A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
Scripture for the Day (April 29, 2016)
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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.”
God has a great plan for YOU and He has gifted YOU to carry out that plan which is assigned to YOU, and YOU only.
Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes.”
Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
“Without repentance” means that God won’t change His mind about what He has called YOU to do. If God has called you, that calling is still there, whether you have obeyed or not. And if God gave you a gift—if He gifted you along a certain line—that gift is still there!
A great Scotsman who is a pastor, friend, and mentor of mine told me many years ago that “God will never take you out of your area of influence.” God has called and gifted me to do youth evangelism and that is my area of influence. I have tried many times over the years to do other things but God said to stay in your gifting and in the geographical area I have called you to. In fact, a little over two years ago God specifically spoke to me during a time of prayer and fasting. He said to stay within a 90 mile radius of Valdosta GA and develop a system in that area that you could duplicate anywhere in the world.
We, by the grace of God, overcame some financial obstacles and began to refocus and God has opened many doors and supplied every need as we have continued to step out into what He has called us to.
Sadly, I meet people all the time that due to various circumstances have lost sight of the vision God gave them and have neglected that gift on the inside of them.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 says, “Write a vision, and make it plain upon a tablet so that a runner can read it. There is still a vision for the appointed time; it testifies to the end; it does not deceive. If it delays, wait for it; for it is surely coming; it will not be late.”
Paul told Timothy to “stir up” the gift that was within him, saying, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (II Tim. 1:6). If you want to walk out God’s plan for your life, it’s time to stir up that gift within you and refocus on the vision He gave you.Just remember, God has a specific calling and gift for each and every one of you. Your area of influence may not be in a ministry or church setting. It may be in business, or health care, or the military, or the arts, or a million other areas. But one thing is for sure, no one else is equipped to do what you are equipped to do and no one else can influence the people that you are assigned to influence. It’s up to YOU!
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. (2 Corinthians 8:11)
