The two greatest tasks that we will need to take on in order to walk in the way of the Lord and to live fully for Him … are the costly challenges of becoming and belonging.

Becoming speaks to the journey towards Christlikeness that all of us have to navigate. We are made in His image but we will need to intentionally seek to bear His image so that Christ is revealed in all that we say and do.

Belonging references the discipline of abiding in Christ. While Christ will draw us near, we will need to nurture the desire for lingering in His presence.

These things are at the very core of securing a strategic spiritual position.

Becoming The Me That He Intends Me To Be … That’s The Only Way To Fulfill His Plan & Purposes

Bryan Hardwick in his article, “Becoming the Person God Intended”, captures the essence of this reality.

Here is how he articulates it for us, “The most important task of our life is not what we do, but who we become. Since we are God’s people, created for His plan and purposes, He knows what we are intended to be. And being in Christ and growing in Him means we are moving towards God’s best version for us.”

This is the spiritual posture that we want to assume … being in Christ, growing in Him, and moving towards becoming the person that He intends us to be.

Bryan goes on to say this, ” Peter’s full name at birth was Simon Bar-Jonah (Matthew 16:17), meaning “Simon, son of Jonah” (John 21:15-17). But as one of his disciples, Jesus gives Simon another name, Peter, which means “rock.” However, before God could do the work he desired through Peter, he first had to do a work in him. Over time God would take a fisherman with an ambivalent, vacillating and impulsive personality and shape him into a rock-like leader. And in God’s training process, Peter learned that in spite of his weaknesses, the Lord wanted to use him and had great plans for him.”

So, while we know that God has a plan and purposes for us … we will need to actively and passionately pursue these promises!

Becoming The Me That He Intends Me To Be … That’s The Only Way To Fulfill His Plan & Purposes

Here is what I have come to know … becoming the me that He intends me to be is the only way I know to …

▪ focus on what really matters
▪ find true fulfillment
▪ fully honor God
▪ follow Him wholeheartedly
▪ faithfully live our lives
▪ finish strong

These are just some of the promises and possibilities that become ours when we dare to accept this great adventure.

Becoming The Me That He Intends Me To Be … That’s The Only Way To Fulfill His Plan & Purposes

Bryan concludes with this personal challenge for us,

“Similarly, as God grows you, He wants to use the situations of life to refine and shape us for the mission he has called us to. God made you to flourish and to produce blessings beyond yourself. Flourishing is God’s plan and gift, and when you flourish, you are in harmony with God, other people, creation and yourself. And it means you are becoming the person God had in mind when he created you. It is moving towards God’s best version of you.”

This is ours to gain … or to lose.

I know I want to make this my own … and you?

-Terry-