Do you know what you’re called to be when you grow up? Maybe you’re all grown up but you still don’t know! There is a destiny spoken over your life from the foundation of the world. God dreamed of you and he put desires in your heart that align with those dreams.
“We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!
Ephesians 2:10 TPT
Maybe you don’t yet know what God has dreamed for your life. Or maybe… you do know, but don’t feel like you’re qualified, worthy, talented enough, or have adequate confidence.
What do you think of when you hear MOSES? If you’re like me, I think of the man who received the 10 commandments, who led the people across an ocean when the waters parted, or even the one who wrote the first 5 books of the Bible! In the books of Acts he is remembered as “a powerful prince and eloquent orator” (Acts 7:22 TPT). He was one of the greatest prophets of all time. But did you know that Moses struggled stepping into his calling in the beginning? He didn’t believe he was worthy, qualified, or confident enough to do what God had dreamed for him. Let’s take a look where he started… right where many of us are, standing at a crossroads wondering if we’ve got what it takes.
The narrative is found in Genesis 3 & 4 when Moses is called by God to step into his God given destiny. God literally SHOWS Moses three different signs and miracles he will do through him to cause the people to believe He is “I AM”. The Lord tells Moses He wants him to be his spokesperson to the people.
But Moses pleads with God:
“O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.””
Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
Exodus 4:10-13
EVER BEEN THERE? Even if we narrow it a bit and talk about God asking us to go speak to one person about him… like in the grocery store or in the mall. Have you ever thought, “Oh Lord, send anyone else!”
Moses had lived in the desert for 40 years as a shepherd, after he ran from Egypt for killing an Egyptian man for mistreating the Hebrew people. Imagine the guilt he lived in and the many lies that he probably believed about his identity. But God knew who He had created Moses to become. He was sure about his identity. He could see his destiny. He knew the journey he would walk to get there. Just as he knows WHO YOU ARE CREATED TO BECOME. He sees you and knows exactly what circumstances to allow in your life to develop your character to step into the destiny He’s dreamed of for you.
The next few verses in the chapter, God tells Moses He will let his brother Aaron stand in as spokesperson. But God didn’t give up on Moses! Look what God says:
“Talk to him (Aaron), and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say.”
Exodus 4:15-16
You see friends, God didn’t say, “Fine Moses! Your out, Aarons in!” God had mercy on Moses and his process. He began to offer a plan B for Moses. Moses was in fear because he was believing lies about his identity. God could’ve crushed Moses fear, but He chose not to. He wanted Moses to conquer it with the truth! God had a special plan for him. And God was building TRUST in the heart of Moses.
God dreamed of Moses being His prophet to the people before the world was created. He knew the face to face communion they would experience together. So when Moses was in fear and was faced with looming unknowns, God could see so clearly who he was. He was patient and showed mercy to him. Just as the Father in heaven was patient with Moses’ process, so he is patient with ours. He sees us for who He’s created us to be. He knows our destination.
Do you feel stuck, unable to move forward with the big dream in your heart? WHAT LIE has the enemy come against you with directly in the way of your DESTINY?
For Moses, it was “I can’t speak, I get tongue-tied.” The irony is HE WAS DESTINED TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST PROPHETS TO EVER LIVE… “an ELOQUENT ORATOR”, pivotal in the story of God. Do you see how the enemy planted that lie directly against his destiny?!
For me, the lie was low self esteem and inadequacy. In middle school, I was scared to walk to the front of the room to sharpen my pencil in fear someone would make fun of me. Public speaking seemed like my worst nightmare. But over time walking with Jesus and learning to hear His voice, my life has been completely changed. I began to fall in love with Him. Seriously. All my fears began to vanish. I’d hear Him tell me who I was to Him. I began to see the truth. He built my trust through walking with Him everyday, experiencing Him lead me lead others through bible study, and seeing Him set others free from sin, sickness, and strongholds using my mouth! Now I see a little clearer his path for me. He has called me to be a speaker, teacher, author, and a prophetic voice. At times, I wonder if I can do it. But He is always speaking life and love over me and giving me HIS STRENGTH. I can do all things through JESUS who gives me strength!
For years, I’ve come under the lie that I could not prophesy. (Prophecy is speaking the heart of God to man -1 Corinthians 12,14). I would compare myself to others and crouch in fear. Yet God would tell me prophetic words of encouragement for others as I was writing in my journal listening to Him, and tell me to send them to the person! Now, I’ve broken agreement with the LIE I can’t prophesy. God’s word says I can! He wants to flow His rivers of living waters of love through us to others. So I am stepping into risk and seeing God speak His love through me. Glory to God! He is so patient with us!!
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6 ESV
What about you?
If you don’t know what God has dreamed of for you, ask Him. He longs to tell you. He longs to whisper His love to you. For more on hearing God’s voice, try out my new book: The Voice of Truth. It combines instruction on hearing God’s voice, addresses roadblocks, and will activate your heart to hear the Father speak love and identity over you as you make new habits of listening to Him daily.http://(Ashley-Edwards.com
If you feel you know but aren’t sure how to move forward, begin by asking Holy Spirit to help you identify the lie you may be believing. Repent for believing the enemy over your Father. Speak out the breaking of agreement with the lie(s). Then surrender to God’s path and direction He dreamed for you- no matter how impossible it seems. Speak life over your dream or destiny by agreeing with what the Father is saying about you and your life! Believe anything is possible with our GOD! Just look at MOSES!
““What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.””
Mark 9:23 NLT