 10-11. 10  And she, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11  And she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy maidservant and remember me, and not forget Thy maidservant, but wilt give Thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head." After a misunderstanding is cleared up between her and Eli, the priest, he blessed the woman, saying, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him." And, indeed, verse 18 indicates “the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” In other words, a completely different Hannah left the Temple that day.

  How are we to explain this transformation? Surely she had prayed about her need before. We know she had cried before. So what changed? There is an even more dramatic change when Hannah fulfills her vow to the Lord. God answers her prayer and, after weaning the child, she brings him to the Temple and presents him to its service, saying to Eli, "Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD. 27  "For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. 28  "So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD."

  We would expect a change in Hannah after her prayer was answered. But what about that first prayer? Before Samuel was born, she already felt strong and hopeful. She already could face the “other wife's” barbs again. She felt like eating again. What was the difference? We can't say for certain, but I believe Hannah's vow was her “Destiny Point.” Again, certainly she had prayed before, but this was probably the first time she had prayed with what the old time preachers call “abandon.” This was far beyond the typical “deals” we sometimes make. (God, if You'll <fill in your blank>, then I promise to <fill in your blank.>) This was nothing short of, “God, if You answer this prayer, I will not use it for my personal gain.  I will certainly enjoy my child, the answer to this prayer… but I will not selfishly hold onto him…  It's about the Kingdom.  It's about You.  Answer this prayer for me – then use the Answer to grow Your Kingdom and accomplish Your will.” That is a completely different prayer. And were we to pray like that, in all genuineness, more often, we would see completely different answers to our prayers.

  Hannah named her son Samuel, which means “Heard by God.” In 1 Samuel 2:26 , the Bible says that, like every other healthy boy, Samuel grew. But more than that, the “Heard of God” grew. God used Samuel in mighty ways to redeem the nation from its apostasy and corruption. 1 Samuel 3:1 says “In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.” But 1 Samuel 3:19 emphasizes Samuel's role: 19  The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. The implication is that one man brought the voice of God back to the nation.

  This incredible world deliverance started with the common problems of a faithful family. When Hannah fought the first battle to simply do something , she found the courage, resolve, and wisdom to pray selflessly. And, as always, Kingdom praying released the Kingdom's resources. I believe one man can still bring the voice of God back to the nation… this nation. And it MAY start with an ordinary decision. God can use every decision as a “Destiny Point,” IF we will…

Walk WITH Jesus,

Jim

To read other letters in this series, please go to:

http://freegroups.net/groups/walkwithjesus/0::102read.html

http://freegroups.net/groups/walkwithjesus/0::104read.html

http://freegroups.net/groups/walkwithjesus/0::105read.html

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Copyright February 2007, March, 2007, December 2008

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BIO

At this writing , Jim is possibly facing his own destiny point. It is possible that by the time I pen next month's article, I will no longer be the pastor of this current church. A church approximately 2 and a half hours north and east (why did it have to be colder?!) has requested that I come speak “in view of a call” as a candidate to be their next pastor.

Jim grew up – and sometimes still longs for – the suburbs of Kansas City, but now has the privilege of serving as the pastor of a rural Midwestern church. He and his wonderful, beautiful, multi-talented wife, Deanna, have two children still with them and one “Punkin Seed” waiting for them in Heaven; she “went to live with her other Daddy” at the age of 5 ½ months. Jim is thrilled, humbled, and grateful for the opportunity to write for this magazine.