He reminded me of my purpose and gave me a new song…
As a young girl, I was very shy. Although God had given me the gift of singing, I was terrified to use it. I thank God for my parents, who saw what God saw in me, even when I didn't see it in myself. God used many men and women of God, including prophets, to remind me of the words He spoke to my parents before I was born, even while I was still in my mother's womb in Puerto Rico when no one knew my mother was pregnant: "She will be a girl, and she will sing to the nations!" How was this possible if I didn't even like to speak? I thought God had chosen the wrong person. I hid my mouth so no one would see my imperfect teeth. People thought I was contagious because of a chronic skin condition. BUT GOD. HIS words were the perfect balm during the most difficult times of my youth, while I experienced low self-esteem and bullying. BUT GOD! He never rejected me! He reminded me again and again of my purpose in Him. His words were the medicine for my wounded heart.
One day, in my room, crying out to God about what I was feeling, I completely surrendered all those emotions that were preventing me from seeing His purpose in my life. I was only 15 years old. At that moment, I remember the Holy Spirit flooding my heart and my room, and all I could do was weep in His presence. I felt such immense freedom, as if God had broken something inside me. He had!
In His presence, He broke the chains of shyness that bound me, gave me a new reason to worship Him, and placed an unquenchable fire within me. At that moment, it seemed as if God was trying to captivate my heart, because the praise song "Ha sido largo el viaje" by Marcela Gándara began to play. "He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love" (Song of Solomon 2:4).
From that moment on, God began a work so profound in my heart that it was evident in my very being. He promised to cleanse my skin of the disease that plagued my body, and He did. He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals me! He gave me reasons to smile without covering my mouth. I also began to sing with the fluidity of the Spirit, which I now understand is His anointing placed upon me that night and the freedom of God in breaking invisible chains. Now I can sing and smile with conviction of what God has done in me—and nothing can stop me.
What is it that is hindering you from fulfilling the purpose God has called you to? What are the areas of your life you have not surrendered to God? I learned that we can limit God when we choose to only trust him with some areas of our life and not our whole life.
Do you need to trust God with your timidness? Surrender the timidness and put on the full armor of the Holy Spirit! Take time to surrender what is holding you back in prayer. The Holy Spirit is available to give you power!
Do you need to surrender a hurt before the Lord? Do not allow any hurt of the past detain your present. He is able to heal your wounds and make you whole again.
This is between you and God.
I could go on, but all this to tell you: Surrender your life to God, and He will do what He has promised to do in your life! Give Him the broken pieces, and He will make you into a marvelous work for His glory. Everything we go through is not in vain, but so that He may work in a special way in our lives.
Put your hand over your chest… Do you feel that beat? THAT IS CALLED PURPOSE! God has not forgotten about you!
Read Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.