The Path Forward

Although walking on a red carpet might bring up visions of Hollywood, glamour, and performance awards, we instead, turn our vision to the red carpet that is laid out for Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, and military dignitaries. God established who we are when he breathed life into Man, Adam. You may not think of yourself as a person of honor, dignity, and influence right now. You may not feel as if you are secure, powerful, or even royal today. However, the Lord says we are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. (Deut. 28:13) We are to be people of influence, honor, and dignity based on who He created us to be. (Deut. 28:9-11) The path that God has laid out for us is a spiritual one that affects our lives daily. You can be his royal son or daughter here on earth as you walk on the path forward through life. Promotion and transformation are yours.
Why do we have to be transformed? Unless we are transformed into God’s image, we cannot be his agents. God wants us to move into the Promised Land as His ambassadors to show His glory on earth as in heaven as He blesses us. God wants to bless us more than we know. “So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant" (Josh 24:13). God has a “promised land” for each of us. The “promised land” is that sphere of influence he has given each of us into which we can bring heaven to earth. Obedience to Him makes us His agents in our “promised land.”

Go for the Breakthrough
What areas of your life need to come into obedience so you can step into the “Promised Land” of the perfect will of God?

Testimony:
At one point in my days as a young parent I realized I was getting annoyed with my teenaged children and not being very loving. I repented before the Lord and asked Him what He would have me to do to improve. I could not imagine working any harder. His plan was “Let the last words to your children at night be ‘I love you’ and the first words they hear from you be ‘I love you.’” I committed to the plan and asked Him to help me. As the older ones would be studying late, I would poke my head in the room and say “I love you.” I didn’t always have the last word at night. On those nights I did not say “I love you”, the dog would bark at the wee hours of the morning to awaken me. I would then remember and go to their rooms and whisper “I love you” to each and tuck them in. I spoke “I love you, good night” regardless of any arguments, disagreements, upsets, or angers. In the morning when I went to waken them, I would say “I love you. It’s time to wake up.” I did this all the time they were living at home, until they went off to college. This changed my whole temperament, demeanor, and our relationship. Yes, there were still difficulties, but none have complained of not being loved or abandoned. To this day, each phone call or parting ends with “I love you.”
The following are example steps of my experience to start being transformed by God through obedience.

• Step 1: Repent: I repent for falling short as a parent.
• Step 2: Forgive: I forgive myself for falling short.
• Step 3: Ask God for a plan: Lord, what is the next step of your plan for me to be a parent.
• Step 4: Make a Commitment: I choose to obey your plan.
• Step 5: Work the commitment: Obey

God has a plan that you can do. He will also help you to succeed. You only need to commit to obey. .You and your whole environment will be transformed.

How will you know you have been or are being transformed?
Fortunately, transformation usually happens gradually rather than instantly. I say fortunately because it would be such a jolt to our personalities and others if it were instant. Often times, one segment at a time is transformed—emotions, physical body, relationships, etc.
Just as companies do an annual evaluation of the past year and write a vision for the next year or the next 5 years, we too need to evaluate ourselves in our Christian walk. This is not something to leave to chance.