Being Your Best!

Isaiah 54:1-8 (NIV) “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labour; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities… Being Your Best

…“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth… Being Your Best

…The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer. Being Your Best

We need to understand that success in life is not about doing more but being more. David conquered Goliath primarily because of who he was not because of what he did. He was bigger on the inside than the giant. Jesus was never overcome by the challenges that faced Him, because of who He was (and is). Being Your Best

Here are 4 steps to being your best: 1. Enlarge your vision - “enlarge the place of your tent” (Vs 2) 2. Increase your expectancy - “more are the children” (Vs 1) 3. Break your barriers - “For you will forget the shame of your youth” (Vs 4) 4. Declare the favour – “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you” (Vs 8). Being Your Best

1. Enlarge your vision - enlarge the place of your tent (Vs 2) Wrong thinking can keep you from God's best. God wants to bless you and prosper you Proverbs 4:18 – “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Being Your Best

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Being Your Best

You need to perceive in order to receive. "Behold I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive?" (Isaiah 43:19). Don't define your future according to past failures. Don't define your future according to limits that parents or teachers have put on you. Being Your Best

2. Increase your expectancy - more are the children (Vs 1) Too many of us are believing for the worst, not the best. To have faith is to have confident expectations. "Set your mind on higher things" (Colossians 3:2). Expect things to change in your favour. Don't listen to negative lies! According to your faith it will be done to you. Being Your Best

Don't focus on the negative. Bad stuff happens but only to prepare us for the good that will come (Romans 8:28 ‘We know that all things work together…) What you expect is what you get - positive or negative. Elisha asked for a double portion. Elijah did not rebuke him. He encouraged Elisha to look and see him leaving (2 Kings 2:9-12). Being Your Best

Hang out with other dreamers. Get around people who will help you to be your best. "If you walk with wise men you will be wise" (Proverbs 13.20). God will bring you great opportunities - Get ready to respond to the word of the Lord. Your job is not your source. Your education is not your limit. Your parents are a springboard not a ceiling. Being Your Best

3. Break your barriers - For you will forget the shame of your youth (Vs 4) You will never go beyond the limits of your own mind. These are strongholds - they are prisons of defeat. Roger Bannister was the first to run the mile in under 4 minutes. Incredibly, within 10 years 336 others had broken the 4-minute mile too. The barrier was in their minds. Being Your Best

Don't let a slavery mindset rob you of your inheritance. The Israelites longed for the vegetables of Egypt rather than the milk and honey of Canaan. Therefore they spent 40 years instead of 11 days in the wilderness. God said to them, "You have dwelt too long on this mountain" (Deuteronomy 1:6) Being Your Best

Don't settle for survival aim for God’s best In your marriage, your finances and your health. Instead of shame and dishonour, you will enjoy a double share of honour. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. (Isaiah 61:7 NLT) Being Your Best

4. Declare the favour - For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you (Vs 8). Some think that they are not good enough. But David sinned and made mistakes yet he still said "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (Psalm 23). Be your best, give your best and expect the best! Being Your Best