Sometimes, we go to our jobs day in and day out.. and we’re so frustrated. Asking God– WHAT have you CALLED me to do? Why in the heck am I here? It’s almost like you stop caring about your life because you think God stopped caring about you. So since you don’t think that God cares.. you stop caring as well. You run off and date randoms, spend like crazy, drink.. smoke or do whatever fills your voids because WHY does it matter anyway? All this doing “right”– yields no results for you in your head. I remember. I would just have sex with my little boyfriend.. because that whole marriage thing took too long. Everybody else was doing it. Nobody would know. Right? Gosh, I was so empty & blind to my own ignorance.
I know the feeling.
That feeling like you’re walking aimlessly around this earth as it seems like EVERYBODY else around you is skipping around in their purpose. It’s like they have it all figured out and God is showing you your purpose .. last.
When I was 20 years old, I had an internship in Washington D.C. at Black Entertainment TV. I thought I wanted to be a Producer, so how fitting to take a semester off at Michigan State from my little random (who I just broke up with). I had just given my entire life to Christ & I was really pursuing God with all of my heart. It was the most loneliest.. most fulfilling season of my LIFE. I really fell in love with Jesus that year. It’s like the Lord placed this fire in my belly combined with .. the desire to never go back to my little boyfriend that played me & cheated on me with everything that moved. I knew I wanted more for myself and my life. I wanted my life to really honor God. I just wanted HIM. I remember a particular evening when I asked God what my PURPOSE was. It was date night. I had cooked Jesus some spaghetti and brownies. We just finished watching “Blue Streak” the movie.. and I just sat quietly before the Lord. Just talking with Him. After talking for about 30 minutes.. I told the Lord.. that I wanted to know why I was here. I don’t want to do anything you don’t want me to do.. I want to live the plans you pre-ordained for me.
So I sat there. Then the Lord said, “Heather, I’ve called you to preach my gospel all over this world. You and your husband will travel with world and share my name and millions of people will come into the knowledge of who I am through you and your husband. (Mind you, I’m super single). I will blow your mind my child. If only you trust me and let me take on the lead of your life– I will lead, guide and instruct your path. I have great plans for you.”
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! I was so excited! I wasn’t just a wandering soul!! (And neither are you!) I JUMPED up and ran and told my unsaved roomate that “God told me that He called me to preach!! I’m going to travel this world & share Christ!” — she lifted her head & looked.. at me & said are you crazy?! We work in the entertainment business.. and laid her head back down.
I was so sad. Why wasn’t she excited as me!? Must she be a buzz kill?! Then I went back to my room with my head down. The Lord said “Heather! You cannot share what I ‘ve called you to do with everyone. I gave YOU the vision, not her. In addition to the vision I gave you.. you won’t go into preaching publicly right away. Instead, you’ll work at different places and your full-time ministry will be your job. At each job, you’ll develop and grow in certain areas. Don’t resist the development. When you’re 29, you’ll fully step into ministry and you’ll understand the path I gave you”
Omg! I was so excited! God spoke it so clearly to me! I knew why I was here!!! Which gave me another standard. I can’t marry no fool without standards. He needs to have a heart for God & his people.
Fast forward to 9 years later..
Each day the past 9 years, I spent the first of my mornings and most nights with God. Not to get anything.. I just needed His presence. I worked at jobs I hated, loved people that lied to me and bashed me.. and messed up a ton.
29 years old continued..
So, I’ve been on the road the past few weeks at certain speaking engagements.. what I didn’t know that the the time I would spend on my face before God all those years would create an atmosphere where His presence is so thick in the room that women cry out to Him, pour out their issues & learn that HE is GOD & there’s none like Him. A year from today, you may not remember everything I say at a conference– but you will remember how thick and heavy the presence of God was in that place. THAT is what GOD called ME to do. I didn’t EARN it. I didn’t hope & pray for it. It was a SET UP!! GOD set it up. I just accepted the CALL.
Now, let’s talk about you. Clearly, as per the above, I was headed in another direction. I was going to be a TV producer. Is there anything wrong with that? No. I just needed to DO WHAT GOD CALLED ME TO DO. I AM ONLY GRACED TO BE HEATHER LINDSEY. You are graced to be you & to accomplish the plans that GOD has already pre-set and arranged for you. Your FOCUS should be to discover the plans that have already been pre-set, arranged and prepared for YOU. I want to share some practical tips to help you. Before I share them.. I wanna be super clear. Don’t seek your PURPOSE, seek CHRIST. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in what God called us to do.. while ignoring the One who created us.
1. You gotta get saved. Read ALL of 1 John. I can tell your saved the the fruit on your little tree. You cannot tell me that you got saved at 4 if you live like HELL & your tree is empty. The proof is in the pudding. Fruit grows slowly, so don’t be hard on yourself if you aren’t growing in certain areas. God will grace you but you must be intentional in GROWING up in HIM. In addition to all that, you are saved when you BELIEVE that Jesus died for your sins & made you right before Him. So, this gets rid of your carnal nature. You won’t wanna go back to little Tommy anymore. the old you DIED.
2.WE HAVE TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD. If you read EVERY blog.. you will see that I talk about how to spend time with God & the Journal Challenge. HOW can you expect to hear God’s voice if you refuse to spend time with Him?
3. You gotta LISTEN to God. Once, I took a job for the money. That was it. I wanted away from my current job & I wanted a job that would pay me more. BUT I had NO peace. NONE. My motive was wrong. I ended up quitting within 3 months. Such a fail.
4. Check out your atmosphere. Who are you hanging out with as you beg God for your purpose? You may have a little boyfriend that you keep having sex with.. but you beg God for your purpose. Babygirl, sin separates us from CHRIST. (Isaiah 59:2) There is NO profit in playing house with someone. IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM YOUR PURPOSE.
5. Be content. You may not have the most amazing job right now.. but keep your eyes on Christ & He will open your doors and fund the entire thing. YOU may have some really amazing things in your heart.. that GOD placed there. THERE is a specific time to which GOD will bring those things to past.
You see, your life is much greater than your job. It’s bigger than your car. It’s bigger than you appearing successful to some people at your church. It’s bigger than “keeping up with the Jones.” It’s bigger than you feeling good about you. It’s bigger than what you think. God created you and placed you in your mothers womb with PURPOSE. EVEN if you don’t feel like you have one. If you woke up this morning, God is going to use TODAY to prepare you for those things HE called you to do. WE will never arrive. So don’t get caught up in this silly world & it’s ideas. Don’t hang out with messy girls that bring you down. Don’t keep sleeping with that man that doesn’t value you. It’s time to change. It’s time to be the woman GOD called YOU to be. Sis, whether single or married… lets BE the woman GOD called us to be by BELIEVING HIM & livin’ this thing. I’m on board. Are you?
God loves you like CRAZY,
Heather Lindsey
Pictures from a speaking engagement a couple weeks ago.
