Destiny – Born vs Found From the moment of birth, we are filled with the potential to know and perform a wide range of things. For each of these areas, though, there is a need for development to reach its potential. It isn’t just inevitable that it will be known. Many factors determine whether it is even developed at all –things like necessary surroundings, discovery, training, focus, tenacity, etc. Those who seem to have reached their given destiny did not just wake up to it one day but were extremely disciplined at maintaining what it took to find and stay on the required path. From the moment of our new birth in Christ, there is a destiny for us, abilities and potential, that will also require intentional development for it to be effectively known. What we have already become in Christ is a new creation with endless things that are awaiting discovery and disciplined development. There can be no expectation of an inevitable transformation, however, without becoming part of an environment where they are welcomed and instructed. Discovering and identifying with them there will allow the necessary path of growth and maturity to be followed. With faithful diligence to remain in Him in worship and humbly receive the revelation of who He’s made us to be, there is the promise of fulfilling what He’s designed and planned for each of His masterpieces. Who we already are in Christ will be matured and functional. The path to His planned destiny will not have been averted by a meaningless diversion, but fulfilled to its complete potential. Notes Discovering God's steps - destiny. Proverbs 20:24 (NKJV) 24 A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? What does it take to fulfill potential and fully develop abilities? Be in an atmosphere where they can be discovered. Discover what those abilities are. Identify with and own them. Have the necessary information and training. Apply diligent effort and faithfulness to the process. Stay humble about remaining growth. What will disable that potential? Lack of culture that will expose and nurture it. Being occupied with diversions. Ignorance of them. No identification with them. Apathy and laziness. Pride. In Christ – born again to new life. John 3:7-8 (NKJV) 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." As a new creature – new potential destiny. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. To be in Him is to be complete in Him. Colossians 2:9-10 (NLT) 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. To experience being in Him it will take training. 1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT) 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” Discovering promises enables developed divine nature. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT) 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. Paul – everything else is a dangerous diversion from His eternal destiny. Philippians 3:8-11 (NKJV) 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Overview: When born there are many and varied paths available to us with each its own potential. Our surroundings, discovery, training, and focused diligence all impact how much each potential is realized. When we receive Christ this same principle takes place in the Spirit, with many things to be discovered and identified with. Though we are born into newness of life with unlimited potential, it will only be known with continued revelation and disciplined focus. To be in Christ and growing in His likeness is to be valuing His presence and truth above all else. Prayer: Father, for what You’ve freely given me in Christ I am grateful and desperate to know more of. As I fix my heart and mind on You in worship, flood me with revelation of who You’ve made me to be in Christ. Grow me to the full potential of my new nature so that I may fully glorify You with Your displayed image. Declarations: I am a new creation in Christ with a great potential to be discovered and developed in Him. In His presence and by His Word the Spirit instructs and guides me into my new nature. With a passion to know Him, I consider every other passion to be nothing in comparison so that I may not be dissuaded from discovering my destiny in Him. I humbly remain in continual pursuit of discovering who He’s made me to be so that I may glorify Him on the path He guides me.