Your Past Has Purpose

In prayer this morning the Lord showed me that all our suffering, past failures, loss, abuse, hurts, and dysfunction serves as a platform in our life for God to work if we will allow him too. We often ask God why, or feel low, or even get depressed about the things we have been through that caused us hurt and pain. He impressed me this morning that it all has purpose ... HIS purpose!

According to Luke 4:18, if He is going to use us to fulfill His vision of preaching the gospel to the POOR, healing the BROKENHEARTED, preaching deliverance to the CAPTIVES, recovering of sight to the BLIND, and setting at liberty them that are BRUISED, then we can actually THANK God for all our hurt, loss, and problems. They position us to be able to bring this gospel with a heartfelt compassion, sympathy, and care because we have been there and know the redeeming power of God!

Today, I thanked God for letting me grow up in the "hood" (inner city) where people were poor and sin was rampant, for being raised by a single mother, for the abuse and dysfunction I saw and experienced, and for the loss in my family and the cycle of sin. It doesn’t make sense in the flesh to thank God, but spiritually, These are to whom and to where Jesus called us to preach the gospel, according to Luke 4:18. It has set the platform for great ministry!!

I am passionate about proclaiming the Gospel to the hurting, poor, and wounded souls. I am glad that God has allowed me to walk the path I have had to walk. Now I get to see others experience the same freedom in Christ that I have found! Evangelism is my love! The inner city, the poor, and the wounded has my heart! 

Don't allow the Enemy to depress you. Don’t begrudge your past or your hurts. Embrace them, love through them, preach through them, and do the work of Luke 4:18 that Jesus called you to do! YOU have purpose, my friend! Now you have a platform to minister from!

Credit: https://kathyshaw.net/blog/f/your-past-has-purpose (Kathy Shaw Ministries)