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.
We are also looking at these scriptures as we consider the life of Joseph.
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Gen 39:21-23 ERV)
21 The Lord was with Joseph and continued to show his kindness to him, so the commander of the prison guards began to like Joseph.
22 The commander of the guards put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. Joseph was their leader, but he still did the same work they did.
23 The commander of the guards trusted Joseph with everything that was in the prison. This happened because the Lord was with Joseph. The Lord helped Joseph be successful in everything he did.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. You Will Have to Get Over the Initial Shock of the Enormity of God’s Call!
God calls us into our future. At first, when He does, it can create several emotions. Some get excited. Many get scared. It’s easy to get excited at first, but when you embrace the enormity of the call, a healthy amount of reverential fear sets in. You quickly realize that the call is bigger than you. It’s bigger than anything you had ever seen yourself doing. It is bigger than your dreams.
God is able to do more than you ever imagined. Ephesians 3:20 says: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask, think, or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
God calls you into this fantastic destiny, and you are left with all sorts of questions.
How?
When?
Why me?
What do I do next?
For Joseph, he did not launch out in faith, like his great grandfather Abraham. Joseph was kicked out. He was betrayed by his brothers and sold off as a slave. His brothers did not know it, but they were pushiung him into his purpose.
Here are a few things we can learn from this:
— Embrace the Overwhelm: Like Joseph, when the scale of God’s calling dawns on you, let the initial overwhelm transform into motivation rather than intimidation.
— Step into Your Role by Faith: God does not call the equipped, He equips whom He calls. Trust that God has already given you the grace to do what He called you to do and that He will provide the resources, people, and opportunities needed to fulfill your destiny at just the right time.
— Vision Beyond Sight: Operate not by what you see but by what you believe. The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4), seeing with the eyes of the spirit far beyond the natural.
— Go From Comfort to Calling: Your calling will often push you from the familiar into the miraculous. Remember, greatness is never developed in comfort. Joseph had to leave comfort (his home) to fulfill his calling.
— God is the God of ‘Much More:’ Remember, He who calls you is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). This promise holds even when the path seems unclear. You may not know what is going to happen, but you know it will be BIG, and it will be GOOD!
2. You Will Have to Confront Spiritual Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud.” Despite evident success, those experiencing this syndrome believe they do not deserve all they have achieved, and they, in turn, attribute their accomplishments to luck or chance. This can lead to significant anxiety and stress, and if not checked, it could even lead to depression, as they feel continually on the brink of failure or exposure.
I bring this up because I was talking to someone I mentor yesterday and he has been dealing with impostor syndrome. God allowed me to minister to him. I will take what I shared with him and take it to another level, on the spiritual side.
When God places a call on your life, it’s often so extravagant that it can feel unattainable and overwhelming. This enormous realization can trigger what many refer to as “Imposter Syndrome,” where you doubt your abilities and feel undeserving of the task at hand. In the realm of faith, this isn’t just about doubting your accomplishments—it’s about questioning your spiritual capacity to fulfill God’s divine purpose for you. It’s about struggling to believe what God believes about you!
Here are some things we can glean from this:
— Acknowledging the Call’s Weight: Just as Joseph grappled with his dreams of leadership and prominence, you too might feel “small” in comparison to the enormity of what God has called you to do. A strong sense of inadequacy might soon replace the initial excitement of God’s revelation.
— Understanding Spiritual Imposter Syndrome: It’s the persistent fear of being ‘found out’ or ‘exposed.’ It is this feeling of not being as spiritually ready or deserving as you should be. This syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of their level of spiritual maturity. But we must believe what God believes about us!
— Normalizing the Discomfort: Feeling like an imposter is not an indication that you are on the wrong path; rather, it’s a common response to stepping into a larger, God-ordained role. Moses felt inadequate to speak for God; Jeremiah thought he was too young; and even Joseph likely felt out of place overseeing Potiphar’s estate.
— Embracing Divine Qualification: God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Your sense of inadequacy is a perfect opportunity for His strength to be made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Just as Joseph grew to his role over time, you will grow into your calling.
— Countering the Syndrome with Scripture: One way to build up your faith is to meditate and medicate on God’s Word day and night. Meditate on scriptures like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and remind yourself that your capability comes from God and His grace, not you or your humanity.
3. Understanding the Difference Between a Calling and a Command.
Yesterday, I had a conversation with one of the young men I mentor, and I explained to him the distinction between a calling and a command. I used a practical example to illustrate this difference. If God instructs you to give $10 and you have $10 in your bank account, that is not a calling; it is a command—simple instructions that require your obedience. However, if God tells you to give a million dollars while your bank account is nearly empty and your annual income is only $50,000, that is a calling, not merely a command. A calling is something God asks of you that seems impossible, something that you will have to truly believe God for in order to accomplish.
The biggest hurdle, and possibly the largest challenge you will ever face, is the battle within your own mind. You must envision yourself giving away that million dollars, as God has called you to do. Currently, you might not be mentally prepared to see yourself giving on that level because it’s beyond anything you’ve ever imagined yourself doing. I often say, “Your legs will never take you where your soul has never been.” You must believe it internally before it can manifest externally.
This is why I refer to this phenomenon as “spiritual imposter syndrome.” Before you can operate at the level God has ordained, you must overcome the mental barriers within yourself. You need to see yourself fulfilling God’s calling deep within your heart and soul. You have to be convinced internally before you are ready to step out in faith externally.
Joseph, for instance, was far from ready to be the Prime Minister of Egypt when he received his divine dream. God orchestrated a series of experiences for him, from working in Potiphar’s house to enduring prison. Each phase taught him essential skills and spiritual lessons that were necessary for his ultimate role.
Here are a few points we can glean from this:
— Callings Stretch Beyond Current Capacities: Unlike commands, which are within our immediate ability to execute, callings require us to stretch beyond our current financial, spiritual, or intellectual capacities, relying wholly on God’s provision.
— Mental Preparation Is Key: Before you can fulfill a calling, you must mentally accept and prepare for it. Overcoming spiritual imposter syndrome involves a transformation in how you view yourself and your capabilities.
— Visualization Leads to Actualization: Just as athletes visualize their success to enhance their performance, believers must visualize themselves operating in their calling to manifest it in reality. See 2 Cor 4:18 for this one.
— Experiences Prepare Us for Our Calling: God uses our life experiences, much like Joseph’s time in Potiphar’s house and prison, to equip us with the necessary skills and wisdom for our calling. You cannot just know God from a book!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I recognize the magnitude of Your call on my life, and I embrace it with both reverence and joy.
I commit to pushing past the initial shock of Your enormous plans for me, trusting that You equip whom You call.
Father, I will not be swayed by my perceptions of inadequacy, for I know that with You, all things are possible.
I decree that I am stepping out in faith, not fear, holding onto the vision You have planted in my heart.
I am prepared to face and conquer the spiritual imposter syndrome, believing in Your power that works within me.
I believe what You believe about me! I proclaim that Your grace is sufficient for me, and
Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME because I am who I am by Your grace, and I live for Your glory!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
