Father's Heart Blog

After sharing my testimony and some experience as a parent and a youth pastor with a new friend in their early/mid 20’s, he suddenly asked what number 1 advice would you give to any young person.

My responce was quite straightforward, to know without doubt your identity and then to know your purpose.

The first is found with much Bible study the next is found by much prayer anpd listening to the Lord of that Bible.

The following day I was listening to some music in the car and on came one of my children’s favourite current songs. Called Fake Love by Elevation Rhythm.

It somes up my 1 piece of advice to any young people pretty well.

Watch / Listen @ Fake Love YouTube

Lyrics:

Never was enough ’til I met Ya
Got the real thing, found the real one
You can tell the world, keep the fake love
‘Cause I’ve been brand new since I woke up

Yesterday I met a Man
He knew everywhere I’d been
Asked if we could be best friends
I took His hand, He took a chance

He showed me a different way
And gave me a brand new name
Now I’ll never be the same
Since I took His hand and took a chance

Didn’t know how lost I was
But knew I couldn’t measure up
Then You came around and You showed me
You were rewriting my story
Let’s go

I’ve been brand new since I woke up
Who the Son sets free is free indeed
I’ve been brand new since I woke up

This song portrays the ‘transformation’ that occurs when you fully give your life to Jesus Christ.

The song lyrics (above) start with the statement that “I never was enough till I met you.” This is such a true statement as each one of us are born in to a sin nature. And it is true experientially, often as teenagers there is this knowing inside that we are ‘not enough’ – constantly thinking that others are better than ourselves, full of insecurity and the reality that we have a lot to learn and master. Of course every young person needs to realise that in the course of time you do naturally learn more and grown in to your strengths.

But the truth of the Gospel is the quickest and surest way for any young person to enjoy life, to step in to all that they are destined to be, and to understand their God given identity.

To know, with out any shadow of a doubt that they are a beloved child of God. This really is the real thing – that cannot be taken away! When you know this love – you are changed forever! Because you really can’t love until you are loved! And to know your loved by the creator of thr universe! It dosnt get any bigger!

There is nothing like this…that’s why Elevation sing out – you can tell the world, keep the fake love! In every country around this world people young and old are chasing fake love to fill the void! Insert your own ‘fake love’ from the thousands of options – you know yours!

..”because I’ve been brand new since I woke up” – the implication is that you were asleep since you had the real kind of love. I can testify to this, looking back its as if I was sleep walking through life not fully alive until I surrendered my heart to Jesus aged 23.

I had so many insecurities and uncertainties but over a bit of time with the redeeming and gracious love of Jesus I became the man I longed to be – because I knew I had and senced the love of a Father.

Finding my true identity more and more in the Father God I found such strength and assurance for my future, I had joy instead of despair and great hope for the future.

My story has been completely rewritten, instead of having a past and present that I was ashamed of and bored by. I realised I have a great and limitless future that is in large degree whatever I make of it.

The more I surrender to his love, his forming and shaping of me, the more glorious that future will be as I will be where he wants me to be doing what he wants. Each year since salvation getting better in my live walk, in my relationships, even in my work and in my calling and purpose.

Knowing your purpose is the next stage after identity and is a great gift that will anchor you to the Lord and keep you walking off that narrow path that He has set out. I’m incredibly greatful that He through much prayer has shown me quite clearly what the future looks like and what my call is.

I invite you to to take more time in the Word and in prayer so He can show you just how exciting your identity and purpose are! It is something we can always learn more of, it’s never exhaustively full, and we can sometimes need reminding of. But when we are walking tall in it fully there is nothing g that compares!

Give up the fake love! And get the real thing!