The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
(John 10:10)

It was 5:30 in the morning and I was out walking in my neighborhood getting some exercise. Filled with anxiety in my heart, I had little or no vision for my future and was filled with enormous regret over my past. As I made my routine lap around the cul-de-sac, I was praying quietly under my breath asking God once again to forgive me for my awful sins. But this time, something happened. I say myself (in a vision) standing at the foot of the Cross and I looked up and saw Jesus’ feet. Blood was dripping from His feet onto the top of my head. Inside, I clearly heard the Lord gently speak these words to me: “I’m washing the memories of the past away,” as the blood covered my head.

Then, I saw the blood run down my chest covering my heart, and I heard Him whisper: “I am the Healer of the brokenhearted.” It proceeded to run all the way down to the bottom of my feet and again, I vividly heard the Lord say: “The residue of sin is gone from you.” The next thing I saw was a big arm reach down and hand me a clipboard. And with it, these words, “this is an assignment on your life.” Then, the other arm reached down and handed me some keys and said, “And here are the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to help you fulfill your assignment.”

What exactly did that life-altering vision mean? 1) You are truly forgiven for your past. 2) You have an assignment by God, a future, a purpose for being born. 3) God has given you everything necessary to fulfill that assignment; you just have to believe you’re forgiven and take one step at a time toward your destiny.

That early July morning I believe God gave me that vision at a time when I was absolutely consumed with shame and guilt over my past…not to mention, having no big dreams or goals for my future. I am a visual learner, and I believe God knew that I had to “see” that He still had a plan (an assignment) for my life even though I had made some big mistakes. And I had to see that God believe in me.

At the same time…your enemy, Satan, has a plan for your life. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only but for to kill, steal and destroy your life.” That is Satan’s plan for your life here on Earth. He wants to kill your dreams, steal your hope and destroy your future. His plan for your life is not haphazard or coincidental. It is well thought out and planned. He’s been watching you and setting you up to fall for his crafty lies and deception. He hopes you fall for the many traps that he has carefully laid out for you, causing you to feel guilty, ashamed, insignificant, unworthy, hopeless, worthless, never able to be used of God. He wants you so filled with guilt and regret that you never have the confidence to do what God had put you on this Earth to do.

Don’t fall for Satan’s lies, God has an assignment for your life!