The Dawning

A new hope descended as the veil from my eyes was lifted. Much like the rising sun from behind the mountain out of our hotel's window, God's answer to the questions I had been seeking rose in my spirit.

I was suffering from a bad case of imposter syndrome. 

Imposter Syndrome is the term phycologists use to explain pervasive feelings of self-doubt, fear of failure, and fear of being exposed as a fraud. The feelings could be due to a new job, a promotion, or becoming a parent for the first time. They could even be around a task you have been doing for a while now, but suddenly you are in a different season and are unsure how to handle. 

My imposter syndrome was based around the calling God had placed on my life the prior year. This included a new role at my corporate job and a book He asked me to write that was in the process of being published. Months had passed since God called me to the new path He had arranged for me. Four months since I had started the new product marketing position, plus two additional months while I waited for it to come to fruition after quitting my previous job in faith. Seven months since I signed the book contract for my first ever published work and nearly a year since I had heard the call to write the story, God had laid on my heart.

But rather than soaring into these new callings filled with faith in the miracles I had just witnessed, I was struggling to believe God had even called me at all. 

The knowledge that I was suffering from imposter syndrome came in a devotional written by another of God's precious daughters who had battled the same symptoms in her corporate job as well. It was the first time I had read about Imposter Syndrome from a Christian perspective. And as I read the devotional, the hairs stood up on the back of my head, and goose pimples dotted my arms despite my fuzzy pajamas and the coals still radiating heat from the woodstove. The feelings of extreme self-doubt, fear of being exposed as not good enough, and inadequacy for the task, were all typical of this syndrome. Even the unhelpful cycle that these fears and doubts only proved my fears accurate was a self-defeating cycle many sufferers experience. 

I knew right then that God was revealing a truth I had failed to notice until now. The Enemy was attacking me and my calling in an attempt to take me out of the race God had called me to run. How had I failed to see the onslaught until now? Of course, that wily devil did not want me to accomplish these kingdom-building things. I had always assumed my lack of faith or the reality that I was an inadequate failure was to blame. But it wasn't, and God wanted better for me. 

Hope billowing now, a radical thought came ushered in by the Holy Spirit, and sprang tears to my eyes; I could learn to live as the rightful heir to the Kingdom of God that He says is mine. I could become the Rightful Heir to all that He was calling me, too – the glorious life he predestined and equips me for daily.

Maybe your heart just got that prickly feeling too. Perhaps your spiritual eyes perceived something they could not see before, a new perspective on the thoughts that are holding you back. After all, you are the rightful heir because Jesus died to give you back your birthright. You are called and equipped by the caller and have a place and purpose in the Kingdom of God. Better yet, He wants you to have it. He died for you to have it. But you have been struggling because all hell is against your faith and your calling. You are going to have to battle for it. Your soul knows this, and it's crying out from the deep.

First, you must understand that the symptoms that our scientists have dubbed "imposter syndrome" are simply strategic battles in the larger war on our souls. Even though imposter syndrome is a relatively newer term, these battles are certainly not new. Just look through stories in the Bible, and you will see that the Enemy has used fear and doubt to try and halt God's chosen ones from fulfilling His good plan since he first tricked Adam and Eve. He has come to steal, kill, and destroy in an attempt to keep his dominion over man. One of his most successful tactics is to play on our hearts and minds. He causes us to doubt ourselves and doubt God. He confuses and distracts us with trying to fill ourselves on our own while diverting our attention so he can wreak havoc in our thoughts and enslave our hearts.

Yet we are rightful heirs of God. Jesus said so—many times. The kingdom has come to earth, and we are adopted into the royal inheritance, given the promise of restoration, and a special mission made just for us. It was brought by Jesus, and by believing in Christ, we automatically inherit the glorious and free life that God calls us to. This is a gift, but it is a gift we must fight to keep.

 Child of the highest King, you were made to reign. The Bible states: "you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" 1 Peter 2:9 Yes, you are the rightful heir. 

Here is the good news, the greatest news ever- Jesus gave us the battle plan, and He equips us as we follow Him. Jesus's words and His ways teach us everything we need to know about being a rightful heir in the kingdom of God and overcoming our Enemy. He became fully man to show us how to do this and gives us the power, His power, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as we let go and let Him. He showed us how to overcome the temptations of the Enemy. He showed us how to walk on a mission against the culture and the ruling powers. And He showed us how to remain equipped by God when the whole world is against us. 

But so much more than that, He died so that we could have access to our Father, the King of Kings, and His power. We just need to be willing to learn His words and ways and surrender to follow them. 

So, over the next few weeks, we are going to dive deep into the gospel accounts. We are going to hear what Jesus taught us about the Kingdom of God, not only from His words but from the way He lived. Then we will rightfully claim our crowns, applying these truths to our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit living inside us, Amen.

New Series!   Becoming the Rightful Heir

Welcome to our newest series about becoming the Rightful Heir to all God has called us too. My sincerest prayer is that you will know that you are the Rightful Heir to the Kingdom of God, giving you the power to straighten your crown, regardless of your circumstance, and bring His Kingdom to earth wherever He has called you. 

Beginning next week, the devotionals will contain scriptures to study and a weekly challenge that will help you start living as the Rightful Heir God has made and saved you to be.

Let's Pray: Father, you are so good you sent your son to die for us so we could gain our royal inheritance as your children. Help us to abide in you as our greatest treasure. Fill us with faith by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to overcome any earthly challenges. Teach us your ways as we surrender to your better life. In Jesus's name, Amen.