Finding Your Purpose

PUSH! Your Life Depends On it!

By: M. Ann Ricks

5/1/2012

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Luke 1:42

As I was cleaning my office closet, I came across my “rejection folder”. In this folder, I’d housed all of the rejection letters I’d received from my first manuscript, Awesome Wonder. When reviewing the letters, I recalled how I’d sincerely wanted to give up! Thankfully, something inside me told me to keep believing regardless of what anyone said. God had already informed me of my purpose and as a result, I had to keep pushing to birth my literary baby into the world.

Mary, the mother of Jesus was one of the bravest women in history. After all, she was visited by an angel and was told that she’d give birth to a child who would change the world.

She hadn’t even been with a man and she was going to have the Messiah?!? How was that possible?

She was soon rejected by her people. The same people who’d known her for her entire life now conspired to kill her and her baby. Think of the hurt and fear she probably felt. Imagine the loneliness she had to endure. Everyone around her told that it couldn’t be! There was no way! Nevertheless, she was told she would, “…bring forth a Son; …Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21

How many of us have been told by God that He has purposed us for something only we could accomplish that would impact countless lives? Like Mary, many are asking, “Lord, how can this be?” or “I haven’t the money!” “I’m too old” or even, “I’m too young!” Many are faithlessly saying, “I know you are God but HOW IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN?”

The answer, as it was with Mary and continues to be is…, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1: 23

Many of us are pregnant with a purpose. We are pregnant with a “baby”. We know we are pregnant with something awesome and so does the enemy.

Satan knew that when Jesus was born, the people of the world would be reconciled to God and be restored to their rightful place with God the Father. So what did he do? He used everything in his arsenal to stop it. Is he doing the same thing with you and your “baby”?

He turned the people of her village against her. She was shunned and talked about. She was made to feel worse than a leper. He even worked through Herod to send out a decree to kill any child born around the time Jesus was said to be born. Understand that your destiny is so impactful that someone may be strategically trying to murder your purpose or anything that resembles your destiny. But remember, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”

Have you shared your dream, vision or purpose with the people in your life and as a result, you were shunned or ignored because they didn’t believe the truth of your purpose? Have they tried to kill your zeal and excitement about what God has impregnated you with? When people conspired to kill Mary and her baby, she had to go away to live with Elizabeth for a time because the people in her circle would not receive her or literally the God in her.

Sound familiar?

Sometimes those of us with a God -given destiny need to remove ourselves from people who do not see, can’t or won’t understand what God is doing in us and surround ourselves with people who recognize the God in us and will share in our joy and expectation of what is about to birth out of us! “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.”  Luke 1:41

Yes, there will be rejection. Mary was rejected and ostracized. She was probably told by many that she was crazy. Some people have told you, “You’re crazy if you think you can do that!” “How do you expect to do that or be that?” Don’t you think Mary was told that there was no way could she be pregnant with Jesus?

Being pregnant with your purpose may be a challenge even up to the very time to deliver… LABOR! “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: …. John 16:21a

During labor, women endure great pain and discomfort. Some say it is the closest a woman can come to death. When birthing your purpose, you may feel as if you will literally die. There has been so much turmoil, hurt, anger and pain, disappointment and rejection that you may want to die. Don’t you dare give up! You are now at the point of no return. The baby MUST come out! I’m sure when Mary was in labor, she probably wanted to die but she couldn’t. She had a purpose! The Savior of the world was about to hit the world’s stage.

You too must BARE DOWN and PUSH! Believe what God told you and say, “… Let it be to me according to your word” Luke 1:38a.

PUSH out that baby! It can’t stay inside of you! It will benefit no one! Someone is waiting and they need what you are purposed to give to the world! You are the vessel God is using to reach them!

Yes, it hurts… PUSH!

Yes, people will hate on you… PUSH!

Don’t worry about the naysayers… If God be for you who DARE be against you… PUSH!

God has impregnated you with a Purpose that the world must encounter. It’s your baby!

Trust God, just like Mary! Once you have delivered, you will say, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God, my Savior. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name.”

With Grace,

M. Ann Ricks

Contributing Writer, B.L.O.G. Magazine

M. Ann Ricks, (Melissa Ann), is a Christian Fiction novelist residing in Bear, Delaware with her excellent husband and two awesome sons. She is a graduate of Rider University and formerly a national accounts insurance executive.She is also a motivational/inspirational speaker but she prefers the term, “Godspirational” as one may only be truly inspired, transformed and receive true revelation when hearing the uncompromised word of God.  M. Ann also continues to utilize her group insurance knowledge as a Benefits and Network Consultant. Lastly, M. Ann is a Group Fitness instructor as she is determined to keep her natural “temple” fit and ready for the Master’s use!She is the author of Awesome Wonder: The Gift of Remembrance   and The Son and has just released her third novel, THE BLOOD DONE SIGNED MY NAME.