My Destiny in God's Hands

Men and Women of Destiny

I really enjoy reading the stories of great Christian pioneers and leaders, especially of people who have believed for the impossible and obeyed God, rather than listened to the doubts of men and done nothing!

In the eighteenth-century William Carey went to India and translated the Scriptures into many different languages. In the nineteenth century, Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland Mission and took the Gospel into mainland China; Charles Cowman founded the Oriental Missionary Society, and opened up an amazing work in Japan before the first World War. And in the twentieth century Jackie Pullinger took the Gospel and ministered healing to the drug addicts of Hong Kong.

There are many, many others – some famous and the majority largely unknown, but, nevertheless, very precious saints who did amazing exploits, in obedience to God’s call on their lives.

Reading their stories will encourage and strengthen you in your own Christian pilgrimage. They are stories of ordinary men and women who discovered their destiny and became agents of change for the Kingdom of God. They were envisioned by God, they responded with an uncompromising ‘Yes’ and history records the testimony of their achievements.

But What About Me?

I can hear some of you saying that the stories of such famous people are wonderful, but “I could never do what they did!” That is both a true and a false statement at the same time!

It is true, in that God never calls any of us to do exactly the same things as anyone else. For every single one of us is totally unique. We have different looks, different gifts, different abilities and different destinies.

But it is totally false for you to think that you could not apply the same Kingdom principles in your own life and fulfil your destiny in God! You can - and I have prayed that as we make this amazing journey together you will see the fruit of doing just that in your own life. We all have the potential to do great things in the Kingdom of God, as we enter into the destiny He has prepared for us (Daniel 11:32).

But let’s not worry about becoming great in man’s eyes, it is only God’s measure of greatness that matters! (Galatians 1:10) You don’t have to become a famous pioneering Christian, or have your name up in lights at some big meeting, to be considered great in the Kingdom of God! All you have to do is be obedient to the vision God gives you – however large or small that is (Proverbs 29:18, John 14:21).

My guess is that when the books are finally opened in Heaven (Revelation 20:12), that there will be many, many people who were totally unknown on earth, who will be considered great in Heaven, because of their simple faith and steadfast obedience (see also, Hebrews 11).

So What Actually is Destiny?

Sometimes people will come up to me at the end of a meeting and say something like this: “I would like some of your anointing, will you pray for me?” I understand the desire of their heart but generally I respond this way, “I can’t actually pray like that, because you can’t live my life and I can’t live yours. But I’d be glad to pray that God will give you His anointing for your life.”

Anointing and destiny are very closely linked, but they are not the same as gifting. It was the shepherd boy David’s destiny to be the next King of Israel after Saul. He needed many gifts to fulfil the task. No doubt there were many other people in Israel who had similar gifts, but it was only David who had the destiny calling of kingship.

As soon as the Lord confirmed to Samuel that it was David who would be the next King, he took a horn of specially prepared oil and poured it over David. From that day on the Spirit of God rested on David (1 Samuel 16:13).

David was being prepared for his destiny. He had been anointed for the particular task (his destiny) that God had prepared him for. And the primary anointing David needed, therefore, was the specific anointing that was relevant to his future role as King.

Finding My Destiny

The need to be valued for who we are, and to have a purpose in life, is fundamental to every human being. Life without a purpose is meaningless. We all need a destiny to walk in.

I first invited Jesus into my life at the age of nine. It was the best decision I ever made. At that moment I knew for certain that my eternal destination had changed – Heaven was now to be my future home. But I also knew that my earthly life would now have a purpose that was unique to me.

I began to pray for God to show me what He wanted me to do. While there were lots of things I was interested in, I was always thinking about some form of Christian ministry. My destiny was rising to the surface of my life. Without fully realising what was happening, I was beginning to understand what God had planted deep into my spirit – even before I was born.

This was Jeremiah’s experience and testimony. This is what God said about him: ‘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).

As Jeremiah matured into a man of God, he connected with what God had already spoken into his being. He was discovering what God had made him for – he was discovering his destiny.

The picture on the front of a packet of seeds is never of the seeds in the packet! It’s always of the plant in full bloom! The destiny of each seed in the packet is shown on the picture.

It’s a bit like that with God – He sees the destiny on the ‘packet’ which contains the seed of our life. Little by little we become aware of what God has in store for us, as we grow in Him and mature as disciples of Jesus.

Psalm 139:13 tells us how God created our innermost being and knit us together in our mother’s womb. It’s not just Jeremiah who had a destiny! God has had His hand upon each one of us since those very earliest of days and has longed to see us, as His children, take the place in life for which He has prepared and equipped us. (Ephesians 1:4-5, 1 Corinthians 2:7-9).

Later on we will see how Satan tries to rob us of our destiny and prevent us from fulfilling our calling in God. But we will also learn how to overcome the enemy!

God’s Strategy for Your Destiny

God’s fundamental desire for each one of us is that we should first find our eternal destiny in a restored relationship with Him, and then begin to walk in our earthly destiny as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

I was brought up hearing stories of two young women, Phoebe Lewsey and Ida Whittle. They both loved the Lord and sensed His call on their lives to bring hope and healing to children with leprosy in Northern Nigeria. They sailed for Nigeria in faith. There they established the work of the Albarka Fellowship in Kaduna.

They were unknown to most of the Christian world, but in their faithfulness to the vision God had given them, they experienced extraordinary protection and provision, saved the lives of hundreds of children and Ida experienced personal miraculous healing from advanced cancer.

One day there will be a roll-call in heaven of the lives that were transformed by the power of God through their ministry. They were living in their destiny. Today many of those children (and their children!) are now serving the Lord in different parts of the world!

Scripture tells us that without vision people are perishing (Proverbs 29:18). Vision brings life and hope, purpose and fulfilment of destiny – both to ourselves and everyone whose life is touched by ours. It is important, therefore, that believers should really look to God to envision them for their lives. For when we are living in the visions that come from God, we will know the greatest joy possible as we serve Him.

As unique individuals, God calls us to a unique destiny in our lives with Him. Whilst some are called to the ‘big’ things, others are called to smaller tasks. When the roll call of Heaven takes place God won’t be looking first for those that have achieved big things, but for those who were obedient to whatever was asked of them.

And It’s Never Too Late for You!

Some of you may be thinking that because the early days of your life were a long way from ideal or you have really got messed up along life’s journey, for a variety of possible reasons, that you no longer have a realisable destiny, or that God can no longer use you. If that is what you believe, you are believing a lie.

This is what Satan wants you to believe, for he is a destiny robber. His strategy is to so interfere in your life that you never realise the potential God has stored up for you. The good news is that Jesus overcame Satan at the cross – so with Jesus as your helper there is an answer to even the very worst of situations. Later on we will discover God’s answers for the issues that may be holding you back in your life.

You may not be able to start life again at a young age, but God is the great Redeemer. Not only did He redeem us from the consequences of our sins, but He redeems our lives from the pit. He is the one who can restore the years that the locust has eaten. He is the one who can take the humble offering of our lives, at whatever stage we come to that point of absolute surrender to Him, and build something precious in time, that will last throughout eternity.

All God asks of us is our availability and our obedience. He will then take whatever abilities we may have and as they are used for Him will multiply them in the service of the King.

I pray that as you walk this exciting journey, God will clearly show you His best for the rest of your life and then, as you walk in obedience to His vision, He will give you the joy of being fulfilled in the service of the King!

Summary

God not only loves and cares for each one of us, but He also has a purpose for each one of our lives. We are children of destiny!

Prayer

Help me Lord to discover my destiny and fulfil the vision that You have for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.