Be All You Can Be

’Be All You Can Be’ used to be the slogan of the army recruiting ads. It resonates with me and seems an appropriate cry for all Christian soldiers. Especially in these troubling times when God and this world needs us to be all we can be, all we were made to be, do what we were called to do, to help make this world a better place. 

I am writing today to encourage you to remember you’re not a mistake. God made you for a purpose, to do something valuable. We all have a Godly assignment. Nothing you have done or will do, can disqualify you from your assignment. 

Let go of fear, let go of hesitation, stop making excuses and procrastinating. Stop comparing yourself to others and lose the negative self-talk saying I’m not enough!! You are more enough.  

God has purposed us for such a time as this. We must step up and into the purpose of God to fulfill our assignments for the betterment of our piece of this world. 

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As I get older, I can see the biggest tragedy of life is the one unfulfilled. It’s never knowing what one’s purpose is. At some point in our lives, we’ve all asked “why am I here? What is the purpose of my existence”? 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. Jerimiah 29:11-14a

I can tell you what it’s not! It’s not to live without real purpose. Working a job that sucks the life out of you. Hanging out with people who don’t challenge you. Watching endless hours of TV or mind numbingly scrolling through social media. Going to church every Sunday to never make connections or serve anywhere and forgetting what the sermon was about the minute you walk out those double doors. That’s not purpose that’s barely making it through one day to the next. It’s barely living it’s more like existing and spectating which isn’t what we were made to do! We weren’t made to live alone, we were made to engage and participate and make a difference,

So, what can we do to change any of this? Talk with God. Ask Him about your purpose! Pray. He knew you before he formed you, he knows the beginning, middle and end of your story. Ask him right now to show you your purpose. Ask him what your first step should be. Ask him how to take those first steps. Just ask Him!

Pray. Pray for God to show you the plans he has for you. Cry out “oh Lord, take what’s left of my life and make it yours. Show me my purpose. Make me bold. Guide me so I can honor and serve you. Here I am Lord take me and use me as I am”. 

Know and believe that you are important to God and your life is important to Him. Please don’t dismiss this statement or disqualify yourself because of the life you’ve lived and the things you’ve done. YOU. ARE. IMPORTANT! I know this to be true because Jesus died on that cross because he desires the best for you! He died for you. He willingly, lovingly took on all your sin and shame so you could stand up and boldly take on your assignment. 

God said.

““Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning; And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My purpose shall be done, And I will do all My pleasure,’” Isaiah‬ ‭46:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!”” Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Look at that. You are God’s masterpiece, his piece of poetry. He created you! He also created a work for you to do that is specifically tailor made for you! That’s some cool stuff!! You are soooooooo special, soooooooo important, soooooooo loved!

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

So, thank God for creating you just as you are. Your quirkiness, differences and idiosyncrasies are specially yours embrace them! Get to know and love who you are because God had a reason and a purpose for creating the uniqueness that is all you and only you. He made you then threw the plans away, not because you were imperfect and he knew he could do better, no, it’s because you were perfectly made in his image, and he had a special purpose in mind for you. Only you. 

Remember he established you before you were born, he knew everything you would do before you were in your mother’s womb. He created you for a special assignment specific to you. 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

The single most important thing for us to know and hold on to is God can do anything he decides to do in us and through us despite our past. We only need to open ourselves up and allow him in saying, “here I am Lord use me.”

One last thing to encourage you to step into your purpose. I used to think what if I don’t like what God has planned for me to do. What if it’s too difficult. What if I fail. What if it’s my plan and not really Gods!! All seem to be valid questions. But not really. If it’s God plan, you’ll love it because it was tailor made for your specific life skills, personality, way of thinking, and weirdness!! God never promised anything would be easy. He did however promise he would be with us, right by our side throughout our lives.

God tells us not to be afraid and promises that He will be with us to strengthen us and hold us up. Isaiah 41:10

God tells us that He watches over us and protects us. Psalm 1:6

God tells us to fully commit to our God given purpose. He promises us that our efforts will not be in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

God tells us he will give us wisdom when we need it. All we need to do is ask Him for it. He loves to give us what we need. James 1:5

If you do fail determine you will get up and try again and again. The best way to know if something is God’s plan and not yours is if it requires sacrifice and doesn’t appear to benefit you. Just saying. 

God will never ask you to do something or go somewhere that will total screw up your life. Who would that benefit? Have faith that his assignment for you will be something you love, it may not always be easy, and you may even falter at times, but it will be in your best interest to work at it and follow through so you may bring peace to this world and glory to your God. 

Once you find this purpose you will stop chasing things that will never satisfy you. You’ll find joy in pursuing the next steps God has for you. Go on step out God is waiting for you! 

Be All He Created You To Be. 

He will amaze you and you will surprise yourself!