In the movie The Princess Bride Inigo Montoya says, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means” and that’s what I want to say to all the Christian authors, leaders, speakers, and believers who continue to use the word destiny when talking about God’s plan for our lives. Destiny is what I believe we’re bound to without God. The word destiny in itself means fate or fortune, our lot in life, the hand we’ve been dealt, the natural outcome of an ongoing series of events that we have no control over. But a relationship with God isn’t natural. It’s a supernatural partnership with our Creator. He comes to us with His choice (giving His own son Jesus for our salvation) and lovingly asks us for our choice. Do we choose Him as Savior? If our answer is “yes” then what we see come into play next is what I call the “Promise Factor.” The Promise Factor changes destiny into a beautiful journey. It’s not about the natural outcome of a series of events anymore. His promise of salvation, along with every other promise written in scripture or spoken to us from that point on, supernaturally applies in our lives. It changes everything – our circumstances, our direction, our decisions, the way see people and ourselves – for the rest of our lives. We’re no longer bound to an uncontrollable outcome, but we begin living with promised purpose, promised direction, promised outcomes, in partnership with God.
In Joshua 14:12 Caleb is speaking to Joshua and reminds him of God’s promise. He says: “So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak (giants) living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.” Caleb and Joshua were the only two who spied out the Promised Land and believed all that God had said about it. Caleb did exactly what the Lord told Him he could. His destiny could have been to die in the wilderness along with everyone else who didn’t believe the promises God had spoken, but Caleb’s life was changed from one of destiny to one of promise the moment he believed and acted on it.
Think about God’s promises. Make every one of them personal. And think about your power to choose His word over your own reason. He may be the only One who ultimately knows your end, but He gives you the ability to choose and change it for the better every single day! It’s a supernatural journey full of supernatural events that you and God can agree upon. It’s your choice. The Promise Factor changes everything.
It is such a shame that such a beautiful passage talking about male-female -family relations Ephesians 5:21 to 6:4 is so misquoted, so misused, so misunderstood and used by naysayers to deny the truth of Christianity. This isn.t about me boss you slave this is about using Christ in your life to nurture and love and submit to be a true spiritual leader. Your voice shows the true lady described in Proverbs 31. INstead of buying and selling you are teaching and helping people grow with your music Thank you.
Yours in Christ,
Andy Brimmer
Love the point about destiny versus the promise factor. When we become a child of God, we become alive in another dimension that isn’t restricted by the natural world — in the world, but not of the world. It is a beautiful and transcendent reality. It’s the place where your music takes us!