By Nikki Johnson
I’m dangerous. I know. I say what I mean and the filter that keeps my thoughts from showing up on my face is non-existent. This level of transparency often gets me in trouble. Not that I mind because that way I don’t have to make any apologies for just being myself. I haven’t always had the privilege of being this way. My twenties and early thirties are filled with moments when I denied what I really felt or thought, to only be replaced with the acceptance of lies, broken promises, undermining propositions and boxes that I should have never fit in to begin with. As I approach the wonderful age of 40 (117 Days away), I’m finding that defining who I am, was never a job description for anyone, including myself. So I said to myself and others, in the infamous words of Donald Trump, “You’re Fired!” Yep…I fired myself. Pink slip and all. No severance package, no COBRA plan, no two-week notice, and no farewell party. Just a “kick rocks with no shoes on” goodbye.
The Bible I love and profess as the map for my life tells me in Jeremiah 1:5 that God says “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”. Stop the presses! The word knew in this context means to be intimately aware. Have you ever had somebody tell you “I know you better than you know yourself”? I have and it irks the living bejesus out of me. How dare somebody that does not live my life or have my experience dare to cross the holy threshold that I have set up for myself, to only allow those of my choosing to enter? Well God does just that in this one little verse. Jeremiah gets a Western Union telegram from God that says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew (and) approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (AMP). Immediately in verse 6, Jeremiah replies with a definition contrary to what God has just spoken: “Then said I, Ah Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth.” I wonder who put it in Jeremiah’s mind that he was incapable of doing what the Creator of the universe declared about him. Was it a well-meaning teacher who did not understand his call and purpose? Was it a loose-lipped uncle who told him that he could never live up to the family legacy of priests? Was it a neighbor who dared to question if he was really a prophet of God? Or could it have been Jeremiah himself who just did not have the confidence and faith it took to really believe that God would dare to send His word to him?
The gracious and loving Father immediately assures Jeremiah of his calling, direction, and purpose. He reminds Jeremiah that He will be with him always. None of the “I am only” thoughts matter when God has already defined who you are. Imagine that. The infinite, immeasurable God has taken the time out of his busy existence, to involve Himself in the minutia of your life to give it reason, purpose, destiny, and resources. And he did all of that before your mother and father even met each other and decided that the other was worthy of any amount of time they would spend with each other. If God can do all of that for me, then it becomes my responsibility to not try and recreate the creation but to search out the intended purpose. There is a great adage that says “If you do not understand the purpose of a thing, you’ll abuse it”. The same can be said of our own self- image and definition.
Do yourself a great service and terminate those people, places, things, and mindsets, which attempt to quantify who you are without the benefit of a divine word from the Lord, your Creator. God is very detailed-oriented. He has a successful track record. His work has yielded a great return on His investment. The processes he implemented in the beginning are still considered the best practices. In the instance of your life and purpose, and for the sake of generations to come, God meets every service level agreement (SLA), and will always be considered the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for your life. The best part of all is that His consultant’s fee is something you already have – your life. Yield to Him and He will provide everything you need to make the Fortune 500 list of kingdom living.
While I pray that you have enjoyed the assemblage of words gathered here, I am all about practical application. Here are a few points to help you release yourself from the bondage of unhealthy definitions and walk in the liberation that God provides in His divine calling and appointment:
1. It is okay to say NO! No is one of the most powerful words in any language with the least amount of letters. Being a “people pleaser” is the easiest way down a slippery slope of wrongful definition. For example, you may be a great administrator. However, if that is not what God has ordained for you to do in a particular season in your life, no matter how great you are at it, learn to “just say no”. Saying no will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and will keep frustration at bay. Saying yes when you are supposed to say no may be keeping another person from walking in their full destiny because you are in the way.
2. Get out of your comfort zone. You will never grow and learn if you stay where you are. Runners training for a specific distance or time push themselves to go a little further or longer every time they dare to put their feet to the pavement. Bodybuilders understand that to build muscle, you have to add more weight along the way. Try something new. Be bold. Be courageous. Even if you fail miserably, you will have succeeded in finding what works for you and what does not.
3. Pray. As stated before, God is very detailed oriented. It is our job to find out what those details are. I believe that He may not give us all of the details all at once because we may not return to Him to find Him. I believe that He wants us to want Him just as much as He wants us. So God is a tease. Yes I said it (No filter moment – see above). He builds precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little (Isaiah 28:10). How else do you get to know someone? Communication is of the utmost importance in building relationship and a way to communicate with God is through prayer.
4. Have FUN! Enjoy Jesus (Hallelujah)! Please, for me and the rest of the world that needs your witness, SMILE! LAUGH! There is a time and a place for mourning, but my bible also says “Joy comes in the morning”. Trust me when I say that I understand the drain of a succession of nights, but after night comes morning. Somewhere in the world, when you are in your night, there is a morning somewhere. Our perspective is half of the battle. Youtube videos are a great source of comedy. If you stream radio, you can create a radio station of clean comedy. Redeem time with those who mean the most to you in the world. Surround yourself with people who you can just be you with and with people who will affirm your importance in their lives.
The Bible I love and profess as the map for my life tells me in Jeremiah 1:5 that God says “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”. Stop the presses! The word knew in this context means to be intimately aware. Have you ever had somebody tell you “I know you better than you know yourself”? I have and it irks the living bejesus out of me. How dare somebody that does not live my life or have my experience dare to cross the holy threshold that I have set up for myself, to only allow those of my choosing to enter? Well God does just that in this one little verse. Jeremiah gets a Western Union telegram from God that says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew (and) approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (AMP). Immediately in verse 6, Jeremiah replies with a definition contrary to what God has just spoken: “Then said I, Ah Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth.” I wonder who put it in Jeremiah’s mind that he was incapable of doing what the Creator of the universe declared about him. Was it a well-meaning teacher who did not understand his call and purpose? Was it a loose-lipped uncle who told him that he could never live up to the family legacy of priests? Was it a neighbor who dared to question if he was really a prophet of God? Or could it have been Jeremiah himself who just did not have the confidence and faith it took to really believe that God would dare to send His word to him?
The gracious and loving Father immediately assures Jeremiah of his calling, direction, and purpose. He reminds Jeremiah that He will be with him always. None of the “I am only” thoughts matter when God has already defined who you are. Imagine that. The infinite, immeasurable God has taken the time out of his busy existence, to involve Himself in the minutia of your life to give it reason, purpose, destiny, and resources. And he did all of that before your mother and father even met each other and decided that the other was worthy of any amount of time they would spend with each other. If God can do all of that for me, then it becomes my responsibility to not try and recreate the creation but to search out the intended purpose. There is a great adage that says “If you do not understand the purpose of a thing, you’ll abuse it”. The same can be said of our own self- image and definition.
Do yourself a great service and terminate those people, places, things, and mindsets, which attempt to quantify who you are without the benefit of a divine word from the Lord, your Creator. God is very detailed-oriented. He has a successful track record. His work has yielded a great return on His investment. The processes he implemented in the beginning are still considered the best practices. In the instance of your life and purpose, and for the sake of generations to come, God meets every service level agreement (SLA), and will always be considered the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for your life. The best part of all is that His consultant’s fee is something you already have – your life. Yield to Him and He will provide everything you need to make the Fortune 500 list of kingdom living.
While I pray that you have enjoyed the assemblage of words gathered here, I am all about practical application. Here are a few points to help you release yourself from the bondage of unhealthy definitions and walk in the liberation that God provides in His divine calling and appointment:
1. It is okay to say NO! No is one of the most powerful words in any language with the least amount of letters. Being a “people pleaser” is the easiest way down a slippery slope of wrongful definition. For example, you may be a great administrator. However, if that is not what God has ordained for you to do in a particular season in your life, no matter how great you are at it, learn to “just say no”. Saying no will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and will keep frustration at bay. Saying yes when you are supposed to say no may be keeping another person from walking in their full destiny because you are in the way.
2. Get out of your comfort zone. You will never grow and learn if you stay where you are. Runners training for a specific distance or time push themselves to go a little further or longer every time they dare to put their feet to the pavement. Bodybuilders understand that to build muscle, you have to add more weight along the way. Try something new. Be bold. Be courageous. Even if you fail miserably, you will have succeeded in finding what works for you and what does not.
3. Pray. As stated before, God is very detailed oriented. It is our job to find out what those details are. I believe that He may not give us all of the details all at once because we may not return to Him to find Him. I believe that He wants us to want Him just as much as He wants us. So God is a tease. Yes I said it (No filter moment – see above). He builds precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little (Isaiah 28:10). How else do you get to know someone? Communication is of the utmost importance in building relationship and a way to communicate with God is through prayer.
4. Have FUN! Enjoy Jesus (Hallelujah)! Please, for me and the rest of the world that needs your witness, SMILE! LAUGH! There is a time and a place for mourning, but my bible also says “Joy comes in the morning”. Trust me when I say that I understand the drain of a succession of nights, but after night comes morning. Somewhere in the world, when you are in your night, there is a morning somewhere. Our perspective is half of the battle. Youtube videos are a great source of comedy. If you stream radio, you can create a radio station of clean comedy. Redeem time with those who mean the most to you in the world. Surround yourself with people who you can just be you with and with people who will affirm your importance in their lives.
