Become Who You Are
The Power to Change
Copyright © 2015 Letitia Hicks
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures quotations are taken from the New International Version of the Bible.
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Introduction
Who are you? Describe yourself in two words? Most people walk around being an impostor. An impostor is a person who practices deception under an assumed character, identity, or name. When we do not become who God created us to be, we do God an injustice. God created us in His image, and we have the power be everything God has predestined us to be. However, we have to know who we are not, before we know who we are.
Most of us really don’t know who we are. Why were we created? What skills, talents and abilities are lying dormant on the inside of us? God has the answer to all these questions. God knew who our mother and father would be. When God formed
us, He placed all the intricate DNA and abilities we need to
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perform our assignment on earth. We have to seek God for the answers to the mysterious question: What is my purpose?
God had a picture of you in mind when you were in your mother’s womb. He made all the pieces to fit perfectly together as you grew up. You have all you need to be who God created you to be. Your talents, skills, knowledge, wisdom can manifest to fulfill your predestined life.
We can learn a lot from people who overcame adversity, obstacles, and sickness to become who they are. Helen Keller became deaf blind before her second birthday. She learned to read and write, and became the first deaf blind person to gain a bachelor’s degree. Beethoven lost his hearing. Yet, despite the inevitable frustration, it didn’t stop Beethoven from composing some of the most sublime pieces of music in the history of man. Wilma Rudolph was a sickly child who had to wear a brace on her left leg. Wilma became the first American woman to win
three gold medals at a single Olympics in 1960, at the Summer
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Games in Rome. These people made the most of their gifts and talents, becoming experts in their fields. They heard God’s call on their lives and followed His call.
God is waiting for you to start moving. You have gotten the details and instructions for the assignment. What are you waiting on, money, skills, or people? God will not move until you move. You have a responsibility, and God has a responsibility to manifest his portion of the plan, as you take action. When will you realize you are blocking your own progress? You wrote the vision, now it's time to take steps to fulfill the vision. Take a faith walk and move. God will provide the finances, the people and whatever you need if He finds you actively pursuing the vision.
God will not force you to fulfill your destiny. Becoming who you are is a choice you have to make. Becoming a doctor, educator, coach, playwright or actor will require action on your
part. How bad do you want it? In order to move forward to
change, you must set realistic goals. Don't make any more excuses. Stop asking What if…this or that happens. Pray for persistence to keep you from making useless excuses. Either you are going to move towards the vision, or you will not. Point blank! Decide to be who God said you are. You will inspire others when you become who you are.
God will be with you wherever He sends you. He wants you to do what he has empowered you to do. Stop concentration on what you can’t do. Concentrate on what you can do. You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you. God has entrusted you to fulfill his promises. Start today.
Some biblical accounts are paraphrased but Scripture has been include for you to read.
Vision
God gives a person a vision, be it ministry, starting a business, writing a book or moving into a professional career. The person becomes the visionary. Usually, there is only one visionary per a vision—some exceptions may apply. The visionary sees and believes in the vision before it comes to fruition. Others will become vision runners for the visionary. Vision runners will assist the visionary and will not take control of the vision. The vision runner’s role is just as important as the visionary. Vision runners are needed with different skills, talents and abilities to push the visionary forward.
The visionary has to stay focused on the vision. That’s why it’s imperative to write the vision and make it plain. When someone
tries to change the vision that God has given you, just say that is not the vision that God gave.
The vision runners are positioned with you for a season to suggest ideas or concerns that will enhance the vision. The visionary has the right to accept or reject any suggestions from the vision runners. It doesn’t mean that the vision runner had a bad suggestion, it only means that suggestion is not a part of the plan God gave to the visionary. The vision runners should respect the visionary’s decision without hostility or resentment.
The Triune God had a plan to redeem man from the hand of the enemy. Jesus volunteered for the assignment of coming to earth to be the incarnate God. Jesus’ assignment was to bring God’s vision to fruition. Jesus’ plan didn’t change when the appointed time came to preach and teach God’s will. He said, I will do what the Father tells me to do. Jesus didn’t deviate from the plan because he thought he had a better plan than what God had
Originally stated; he accepted God’s plan and kept moving
forward in it. Today, God’s vision is still being fulfilled because Jesus was obedient to God’s plan. So it should be with the vision runners of your vision.
Strive to be efficient with your vision. According to Webster’s Universal College Dictionary, to be efficient means performing or functioning effectively with the least waste of time and effort. To become efficient with your vision, have the attitude of constantly striving to be the best. Then you will sooner or later get ahead in your vision. You will get charged because you are running with your vision.
Strive for excellence in everything you do. Do not be content with good. Go for great! Exceed your expectations by knowing “good” is sometimes not good enough. Give everything your utmost best. You will naturally see how this becomes your vision booster. When you strive for excellence in everything you do, you surpass your expectations for your vision.
No doubt you will encounter some roadblocks when pursuing your vision. Roadblocks are temporary distractions in your life. They are intended to take you off the course that God has prepared for you. How you handle the roadblocks will determine if you are going to fulfill your vision. Trust the Lord and listen to what He is telling you concerning the roadblock. Is the roadblock a blessing in disguise?
Some roadblocks are finances, divorce, job loss, homelessness or anything that has taken your focus off the path God has destined for you. Many roadblocks have made people stumble and fall. The sad part is, some people never try to recover. They raise up their hands and give up on their vision. In order to succeed, you may have to fall several times. Your failure does not necessitate the end of your vision. You have just encountered a roadblock. Roadblocks are temporary, here today and gone tomorrow. You have to actively seek to remove the roadblocks or to maneuver around them. To do this, you must
channel your energy from the frustration of the roadblock to
how to be victorious on the other side of the roadblock. The roadblock will only stop you for a moment. There will be other options you can take.
When we are stopped for the roadblocks of life, we must find a way to begin to move, again. Slowly, we will get back up to speed for th
e particular season we are in. Once moving again, stay focused on where you are going. Switching to another lane (or changing the vision) will not get you to victory any faster. If you stay focused on what God has called you to do, you will reach your destination on time, and you will bless others along the way. Stay in your lane; you might miss something (a lesson, an insight, a creative idea) that you need by switching to another lane. Staying focused is your direct path for your vision. Instead of switching lanes, work to overcome the roadblocks and proceed with caution toward your vision.
You have to become very intimate with your vision. Some people will not believe in your vision, and you will sometimes
have doubts about it yourself. You have to trust and believe God’s promises. When you are in a dry season, create a mental picture of your vision and speak life into it. You have to put faith and action into your vision. God needs something to work with. He will not do anything if he does not see you making steps toward your vision.
Make strategic plans and preparation by listening to God. Never plan according to your circumstances at the current moment in your life. Place your faith in God who gave you the vision, and He will give you the details to carry out the vision. Don’t look to your job or your bank account; believe the promises of God. Never stress yourself out by over analyzing how God is going to move you through your process. God said it, and he will do what He said. Believe! Pray for wisdom and discernment to follow God’s plan.
Everyone can’t be a visionary because the vision will take patience, perseverance and endurance.
Some people are not willing to make sacrifices to become a visionary. However, for the person who is willing, he/she does not have to be prompted to prepare for the vision. It is important for the visionary to protect the vision. There will be wolves coming as sheep to destroy your vision or to snatch it from you. Deviating from the vision that God has given you will put you in dangerous territory. God does not have to provide for your vision if you go to left field when he told you to go to right field. Once you step back into God’s original plan, you will have fewer headaches and less stress.
Trust God for everything concerning your vision. Do not put your confidence in man. Each day the visionary should be
thinking or preparing for the vision. The vision can be birthed in a short or long timeframe. It depends on how the visionary chooses to spend his/her time preparing for the vision. By the way, the visionary will experience productive and frustrating days as the vision is pushed forward. Your preparation and God’s timing will give you spiritual ease as you anticipate the manifestation of the vision. God has ordained you to bring the vision forward, so PUSH ahead.
The enemy will try to thwart your plans, but God's plan for your life can not be thwarted. That means, you will make mistakes. If you don't make mistakes while working on your vision your success will be limited. You have to be actively pursuing your vision for mistakes to be made. You are imperfect and you will falter along the way, but quitting should not be an option. Have faith in what the results will be, not what you see right now.
Leave your comfort zone and step out on faith and follow God wherever He leads you. Satan knows your kingdom assignment
and he is trying to stop you from accomplishing it. Seek God for a victorious strategy to defeat Satan's attack on your vision. The more you know of God's word, the more ammunition you will have to make wise decisions. If you want to follow God intimately, you can hear what He is saying, then you can fulfill your assignment.
Change with the seasons. During your vision season, you may not be able to take some people with you. Losing them may hurt, but they will slow your progress or may start confusion. Remember, seasons change, no matter how good you love your boots, you are not going to wear them in the summer. Wearing them may cause you to become dehydrated. That means, carrying people with you on your vision journey who hinder you, whether intentional or not, will bring negative consequences. Change with your season; you will move forward and continue to make significant progress.
Stand firm on your vision. You have to believe what God said more than you believe how people labeled you in the past. You will never convince others about your vision if you are not convinced yourself. You may be pulled from one place to the other, going in different directions or standing still and not moving. Continue to hold tight to the vision that the Lord has given you. The vision will remind you of God's promises and keep you motivated during times of trial and suffering. Keeping focused on the vision will insure its completion at the appointed time.
Being enthusiastic about your vision is vitally important to your success. Start by saying, I will be eager about working on my vision. Attack your vision with energy, and do not drag your feet. The more you tell yourself, God has given me a vision so that He can bless others through me, you will be driven to succeed. Get interested in your vision and the energy will come naturally. Being enthusiastic and energetic are attitudes that will
move you ahead in your vision.
You must be willing to do hard work in order to birth your vision. There will be a gap between the birth of a vision and the fulfillment—maybe months or years. Patience is the key, but you must keep moving toward your vision. Timing is everything with the birth of a vision. Don't push too fast or too slow. Hear God’s voice to get the details about fulfilling each step of the vision.
Questions:
1.Have you written the vision?
2.Do you need to review or modify the vision?
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