Pastor's Corner: Changing the destiny in your life

From Brian Barrows

Lead pastor at Abundant Life Ministries

I want to talk to you about the part we play in changing our destiny and the words that someone may have spoken over us in the past. We will look at an illustration in the Bible where a young man had a destiny spoken over him when he was born, yet he sought God to change it and we see that God did change the destiny that was spoken over him. Then I will share how I have applied this same biblical principle in my own life.

In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 we read “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”

So God granted him what he requested. When we read this passage from God’s word we discover several different things. First, Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. In my research I found that this refers to the fact that Jabez spent more time talking with God and in God’s word than his brothers. Secondly we find out that he was named Jabez because his mother suffered pain when he was born. I think most women do suffer pain when they give birth, but this must have been more than the usual pain. Jabez means pain or one who causes pain in the Hebrew language. There was a destiny spoken over Jabez when he was born, that he would cause pain and be a pain. But he asked God to change his destiny and bring it into alignment with the promises in God’s word. The prayer is broken into five requests below with supporting scriptures.

• “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,” Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Låçord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.

• “and enlarge my territory,” broaden the sphere of my influence. I was born for more than this! O God, please expand my opportunities and my impact in such a way that I may touch more lives for Your glory. Let me do more for You! Psalm 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

• “that Your hand would be with me,” Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Psalm 18:35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.

• “and that You would keep me from evil,” Psalm 41:2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

• “that I may not cause pain!” Psalm 119:31 I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! Psalm 18:35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.

• “So God granted him what he requested.” God answered Jabez and he began to walk out the destiny God had planned for him instead of the plan spoken over him by man.

When I was growing up on the farm out of Sunburst, I came to realize that when I did what was expected and what was right, things went well in my life. I was successful in many things. I was a Cub Scout and remained in scouting through high school, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. I was successful in music and athletics. I played football, wrestled and played baseball in the summer. I was in band and choir and had the lead male role in all four class plays in high school. I was the first Sunburst Refiner to go to state in wrestling. I was in all-state band or choir all four years of high school.

In spite of all of these achievements I had a sense of being the “black sheep” in my family. I think this was due in part to the fact that I was the middle child, had been in trouble with the law and didn’t always make good choices. My high school counselor once told me I should buy the family farm and spend my days alone on the tractor because I was not meant to work with or be around people. In his defense, at that point in my life, I was walking in agreement with the destiny he and others had been speaking over me.

In my senior year of high school I was offered scholarships from four different colleges and universities. I chose the one farthest from Sunburst because I knew I could change my life in a place where no one knew me and my past. I could stop drinking and living the way I didn’t want to live. I would get a fresh new beginning. I am happy to announce that it worked! I was able to stop drinking and begin a new lifestyle and develop new friendships. I was in Abilene, Texas, attending McMurry University! Yes!

The successful change lasted for a day and a half! Then I found out they drink in Texas as well! I continued in the same lifestyle I had in high school and made several choices that impacted my life even more.

In my senior year of college I invited Jesus Christ into my life and confessed that I could not save myself from destruction but He could. On that day in 1971, I began a new journey and priorities began to shift in my life. It has been an exciting journey filled with many divine appointments and blessings. By giving Jesus lordship in my life, I have been able to experience the destiny and plan that He had mapped out for me from the very beginning.

Jeremiah 29:11 says “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. “Since coming to Christ I have been a school teacher, campus administrator, assistant superintendent of schools and a school superintendent. In addition I have been a worship leader, youth and adult Sunday School teacher, and am currently the lead Pastor at Abundant Life Ministries. I can say without hesitation that God’s plan is the best plan.

Do you want to change the destiny in your life? Commit your life to Christ. Ask God to take over your life. Connect with a local church and spend time reading the Bible and praying with God. Read 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 and Jeremiah 29:11 out loud and claim their promises for your life.