“The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],” Luke 4:18 (AMPC).

My Testimony

Many years ago, after being asked by the Lord to begin singing out around our community. I was putting up an argument with Him about my poor singing talent and comparing myself to other nationally known singers who I admired.

He first rebuked me very sternly with these words. “I never want to hear you compare yourself, or put down the gift that I have died to place inside of you!”

He gave me a song immediately from that conversation with Him, but then I had the nerve to say to Him. Why me God? There are way more talented people out there than I am. He then said to me, “Why not you?”

You were born with a purpose

You see, when we are born again and filled with the Spirit of God, we are all given gifts and talents,not only for our purpose, but for a certain group of people that we are called to!

That group may not be the same as the group or family, or even church, that another person is called to, but it is who He has called us to.

Jesus told the Father that he had been faithful with all of those that He had given to Him.

John 17:12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost,” You see, He was faithful to His calling!

Be Faithful in what He has called you to

God has Given each of us and called each of us to certain callings,given us talents, gifts, and anointed us for certain tasks in the earth and when He calls us, He calls us to be faithful to that.

If we are always trying to compare ourselves with someone else ,then we are out of line with our calling and are actually wasting our time here on earth! We are to be faithful to what he has called us to do, no matter what that is!

This is what the Apostle Paul called his measure of rule

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:12-14 (KJV).

Word of The Lord

The Lord is saying to me today and to many of you who are struggling to do what He has called you to do, because of thinking you do not measure up.

“I have gifted you and given you an anointing for those that I have given you! Look around you, the fields are ripe for the harvest, only you begin to see your “Measure of rule” and begin to focus on that which I have called you to be faithful in!

You are created for such a time as this, with the calling, gifts, and talents that I have given you! I have anointed You for a people that only you have been called to reach!

Do not compare yourself with anyone else’s calling nor fret about who I have not called you to be! Why do you wear yourselves out trying to be something that you were never created to be?

I have made you unique for the task ahead! I have designed you, called you, set you in the place that I have intended you to be, given you the desires in your heart, even brought you up in a way that would be conducive to what you are called to do!

You were and are not a mistake! You are all that I need you to be, as you follow me! And so I say to you! “Why not you?”

I say to you, “Focus!” Focus on YOUR calling! Hone YOUR gifts and talents!

Go into YOUR measure of rule and be the best YOU being filled with MY SPIRIT that YOU can be, and bring Me that which I gave My life for and then, you will hear the words “My good and faithful servant!”

 

~ by Jo Ellen Stevens
Arise Shine!

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Jo Ellen Stevens of TCIC Ministries is a Prophetic speaker, author, worshiper and intercessor. She has ministered with her husband for 23 years and was a worship leader at the Assembly of God for many years. She is an ordained minister (Restoration Ministries) and works with Restoration Ministries in their Ministry Rooms doing prophetic worship with her husband. She has taught many bible studies and have led many intercessory prayer groups.