Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5

Sweet friends, one of my favorite reminders God gives us is that He has designed each one of us for a special purpose. Before our parents even considered conceiving us, before our grandparents and great-parents considered having children, God already knew the unique qualities He would give each of us and who He desired us to be. When we were but a glimmer in our mother’s or father’s eye, God began crafting our talents and personalities to serve His great and perfect plan in a way that only we can (Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 139).

As we grow up though, the enemy works hard to distract us from God’s purpose and plan for us, to throw us into situations or near influences that can stifle our growth if we aren’t vigilant.

Sometimes the strong sense of justice God gives someone becomes warped by experience or upbringing or societal factors into a tendency to be judgmental rather than discerning.

Sometimes the incredible amount of empathy God gives someone is not supported by instruction in God’s great provision and that person becomes paralyzed by the sorrows of others rather than motivated to comfort others or take on issues to relieve the world’s sorrows.

Consider King David: When he was not focused on God, the same charisma and passion that made him an excellent leader got him into serious trouble with an ungodly romantic relationship.

And what about Moses? When Moses let emotion override his God given task, the same fire in his belly that saw God’s people freed from slavery and kept them alive in the desert for 40 years also caused him to burst out in anger at the people’s disobedience and break the tablets God had entrusted to him.

Christian, this old world gets on all of us sometimes, slows down our growth, develops an ungodly habit or personality trait…

BUT God, God always has exactly what we need to clean off the muck of experience or society or upbringing and embrace who He made us to be (Titus 2:12-14).

Dear heart, when we strive to follow Christ and to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), our talents and personality traits shine with the clarity and purpose God gave them.

God made you uniquely you because He has a purpose for you that is perfectly His (Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 2:10).

Isn’t it time to let Him wash off the muck and cleanse your personality of worldly influence?

Isn’t it time to allow Him to hone your talents into gifts of service?

Isn’t it time to stop settling for “that’s just how he/she is” and reach for “that’s who God made him/her to be”?

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