Copyright 2010 Theresa Harvard Johnson
[Part 1 of 2] Father has an original plan for your life in Him — a very unique, individualized plan that only you can fulfill and walk out. That plan does not include imitating or copying patterns from the ministry of others or organizations and then trying to walk them out. Sadly, we see this everyday among the congregation of the Lord.
For clarity, I want to give you a specific example of what Father is speaking of here. There are people who have an idea of what Father has called them to do, but instead of waiting on Father, they begin to pursue other people and other ministries that are like theirs — and pattern themselves after them INSTEAD OF seeking Father’s will for what has been specifically given to them. We see this a great deal in the worship arts — especially in the areas of music and song. There’s a rash of people whose are trying to big like many of their idols instead of saying, “Father, what do you specifically have for me. Is this even the path you want me to take?”
Sadly, many become so engrossed in their quest for “stardom” or other goal that they completely lose sight of their own unique purpose and destiny in the earth. This may sound extreme, but it happens to people in the body of Christ everyday. A clear sign is not only when a person chases idols, but when they begin to worship themselves — becoming their own idol drenched in narcissism. There are people who are obsessed with what other people “who are famous so-to-speak” are doing. They constantly want to know, “How can I get on this television program like this person has gotten on this program? How can I get in with this group of speakers or presenters who are leading voices in this arena or that arena? How can I get in this magazine or that magazine like that person?”
The bottom line is this: “We are to move only with the strategic plans released to us concerning our destiny. No one else’s plan is going to get you where the Lord wants to take you.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14 CJB says, “For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ says ADONAI,’plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. When you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly; 14 and I will let you find me,’ says ADONAI. ‘Then I will reverse your exile. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have driven you,’ says ADONAI, ‘and bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.”
In Jeremiah 29, the people of God had been exiled from Jerusalem into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzer. They were homeless and stripped from their home but Father was STILL with them. He gave the leaders AND the people among them detailed instructions to follow by word of prohecy through Jeremiah — in the form of a letter. In that letter, he gave them SPECIFIC details on how to live a holy life. He warned them not to get discouraged but to begin building a life for themselves in the city they had been exiled to. While living holy lives, they were instructed to build up their city, plant gardens and eat the produce, raise their children in the way He had taught them and to love their wives.
He warned that even though they had been thrown out of their homes and into Babylon (the world system) that they WERE TO PROTECT THE PROPHETS that were with them. Wow! He wanted the people to cling to prophets and teachers that HE had raised in the midst of them, and to do whatever was necessary to ensure that they did not fall prey to the false prophets and teachers who were roaming the city seeking to devour them. Even after saying all that, Father gave them another powerful command. He said, “Seek the welfare of the city.” In other words, He was asking them to allow their “LIGHT IN HIM” to transform that city during the time of exile — 70 years. (Note that the Lord has a time frame for their breakthrough just as HE HAS a time frame for your breakthrough.)
People of God, follow me here. These saints were being asked to walk with the Lord according to HIS WORD for the next 70 years BEFORE he would bring forth a blessing upon them. It was ONLY AFTER giving them the conditions of their destiny that he released the passage of scripture that we like to quote in Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “For I know the thoughts and the plans that I have for you, says Adonai, plans for your well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future.”
What I want you to grasp is this: “Just as Father had a detailed plan for every aspect of Israel’s deliverance in this, he has a plan for your life. Your role in the midst of that plan is to walk in obedience no matter what comes your way.”
Father KNOWS what He wants for your life — far more than WE DO! We’ve got to grasp this. NO ONE KNOWS the plans for your life like He does!
From this experience that the people of God had, we can clearly see that the exile and the 70 year time of imprisonment was GOD’S PLAN. A selfish person would look at this say, “But in 70 years I’ll be dead or Father that’s just too long. Why so long?”
Father said this to me: “Follow my plan Theresa. Everything that you are walking out in your life at my hand my LOOK LIKE it’s for an earthly purpose, but the purpose of my heart is eternal. Many are the plans in a man’s mind, but only the plans that I have for them will stand.”
Some people won’t grasp this revelation. They will continue to pursue their own instead of understanding that one man’s destiny in the eyes of the Lord is a destiny for a nation — as we are all one people in the eyes of the Lord who are preparing for an eternal destination not an earthly one. Father was preparing those exiled to Babylon to spend the next 70 years living lives worthy of their vocation before Him, and most importantly, using this time to impart into the generations after Him so that they could receive that increase of freedom.
We can quote Jeremiah 29:11 until the cows come home! But I tell you, if you do not pursue FATHER’S plans and purposes for your life — your hope and future will be bound this earthly realm. People of God, that is what we are seeing today in the body of Christ more than ever.
The saints of God are pursuing THIS WORLD in their ignorance. They are seeking to imitate the WRONG people and the wrong patters because the diviners and the false prophets LOOK like they represent God. They look like they are blessed. They look like they have it all together because PEOPLE — call their names.
But upon further examination of Jeremiah 29, you will quickly see that (1) the Word of the Lord came; (2) Conditions were presented to the people; (3) Father made a vow or a promise of blessing based on the conditions being met; and (4) some very important instructions and declarations were prophesied concerning the end of this 70 year season.
Father I pray that your people grasp this by your Spirit. The scripture says in Vs. 16 that after all of these things are completed and every condition is met, that THEN the people will come to Father, pray and He will listen. THEN, they will seek Him and find him when they search with their WHOLE heart. THEN, He will be found and all that is due them will be restored and they will be brought out of exile.
Father’s plan is for a PEOPLE. Even our individual destinies is about the entire BODY OF CHRIST — not just us. This is why a sin in the camp or one mistep under the Old Covenant could cost thousands their lives. Our entire walk is about LEGACY. What you do today concerning your destiny in Father doesn’t just affect YOU. It’s impact ripples through every soul assigned to you.
I know it seems like I’ve walked off into a rabbit trail, but I’m bringing it back by saying this as revealed by Father: “It is imperative that you walk out the destiny FATHER has for you line by line, detail by detail. We can no longer afford to chase after our own pipe dreams or the vision of others. The path that has been designed for me IS FOR ME. What Father has designed for you IS FOR YOU. Yes, there are some things that He will call us all to do like He did the children of Israel in this biblical example. But I tell you, he revealed their corporate destiny to them; but each INDIVIDUAL had a role to play that was unique to them.
There’s a plan for you written in Heaven that Father want’s walked out. It’s original, authentic and as unique to the Kingdom of Heaven as you are in your uniqueness to God. Today, He is reconnecting you with that original plan. Are you ready to let go of the counterfeit?
TODAY FATHER IS SAYING: “STOP COPYING & IMITATING THE MINISTRY PATTERNS OF OTHERS. EMBRACE YOUR AUTHENTIC DESTINY!”
Copyright 2010 Theresa Harvard Johnson
