Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” with the point being that we should live with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
This is the main scripture we will be looking at this year:
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
Today, we will also look at:
(Ephesians 1:11 KJV)
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
Setting the stage.
All year, I have been driving home that we have a fixed purpose for this season. God has been to the end of 2024, and He established His purpose for this season, for our lives specifically, before the world began. The text we are adding to Proverbs 4:25 today, Ephesians 1:11, tells us a few things:
— Those of us who are in Christ have received an inheritance.
— We were predestined according to our purpose.
— This purpose was established by the one who makes all things work together for the counsel of His own will.
When you put all of this together within the context of our theme for the year (Laser Focus on God’s Fixed Purpose), it helps us to put the emphasis of our lives on God, His predestined purpose, and the amazing inheritance He has blessed us to walk in and enjoy.
1. Understanding Our Divine Inheritance.
— Pastor Cynthia Brazelton said, “There is a difference between an inheritance and a harvest. Harvest comes because of what I do. Inheritance comes because of WHO I AM!”
— Recognize that our inheritance from God isn’t earned; it’s a gift planned before the world began, highlighting God’s forethought and intentionality for our lives.
Ephesians 1:11 emphasizes that we have obtained an inheritance predestined by God, which means our lives and blessings are part of a divine design.
— Distinguish between blessings received from sowing and reaping and those that are part of our divine inheritance, understanding both are ways God blesses us but from different origins.
— Grasp the breadth of this inheritance: spiritual blessings, purpose, identity, and eternal destiny, all rooted in our relationship with Christ.
— Embrace the role of the Holy Spirit as the guarantor of our inheritance, sealing us and ensuring the delivery of what has been promised by God (see Eph 1:13).
— Reflect on the purpose of our inheritance, which goes beyond personal blessing to equip us for God’s work, making us a blessing to others.
2. Living in the Reality of Our Inheritance.
(Romans 8:16, 17 TPT)
16 For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”
17 And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that he is and all that he has.
— Live with an awareness of your identity as a child of God, co-heirs with Christ, which shapes how you approach life’s challenges and opportunities.
— Exercise faith in claiming God’s promises that are part of your inheritance. Understand that some blessings do not come from a seed you sow; they come from the faith you activate. Your faith lays hold of the grace already made available to you.
— Prioritize spiritual growth and alignment with God’s will, as understanding and walking in our inheritance often requires spiritual maturity and discernment.
— Practice stewardship over the blessings and responsibilities that come with our inheritance, recognizing that we’re called to manage them in a way that honors God and expands His Kingdom.
— Navigate life’s ups and downs with the assurance of your inheritance, letting this confidence shape your responses to blessings and trials. You face things (good and bad) differently when you are aware of what is outside of you, conscious of God’s presence and His grace-based dedication to His purpose for your life.
3. The Eternal Perspective of Our Inheritance.
— Cultivate an eternal perspective, recognizing that our inheritance encompasses not just the blessings of this life but also the unfathomable riches of eternity with God.
— Living with an eternal perspective will drastically impact how you deal with the temporary challenges of this present world.
— Paul said it this way, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18 KJV).
— Understand that our actions and decisions today have implications for our eternal inheritance, encouraging us to live lives that reflect God’s values and priorities.
— Find comfort in knowing that our inheritance includes victory over sin and death (satan’s dynamic duo), assuring us of our eternal security and hope in Christ.
— Anticipate the full revelation of our inheritance, which will be fully realized in the new heaven and new earth, fueling our hope amid the world’s temporary trials. You get this picture when you read the end of the book (Revelations 21).
— Celebrate the unity we share with all believers as part of God’s family, destined to enjoy our inheritance together in God’s presence. Not only that but for now, we get to enjoy one another and support each other as members of God’s family. This is part of your inheritance, too!
— Anchor your hope in the promises of God, allowing the certainty of our eternal inheritance to bring peace and joy into your daily life despite the temporary nature of earthly circumstances.
— Enter every day knowing that some things will come to you because of what you have sown. Other things will come to you because of who you are in Christ Jesus. These things you don’t work for or sow for; you just receive by faith!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I acknowledge my divine inheritance, which was planned for me before the world began, as a testament to Your love and purpose for my life.
I know many things come to me in this world as a result of the seeds I sow. I also know that many of Your blessings do not come from what I do. They come from who I am. I am Your child, a joint heir with Jesus, and I fully enjoy the amazing inheritance You have stored up for me, Father!
As a co-heir with Christ, I embrace the authority and blessings You have predestined for me.
I commit to living in the reality of my inheritance, faithfully stewarding the gifts and calling You have entrusted to me.
Father, I choose to view my life and the opportunities before me through the lens of eternity, knowing my actions today contribute to my eternal inheritance.
I embrace the daily practice of surrendering my plans and desires to You, trusting in Your perfect timing and provision.
I vow to live each day with an awareness of Your kindness and grace, reflecting Your love in my interactions with others.
Thank You, Father, for the assurance of my inheritance, which fills me with hope, peace, and joy, regardless of my earthly circumstances.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME because I am Your child, and I live to glorify Your name in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
