Welcome back!
God made you with unique interests, skills, and talents. For some tasks you will be gifted. For one, anointed. One of the sweetest things in life is figuring out what that anointing is and then living into it. Work becomes effortless, the ordinary becomes sacred, and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Previous toils and struggles begin to pay big dividends, both tangibly and intangibly. Everything starts to make sense and you gain powerful forward momentum. If thinking back over your life’s dreams doesn’t bring you any clarity, then think about what your current roles are, and which ones you like best. Think about what your greatest passions are. Think about what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and what other people comment on that you do really well. Perhaps it’s parenthood and your destiny is raising children who will go out and change the world. Perhaps it’s being an artist, or a business owner, or a teacher. Chances are excellent someone encouraged you about your destiny, and you just didn’t realize it at the time. What are the mementos from childhood that you have buried in a long forgotten box in the garage? Are there pictures you drew? Photographs you took? Stories you wrote? Business plans you sketched out? A note of thanks someone gave you from the time you taught a class, or did volunteer work, or simply helped out a friend? There has to be something that stands as a signpost directing your way. God speaks to us through others and perhaps the words were part of our ancient history, but they are there. Go on an excavation mission, dig up the memorabilia, ask those around you what they see as your gifts, and think back over those happy memories of creativity or service that stood above all the rest.
It can also be very enlightening to think about what you’d do if you could do anything without constraints. Suspend for just awhile the reasons your left brain will throw at you as to why something couldn’t possibly work. If your thinking still includes the phrase “yes, but” then you haven’t grown quiet enough to hear the message yet. Think about how you’d choose to spend your time if you didn’t have to worry about obligations or finances. This is a time to infuse your spirit with the grand possibilities of life. It’s a time to rekindle the spark you once had for that special something you loved to do. This is how you sort through your life’s experiences, get past your current frame of mind, transcend your situation, and discern God’s call for your life. Notice I did not say you decide. It’s a process of discovering what God has already placed there. It’s how you go from appointed for whatever you are doing now, to anointed for the task ahead.
If you and God haven’t exactly been on speaking terms lately, then find a way to make up and get back on the same page. Otherwise, your destiny will stall in its tracks.
Until next time, I’ll be praying for you to step into your anointing. It’s an awesome place to be!
