What Are YOU Equipped For?

This phrase was going through my mind as I awoke. What are YOU equipped for?

You feel like you are falling short. But are you falling short at being yourself? No you are only falling short at fulfilling someone else’s plans and ideas.

I still think that most of the emotional pain I have been feeling is when I  measure myself to someone else’s ideas, and the falling short I feel is in falling short not of myself or what I am called to do as much as falling short of the prevailing ideas around me.

As the Lord spoke to me many years ago, it is my differences that are my gifts to the world around me.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

There are good works predestined for me, planned beforehand, paths prepared ahead for time, prearranged and made ready for me to live. The thing is, will I live them, or will I dislike myself because I fall short at living someone else’s plan? Will I neglect to do what I am made to do because I feel so bad that I am not doing what someone else thinks I should do? Will I miss my whole life because of the pain of trying to squish a square peg in a round hole?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

He has been working in me that which is pleasing in His sight for many years. His Word has instructed me, reproved me, corrected me, equipped me, completed me, made me well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. What am I equipped for? What do I know I could walk right into and just do it? What comes to me naturally? What do I do when I relax and am not trying to live life and do the things I am “supposed” to do?

Hebrews 13:20-21 – Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement, strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).

He has been working in me all of my life strengthening me, completing and perfecting me, making me what I ought to be, and equipping me with everything good that I may carry our His will.

He has worked in me that which is pleasing to Him. He has made me for a specific purpose. I have a place in His plan. But I won’t find it looking to others and what they are doing. I will find it inside of myself and in my union and communion with Him.

I will find it in the problems I see, the things that bother me, the things I am made to be a solution for. I am designed to solve problems. I am created to be the answer to and solution to problems and situations in the lives of those around me.

Philippians 2:12-13 – So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

God is at work within me effectually creating in me the power and desire to work His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

I will never be successful at being someone other that who I am created to be. I will never be happy trying to fit into other’s thoughts, plans, or purposes.

Now, in these days at the end of this age, this is something He wants to bring out. He wants every person to discover and live His highest purposes and plans for them and effect their world.

This is also a change He is trying to bring into the local churches. So many have been hurt as I have been because there is no place for us to be ourselves.

You take the classes and find your gifts – but ‘then are only given a place to fulfill them to accomplish the leader’s vision. And even worse, you are make to feel guilty and lacking if you don’t get involved in the vision of that particular local church. Maybe that isn’t God’s plan for you. Maybe your main purpose is outside of the local church. The local church is a place to gather to encourage and equip one another to take our God-designed, God-intended place in the world.

But what is YOUR place? What are YOU equipped for? This is really pretty easy to identify – because it is who you really are.