POD #11: The breakthrough story

Tell the story of any breakthrough, comeback or turnaround you’ve ever had, witnessed or dreamed of.

Keep in mind that every story has these things:

• a beginning, middle and an end
• a setup, a struggle and a wrap-up
• a hero, a villain (which can be abstract, like fear or trauma) and people or things that aid, guide or mentor the hero
• an end result in which the hero is changed, for the better, by virtue of having gone through the struggle.

Make sure you describe how your hero was changed for the better on the other side of the struggle.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.

So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20‭-‬21 HCSB

This scripture jumped off the page at me. There is a spot in my life that I have only recently been able to define. Insecurity. People tell me that I am good at hiding my insecurities because I have an exterior appearance of confidence and assertiveness. Yet, I know the thoughts that go through my mind and I can’t hide from them. I find myself in the large house of filled with many types of “bowls” – God’s people. It is there I feel most insecure.

In my insecurities, I often find myself feeling dishonorable. Dishonorable. I can easily use that word to describe my past. For so long, I have been the clay on the potter’s wheel being transformed into something more useable for His purpose. Yet, my past still often leaves me feeling dishonorable. From where I came from, to what has been done to me, to the things that I have done, it really is, dishonorable.

I am not even one who can tell a pretty story “Then I found Christ, and my life changed forever….” Nope, I found Christ. Then I walked away. Dishonorable. It is why I feel so insecure with other believers, I feel like a hypocrite. I was a childhood billboard for Christ who turned into a walking billboard for the enemy. Even when I came back to Christ, my walk was less than honorable for many years.

After knowing the Lord for over 32 years, I should be farther down His path for my life. Yes, I know the Bible. I can quote scriptures, win the Bible drills, and minister to need easily with the Word. I pray, I read, I attend, I am faithful and fruitful. Yet, I let the enemy trip me up with the past. I hear him scream DISHONORABLE!!!!

That is why this scripture jumped at me as I read it. A truth to combat the lies that I listen too.

I am no longer dishonorable. Christ purified me with the cleaning of His blood at Calvary.

Titus 2:13-14 Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

I am a special instrument to be used by God. I am part of His own special people. I am not dishonorable.

Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Christ set me apart for His special work. He knew before I was ever born where I would come from. He knew what would be done to me. He knew what I would do. He knew I would walk away. Yet He created me anyway. I am not dishonorable.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God has taken my past, the dishonorable; He has purified it. He has set me apart for His good works. And I, I am blessed to be able to walk that out. I am honored that He would use the places I came from, the things that have been done to me, and the things that I have done to point others to Him. I am overwhelmed when I have the opportunity to see a life transformed because my life points to Him. And then I get to laugh in the face of the enemy that what he meant to dishonor me, God can use for His glory and honor.

This post is prompted by Tara-Nicholle Nelson’s
30 Day Writing Challenge for Conscious Leaders.