EMBRACING OUR DESTINY
When adjusted for inflation, John D Rockefeller was among the five richest men who ever lived. But at the age of 27, his kerosene refinery was on the verge of bankruptcy. Then he got his big break. Cornelius Vanderbilt, the richest and most powerful man in America requested a meeting in New York. Vanderbilt was looking for a source of kerosene to transport across America in his railroad box cars.
Rockefeller anxiously prepared for the meeting, even going into his church to pray beforehand. But on the way to the railway station, his carriage broke down, causing him to barely miss the train. Rockefeller was devastated. Then a few days later he learned the train had jumped the tracks and crashed off a bridge, killing every person onboard.
This event radically transformed Rockefeller. He believed God had spared him for a reason. He had a destiny to fulfill. He rescheduled the meeting with Vanderbilt, and approached the railroad tycoon free from intimidation. Rockefeller's business skyrocketed, ultimately earning him the title of "America's first billionaire." Right or wrong, in all his business dealings, he believed he possessed a God-given destiny.
Our story may not be as dramatic as Rockefeller's, but God has a destiny for each of us. Otherwise, why are we on this planet? Psalm 73:24 declares, "You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny." In Jeremiah 29:11, God promises, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
This is critical in our day. God created us for "such a time as this." It's no accident we're alive at this time and place in history. It's our destiny. These are troubling days, but also the greatest time to ever be alive. Perhaps we're frustrated, depressed or angry that so many things are wrong with the world. We can crawl into a hole, curl up and whimper like wounded animals, or we can embrace our destiny with all its challenges. If you're unclear, ask the Lord to show you. Like Rockefeller, perhaps we feel cursed because we "missed the train." But trust God. Perhaps it's the best thing that could ever happen to us. Perhaps a miracle is right around the corner. Perhaps "missing the train" is the beginning of a brand new destiny.
Principle: God has a destiny for each one of us.
Promise: God's plans are to prosper us and not to harm us.
Ponder:
What anxieties and attitudes do I need to shift in order to step into my destiny?
Deep in your heart, what do you sense is the destiny God has for you? If unclear, ask God to reveal it to you.
Prayer: Lord, I long to embrace the destiny you put me on this planet to achieve. Show me what it is, and give me the courage to step into it.
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Jeremiah 29.
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional.