Not Finished Yet - I Am a Work In Progress - Be Patient With Me

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I saw this video clip and I remembered the cartoon below. They both kind of say the same story. It really got me, because I am not one of those people either who around you can just draw a line and put it in a box. 

“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts”. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:4 

I always wondered - what is the reason behind people giving up their God given dreams just to please and fit in someone’s box. Who do you want to please: God or people?

I think we often try to please people because we don’t want to be left alone. We want to fit into the circle, we want to be part of the club. We often give up to obey and please God just to be accepted by people. 

We let people draw lines around us to fit us into their boxes. Just to be accepted, just to fit in. This is wrong, because God examines our heart and see that we would rather give up our God given gifts and talents just to please some. 

Who is drawing the line around you: your parents?  Your Spouse? Your teacher? Your pastor? Church leader? Your weakness? Your inexperience? Who is telling you that you are not good enough to be more? 

Don’t ever let anybody steal your dreams by drawing a line around you.

Spouses can put you in a box too. How often a spouse will use its power to control and to put you in a box. Don’t let your dreams die. God will ask you one day: what you did with your gift? Did you bury it just because your spouse said so? 

Teachers can uplift and support or their comments can put you in a box forever. A negative comment in the wrong time can destroy dreams and futures. Look deep into your heart and search for what God made you and follow your dreams, follow your God given desires. 

Unfortunately, pastors can be the ones who draw lines around you too. In many churches people never get to grow, because they don’t fit the pastor’s box. Often pastors have their boxes where they try to fit people in. If the church you attend does not recognize the gift God gave you and you are not supported to grow then you have to find a place to grow. God does not expect you to fit in anyone’s box, not even a pastor’s box. You should please God not people. Don’t deify your pastor he/she is just a human like you. Your Pastor is not your God. 

Your weakness draws the line around you. Paul had a weakness and God told him that through Paul’s weakness his power works its best.  “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me”. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 

Inexperience and fear is holding you back from being all that God made you to be? Don’t believe that lie. “Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? ~ 1 Corinthians 1: 28 (Message) 

Don’t let anyone or anything draw a box around you. You are made for more. You are not made to fit anyone’s box! God made you unique to fulfill his purpose and will for your life. 

When was the last time you sensed that someone or something draw lines around you? What’s your experience in the church – does anyone tried to put you in a box? Would you share?