I was recently invited to a podcast to share my testimony and the vision of Fulfilled, and during the conversation I shared how my vision and purpose in life was delayed by my own decisions. After the podcast recording stopped, the host—a great friend of my family—pointed out that so many people have this misconception that God "will delay" your purpose if it's not "His timing," and how we use that as an excuse not to take action. I do believe that God "has a season to everything and a perfect time for every purpose under the sun"(1), but I do not think that God intentionally delays your purpose. I think that our purpose gets delay by our own decisions, whether you made those decisions consciously or unconsciously. As the great Dr. Myles Munroe used to say, "your existence doesn't guarantee the fulfillment of your purpose; you must decide to accomplish your purpose."
In this blog I would like continue with the second major factor that delayed my purpose for about eight years, and might be delaying yours too.
2. Lack of Identity
The second major factor that delays purpose is a lack of identity and a poor/low self-image. Through my walk with God and revelation of scripture I discovered that a person will never believe their purpose in God until they know their identity in God first. I first came across this true when I read the story and life of Moses. When Moses had his very first encounter with God through the burning bush, God revealed to Moses what his purpose was and why He had chosen him to go before pharaoh to deliver the people of Israel. But have you noticed what was Moses response to this calling and purpose? “But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?'”(2) Do you now see what was Moses first response? "Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go.'" Why did Moses had this reaction to the revelation of his purpose? Because a person who does not know who he is, cannot live out his true purpose.
I remember—just like Moses—when I struggled to believe in my purpose, my gift and my potential, and it was all due to my lack of identity. I had no idea whatsoever who I really was. It is impossible for you to believe you can accomplish your purpose and dreams without a strong sense of identity. Identity is what gives you the confidence and the assurance that you can fulfill and live out your purpose. For years I could not—even though I wanted to—believe in my dreams. Lack of identity will imprison you and it will robe you of your mental and emotional freedom.
How then, can you get rib of lack of identity? If you go back to Moses encounter, as clear as water is, God addressed his lack of identity by a revelation of His divinity. Identity is a product of knowing who God is. Reading from the encounter it says, "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.'"(3) You will never know who you truly are until you know who God is first! The revelation of the great "I AM" means the ultimate statement of self-sufficiency, self-existence, and immediate presence. God’s existence is not contingent upon anyone else. By the revelation of His name, God showed Moses that every living soul came from Him because He is the only living Source that exist for Himself and the only one who could give and produce life. Identity comes from who you identified yourself with. The identity that you possess of yourself is related to who you believe you came from. The secret to your identity is having the identity of God because we came from Him.
References:
(1) Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
(2) Exodus 3:11 NKJV
(3) Exodus 3:14 NKJV
Yes! Identity is so important to be fulfilled
Loved readin!