For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
The verse above is one a lot of you likely recognize. Rightfully so, because there are a lot of good messages inside of it: we are God’s masterpieces, we are all created to do good works, and there’s nothing we can do to change that because the work prepared for us came before we were ever brought to this earth. One of the things it doesn’t say though is what those good works are. It can’t say what those good works are specifically, because those works are different for every single person created by God. But we do know each of our works prepared by God have something in common-they are good.
How do we find out what work God has created us for? For starters, we have to be willing enough to talk to God and ask. And likely, He’s not just going to reveal your entire life’s works to you at one time. He will however, reveal to us all we need in its proper timing. In order to fully understand what God has prepared for us to do, we must continue conversation and form a relationship with Him. All of us are aware of characteristics comprising of healthy earthly relationships , and a relationship with God is no different. Part of growing in our relationship with God requires us to not only have a willingness talk with Him, but to also listen to what He has to say to us.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 NIV
As followers of God, we are the sheep and He is the shepherd. God speaks to us in different ways, but no matter the way, He will never say anything that goes against what the Bible says. I’ll say that again.
God will never say anything to us that contradicts what the Bible says.
Why is this important? It’s important because the better we know what His Word, the Bible, has to say, the better we become at knowing whether or not the messages we hear or feel are coming from a place that aligns with His word. If what you are hearing or feeling does not align with the message of the Bible, it’s not from God. Yes, it is as simple as that.
How is it that God speaks to you the most? For me, God loves to speak to me through my dreams. A message I’ve been hearing in those dreams recently is that what God has for my life if so much bigger than anything I can control. While at first, that may not sound like the most encouraging thing you’ve ever heard, it absolutely aligns with God’s Word, which says “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” Philippians 4:13 GNT
Notice that verse doesn’t say that us on our own are able to face all conditions presented our way, it says that by the power given to us by Christ we are able to face all conditions. So yes, while I face conditions every day that are outside of my control, and God has reminded me in communication to me that I will face conditions outside of my control, I live with the peace that I will be able to battle through every storm by the power that I have been given by Christ, and He promises the same to all of you as well.
With that, I ask, what kind of messages have you been hearing lately and do they align with the Bible? What is it that God wants you to know? If nothing else, you can rest assured, you have a purpose, and not just any purpose, a God-given purpose.