Читать книгу LIVE The Truth In Your Heart - Linda Taylor - Страница 4

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. - Jeremiah 29:11-13

Deep inside I have always known that God wanted to use me for something special. Even as a kid, I believed His promise with every inch of my heart. This promise worked well for me because I was determined to be somebody. The challenge I faced was that it wasn’t clear in my mind exactly how I would make this happen. As I matured, my desire to be somebody evolved into the desire to be somebody who could make a difference in the lives of others. I wanted to operate in God’s will, serve others, and be blessed all at the same time. This is what I call living!

I believe we are all here to fulfill a well defined calling on our lives, and perhaps like you, I desperately wanted to know what that would look like for me. Because of my lack of understanding around what my true purpose was, confusion grew in my mind and in my life. I have known for years that I had a passion for leading, inspiring, and developing people. This is what I love. This is where I am gifted and where I know I can make a difference. For a very long time, in my push to find my way, I became frustrated and anxious. I was ready for more.

With every passing year, my desire to have greater clarity regarding how to satisfy the pull toward living a more purposeful life seemed to grow. Even though I knew what my passions were and where I was gifted, the real question was where do I use them and how? I wanted to know how my passions and my gifts would play out in the bigger picture of my life; the living out of my calling.

Just because you know where you are gifted and what you love does not mean you fully understand the purpose for your life. Your passions are the things you do that bring you joy. Your gifts are those things you do well. When you are able to engage in your passions, use your gifts and fulfill God’s will by making a difference in the lives of others , you are living on purpose. This is what God wants for us.

I knew that if I followed my passions and operated in the space where I was gifted and experienced, more would be revealed to me, and someday I would be able to walk in my purpose. I had to accept that my purpose was not a final destination waiting to be found; it would be a way of life. Purpose seeking meant that, with each day, my actions and my thoughts had to remain focused on God’s will for my life. It meant I had to seek my own happiness first, and I had to look for ways to share my joy with others. I was on a mission to live my best life.

As vague as it was, I knew there was a plan, and it was originating in my heart. I knew that all the answers regarding how to live out my purpose was already safely nestled inside of me. I knew this, and I believed this because God’s word said so.

Even still, with every passing year, in a self-directed effort to find where I was meant to be, I took many roads. I tried my hand in many different things hoping to find my joy. I experienced many situations and the resulting negative emotions that would ultimately force my hand and serve to direct my life’s journey away from my true purpose.

I have often found myself in situations that I thought were perfect for me, only to be revisited by the feeling that, still, there is more, and more for me to do. When you find yourself in the midst of a self-directed journey, you can rest assured the result will be much less than what God has envisioned for your life. Let Him order your steps. Let Him lead you on this life’s journey. Trust me, He has a much better plan!

Your heart is speaking to you in soft whispers every day and I encourage you to take notice. It is telling you to stop, listen and allow God to order your steps. Just like you, I heard these tender words, but I could not bring myself to comply because I felt so compelled to try it my way, just one more time. I saw what could have been for my life, yet I ignored it, over and over. I felt so driven to follow through on the plan that was in my head only to find out that my way was the wrong way. With every move away from my purpose, I could feel the sting. More time wasted. More frustration revealed.

I continued on the path that I felt was the best fit for me, ignoring the promise that was inside. As I searched for my next move, I struggled with the internal conversations. Literally, it was as if there were two people in my head, and they were at war! One was cheering me on telling me that my desire to live in God’s will was too important to ignore and that I should actively listen to what my heart was saying. The other voice, the voice of reason, was constantly reminding me of the difficulty in this journey and all the reasons why change would not work. In fact, the feeling was that it would take a miracle to achieve what had been shown to me. This voice of reason was my mind operating on its own and void of faith. This voice reminded me that there was safety and comfort in the familiar. What my mind could see did not require me to stretch my limits, nor did it require me to rely on God’s supernatural strength. What my mind could see did not require faith. I was torn.

Too many times to admit to, I gave in to the voice of reason that said I would not fully succeed at living out my life’s purpose either because it was not clear in my mind, it was too risky, or because it would require too much sacrifice and was likely impossible.

Here is a tip for you: If you can see with your own eyes exactly how everything will work out, you are not thinking big enough. Give God an opportunity to work a miracle in your life!

The dream that lived in my heart and what was going on in my head could not be reconciled. I could not fully understand how I could make God’s promise a reality. With each passing day, confusion and anxiety grew stronger within me. I often retreated to my comfort zone, and I did not take action. There was an internal conversation going on 24 hours a day that told me no matter what path I sought to take I would not be successful. I could hear myself thinking that I would not be good enough, wouldn’t know enough, and wouldn’t have the resources to make it. These thoughts crippled me, and I settled in for many days of ordinary living, rather than the extraordinary living that awaited me. The promise that was placed in my heart was left untouched, waiting to be freed.

I was living far beneath my God-given potential, and I was not using my gifts for my good or for the good of anyone else. This was my struggle. More than anything, this stole my joy. I wanted more for my life, and more to be done through my life for others, but I could not make it happen. It was heartbreaking. So I continued living my life, unconsciously, and short of my goals. I could not find the energy to do what needed to be done to move me closer to what I hoped for. I didn’t know how to close the gap between the desire that had been placed in my heart and what was being played out in my life.

I was in a rut, spinning my wheels and going deeper as time went by. My actions were monotonous and just barely enough to get me through the day, the week, the month. Soon, years had gone by and I was still circling the same block, always checking my rear view mirror thinking about the past, and rarely looking ahead to the future. I was still in the same funk I was in years ago. No action. No change. I was in a state of simple existence, and I had no idea what to do about it.

I was slowly losing my edge and I was feeling like a fraction of the person I once was. The desire that had been burning so bright inside was dimming, and that scared me. I frequently asked myself ”How did I get to this point in my life? How and why did I allow this to happen?” I knew without question that my life was purposed for greater things. That was God’s promise. I knew it in my soul, and I was determined to get there.

Are you aware that there is an internal conversation going on in your mind right now about who you are and who you believe you were called to be? Look at your life and determine if you are simply going through the motions or if you are working with great intention to live out your calling. Is the real you allowed to shine through? Can you honestly say that you are excited about the potential for what each day will bring? When you sincerely address these questions, if your answers are anything less than what is ideal for you, then I urge you to take action. These are critical questions that will, at a minimum, start the conversation of truth in your life.

At a certain point, I chose to have this conversation of truth with myself. I began to recognize that there was this false sense of happiness that prevailed in my life that others saw and applauded. What they recognized as ‘success’ I knew was nothing more than a degree, a title, and a great salary. Although I was thankful for my ‘success’, I knew that there was so much more waiting for me. Deep inside, where no one else could see or touch, I had this gnawing feeling that something had to change. There was a sense that the life I was living was not the kind of ‘living’ God had planned for me. I was frustrated, and I felt stuck. I had a choice to either listen to what was being revealed to me, or, I could continue to live my life unconsciously. For a very long time, too long, I chose to ignore the symptoms that I was living a life that was incomplete and not for me. I was in denial.

As I look back, I recognized that there were moments when my heart beat with a special kind of peace. I eventually learned that the people, the situations and experiences in my life were there to teach me who I was and who I was not. When I had the opportunity to be involved in activities that I loved, I was motivated and inspired. The level of happiness that rose up in me when I was working to develop other people was almost palpable. I was keenly aware of what brought me joy, and I took note.

What I came to realize was that these were not just experiences and interactions with people. These were opportunities that served to open my eyes so that I could see what God had for me. I saw, very clearly, that I loved helping people reach their goals in every area of their lives. The people and the situations were there to show me who I really was. They were there to guide me to and through the doors that were meant for me. God was showing me my life’s purpose. The irony of this was that even though I was gaining clarity regarding my calling, it was still very difficult to make my move. I often called this feeling the quicksand effect. I wanted to move. My heart said move, but my mind reminded me, over and over, that there was a real possibility that I would not make it. So I stayed.

As I continued to settle for less in my life, there were times when my heart ached with an unexplainable emptiness. I often asked myself, “Is this it for me?” As great as my life appeared to be, there was a void that needed to be filled. Even though I had a desire for more in my life, I knew that I was blessed and could be a blessing right where I was. The problem was that everyday, piece by piece, God was revealing His much greater plan for me, and I was excited and scared, all at the same time. I was excited about what the future would bring, but I feared change and I doubted my ability to be successful. The easiest thing for me to do was to not do anything. So I stayed even longer.

While it was my choice to not make a move, at every opportunity, I would share subtle hints of my discontent with family and friends. I could not bring myself to tell them what was going on in my heart and in my soul. I could not bring myself to share the battle that was going on in my head. My limited conversations with them were literally my cry for help. I wanted to experience freedom, real freedom in my life. The freedom to be me in my fullest, that person I knew I was meant to be. I wanted so desperately to stand in my moment, fully empowered to be everything God needed me to be. What I failed to realize during this time was that the only reason I had not found the real joy that was flowing in my heart was because I made the choice to stay. Because of my choice to ignore the pull in my heart, I paid the price repeatedly. What about you, what is it costing you to not follow your dreams? Are you ready to stand in your moment, fully empowered to be everything He has called you to be?

If what you know you have been called to do and what you are currently doing in your life are at odds, you will continue to feel the void. If you are confused about your calling, yet you continue on your current path, consider this your warning. You are likely headed for a dead end. When there is internal conflict in your heart, until it is resolved, you will remain in your same state of emotional unrest regarding who you were called to be or what you were called to do. It is time for you to make the decision to live a life of truth!

My heart was now screaming at me. I knew that there was something else for me in this life, and I was determined to figure out how I would get there. I balked at the thought that I would have to settle for what I felt was a good life, but not one that allowed me to live a great life -my best life. The more I scrambled to resolve my dilemma, the deeper my dilemma became. When I finally decided that I would make my move toward living the truth in my heart, I didn’t know where to move to!

You see the thing about life is this, as smart as you and I are, it is impossible to know what is truly in store for us on our own. As strategic as we may be and as intelligent as we have become over the years, it is still not enough. We will not figure it out! God has a master plan for each one of our lives, and until He reveals it to us, we must sit and sometimes lie with uncertainty and many other uncomfortable emotions for a while. That’s life. It does not always happen as fast as we want, when we want, or how we want it to happen, but it will happen. Our job is to be at peace with where we are, then be ready to take bold action when the time comes.

I accepted the challenge to give up control and to stop trying to figure it out. My willingness to step aside allowed me to very clearly see that the attainment of my goals and the fulfillment of my life’s purpose was dependent upon my willingness to listen to what was being revealed to me through the people and experiences in my life. It was here that I would better understand the how that would bring my purpose into being.

My eyes had to be opened to the fact that, all along, the answers I had been seeking had been safely planted in my heart. God was waiting for me to slow down long enough to seek His will for my life. He was waiting for me to truly accept who I was and where I was in life, own it, then turn the controls over to Him! I had to relax and be present enough in my own life to see what He wanted me to see. He was showing me all I needed, at that time. He was giving me all that I could handle. I had to trust and believe that if He put the dream in my heart He would see it through. He made a promise on my life, for my life, and He does not lie. When I finally stopped and intentionally listened to the whispers of my heart, I heard the message I needed to make my move.

When God delivers the dream into your heart, He knows you will perceive it as an impossibility. Yet He will not try to reason with you, hoping you understand everything that is in store for your life. He has given you the dream and He is waiting for you to activate your faith and believe it is possible. If you do not take anything else away after reading this book, remember this: God loves you and He wants to give you the desires of your heart. He also wants to use you for his glory. You must also know that He does not play small and neither are the blessings that are stored up for you. Just trust Him. Whatever is in your heart, believe it. Remember, He said inconceivable!

God uses moments in our lives to fuel our faith and to boost our belief in the impossible. Pause just long enough in your busy life to listen to Him speak. There is something special in your heart that holds the secret to your happiness. You just have to seek His wisdom for your life, believe in His ability to provide you what you need, and be prepared to act.

My question to you is this: What do you believe your heart is saying to you? When you think about who you are, what do you love to do? When other people see you, what do they say about your talents? Throughout your life, God will allow you to experience people and situations that will bring you great joy. He will also allow you to serve as the centerpiece in trials that will test your resolve and push you to the outer limits of your ability to maintain control. Through all of this, He wants you to grow in every situation, and He wants to build your character. He wants you to look within to see how you respond and recognize where you shine, even in the darkest moments. He wants you to listen to your heart, listen to your life, and then be willing to move in the direction He is leading you toward. Your gifts, your passions, the people in your life, your experiences, and who you are fundamentally will all lead to your greatness!

Today, even though you don’t know all the specifics about how each day will play out as you work toward living the truth in your heart, I encourage you to be okay with knowing that the promise exists. Be encouraged and know that you will not travel this journey alone because God is your CEO! You must trust that your steps will be ordered, and the right people and situations will come into your life to shine a light on the how of your journey. You simply need to be ready and open to whatever comes your way. Be willing to make the necessary sacrifices and be willing to do whatever it takes to get you to living in your purpose. I need you to be sold out to the calling on your life!

You can be certain that your destiny, that which has been so masterfully designed for your life can also become a reality. You have to be willing to give up yourself to gain what has been planned for you. Let go and let God work through you! If you are willing to give up your idea of what the world has for you and accept what your heart is saying regarding your passions and how you can use them to live out your life’s purpose, you will have taken the first major step. God wants to lead you through this journey, and He is prepared to carry you when needed. Please, let Him be all He can be in your life.

My heart speaks to me, and I know that your heart is speaking to you. You have a choice to either listen to what is being revealed to you regarding where joy will spring from in your life, or, you can ignore the whispers, and sometimes the screams that emerge from your heart. Decide today that you will make a bold move in faith toward living your extraordinary life. Decide today that you will surrender your will in exchange for the will of God. Decide today that you will listen to the truth in your heart.

There was a truth that had been hidden in my heart and it made itself known. For years, with every beat, it spoke to me. Much like a sudden piercing feeling in the chest that comes and quickly disappears, I heard the faint whispers. For many years, I heard the cries within. The discontent, the uneasiness, and the frustration all hung out for far too long. My heart longed for me to listen and take action. I knew this was not who I really was and was not what was meant for me. Your heart knows you too, and every day you are not operating in your purpose it is sending you warning signals. Until you make the choice to go ALL IN for what God has planned for your life, you will continue to live a life that falls just short of your truest potential. Wake up and become aware of what your life is showing you, then make a commitment to accept your calling and to act. Someone needs you to live on purpose!