Time For A Change 8.14.2012

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God has allowed me to pass through a season of being uncomfortable. I believe God uses our seasons of being uncomfortable to propel us and to transition us into our true purpose and callings. Think about it if you were in a place where you were comfortable and complacent you wouldn’t focus on the greater that God has for you. Well I confess I have been going through a major season of being discontent with life around me. We are told as children to go to school, do the right thing and get a job with good health benefits as so on. And most of us did that. Then what?
 
I confess I did what the nice Christian girl is supposed to do. I live a holy life upright before God. I went to school like my parents told me to do, got the degrees. Got the job, the apartment and the car just like they said. I keep trying and working on my goal of losing more weight yet I found myself not being satisfied with the status quo. I found myself being very discontent with life. I thought that if I did everything the way I was supposed to do it then I would be happy, life would be good and I would ride off into the sunset.
 
Well life has a different story for me to tell. The truth of the matter is that even with my jobs, degrees and career pursuits I find myself being bored and discontent. I was not even using half of the gifts, talents and abilities that God has given me on a job. If I be honest I wasn’t even able to use the skills I obtained in school let alone my gifts and anointing. I found myself saying yeah, I have what I was told I should have but there has to be more to life than this.
 
As God has been connecting me with people I hear a resounding pattern in all of our stories. All of us were either stressed out, hated our jobs or not using our talents, gifts and abilities that God has given us. I have to come find out that as Pastor Jamal Bryant said in his message, “jobs are only holding patterns that keep you away from your purpose and destiny.” Now don’t get me wrong we have bills, rent, mortage and other debt that needs to be paid. I have come to learn that there is more to life than to live, work and then die. I love my parent’s and fore fathers before me but I believe God wants His people to live up to their full potential and really operate in the gifts calling and abilities that God has given them.
 
So through some unfortunate events God showed me that He would give me an opportunity to fully work on my dreams. Or should I say the dreams He has for me.
 
As I began to not be content in my career God began to reignite the passion I have always had for writing. It never dawned on me that if you constantly write, if you are obsessed with one thing, if you are happy when you do it then you should pursue it. Sounds crazy but when I was in school like many of my colleagues and friends I didn’t pursue the gifts and talents God had for me because I wanted to graduate from college to get a job and live the life I was told would make me happy. Although I am a huge advocate of education. I fully believe that you should go to school and get educated. The bible says people perish for lack of knowledge not lack of the prophetic, not lack of sign and wonders for lack of knowledge. I however believe that your motives for getting educated should not be to get a job or to even live better for that matter. I believe that you should pursue greatness so you can better develop your gifts, talents and abilities.
 
When I was in undergrad before I declared a major I briefly thought I’d purse a degree in journalism. I thought I love to write I have been reading and writing before most kids could write their name why not. Then I thought no I can’t pursue journalism I need to graduate and get a job.
 
It so crazy because when I had a job I spent most of the time either working on my gift or day dreaming about how I can develop my gift. All the while being miserable at my job and career pursuits. I know I have always walked in wisdom since I was a young child but this is one area where I confess I didn’t use wisdom in. I let others tell me how I should live my life and what was expected of me therefore I pursued a job and not work.
 
Yes that’s right a job and not work. In quoting Pastor Jamal Bryant in his teaching series, You Don’t Need A Job. He so eloquently explains that work is what the bible tells us to do. The bible never said get a job. He explains that a job is the world’s system where we are kept from pursuing our real purpose and destiny. I believe there like holding patterns used to contain you for about 30 years then you retire and begin to live. Work is when you are using you gifts, talents and abilities for God’s kingdom.
 
I have finally come to the realization after going through major struggles that I am a ready made writer as the bible declares it. I never thought or even considered that I should truly consider a real career as a writer until I was uncomfortable in my job but I was very comfortable at work as a writer.
 
I have been writing since I was a kid. I love it. I obsess over it. While I am writing this right now there is a stack of magazines on my right ready for me to read. Not because I want to read them necessarily but because I want to read what’s written so I can become a better writer. Then at the top of my desk there are six of the seven books I have written. I have all kinds of writing projects that I am working on. Including reading three books I have just picked up from the library. One of those books is a book about grammar and how to write. Although I know I am a gifted writer I still have to work on my craft I am not the best writer. I am the best writer I know, but never the less I am not the best at least not yet anyway. When I dream I dream of writing. When I wake I write. Writing is my magnificent obsession.
 
The point of this article is not for me to talk about my obsession with writing. Rather it is to encourage everyone to pursue your gifts. Pastor Andy of the World Overcomes Church in Durham NC once asked his congregation, “What would you do if money was not an issue?” What would you really do with your life? What goals would you really pursue? I would’ve pursued a job I would have pursued perfecting my gift. The great thing is that God said He would redeem the time. He also makes all things new. Remember our Daddy in heaven is limitless plus He is rich. He is not making decisions based upon man’s limitations and neither should we. He has great plans for you.
 
Although I should have pursued writing I have been given a new chance. I am a gifted writer. What are you? Seriously. What are you in the spirit? What dreams do you have the no one knows about? When you don’t pursue it, it’s like life is drab and boring. You are constantly left feeling depressed, numb and empty. However when your gifts awakens in you there is not a better feeling. It’s like you can breath again. You are at your true self. So yes although I don’t have a job right now I have more work to do than ever. I keep saying, “Okay Lord how am I going to get all this done.” The awesome thing is that it doesn’t even feel like work.
 
Life is so much sweeter when your gift is activated.
 
Pursue greatness ordinary just won’t do.
 
Beside you know your called to the Kingdom when your not satisfied with the status quo.
 
This is the season that God is releasing you from where you are to come into the creative indignation that He has placed on the inside of you so you can manifest His Kingdom.
 
Pursue to perfect your gift and don’t worry about the rest. Remember what scriptures says:
 
Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)
16 A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.
In Jesus name pursue, pursue, pursue!
 
The Lord will use your gift to open doors for you. Doors will open when you operate in your gift and only when you use your gift. Your gift is the key that will unlock the door.
 
The time to is now to pursue. The great wealth transfer is about to take place but it will only happen through your gift. It will happen only for those who when God’s opens the door are ready and have everything in order.
 
Amen
Samaria M. Colbert © 2012