Awaken Your Destiny: The Biblical Journey from Faith to Success

By Narcis I. Murza

Have you ever embarked on a trip that you were so looking forward to that you could hardly sleep the night before?
Narcis I. Murza invites you to set out on such a journey!
You will learn that life was never meant to be a daily survival routine. You were not designed for an ordinary, frustration-filled life. You were created to thrive.
On this journey, you will follow in the footsteps of outstanding Bible figures. The lessons you learn will show you the path to real success. From Abraham to Jesus, the road you’re about to go on leads straight to God’s promises!
See, God has never wanted you to live a small, meaningless life. In fact, Scripture draws us to a path of fulfillment, of blessing based on divine promises and its pages are filled with courageous people who went on this journey.
Now it’s your turn. It’s not an easy road but if you think that happiness is intertwined with suffering, if you think that victory and sweat are two sides of the same coin, and if you understand that there is no glory without a cross, you’ll surely enjoy Awaken Your Destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664262492

Narcis I. Murza

Narcis I. Murza, ThM, has served in church ministry for more than ten years. Currently living in London, Narcis earned his BA from Pentecostal Theological Institute, Bucharest, and his Masters in Theology at Methodist Theological University, Seoul. He loves to teach, preach the Word, and encourage people to pursue their true calling. He also enjoys reading, writing, hiking, and traveling.

Book preview

AWAKEN YOUR DESTINY - Editorial Reviews

"Awaken Your Destiny is a must read for Christians who are suffering from despair, nominal Christianity and fear. The author reminds us that our destiny is wound up in God’s redemptive purposes and that He has ordained for us a unique place in that history. Taking the task of laying out the Biblical narrative for us and showing portraits and differing seasons of life that the Christian pilgrim goes through, Narcis Murza diagnoses the disease of fear, comfort and prescribes a bigger Kingdom vision and a bold obedience that matches it. To read this book is to breathe fresh air again and to remember vistas that made us dream."

YOON LEE

Pastor, Tapestry Church, Los Angeles

"If you feel like you are living a hopeless, mediocre life and you want to enlarge your dreams by discovering the way God intended you to live, then Awaken Your Destiny is the book you need to read. Full of practical advice and uplifting biblical truth, Murza invites you to join him into a journey that will help you to discover God’s promises for your life and your true identity!"

DANIEL BOCANCEA

Pastor, Intro Home, Bucharest

"Awaken Your Destiny is a gem of an inspirational study-guide. You are invited on a journey that will carry you closer to God’s promises and your destiny. This pilgrimage will give you new insights and fill you with encouragement.

Each chapter holds a different teaching, encouragement and hope. All point the way towards the fulfilment of all of God’s promises, and His presence. By the grace of God and the encouragement from this study you will blossom and be a step closer to fulfilling your purpose.

Helpful, insightful and unbelievably uplifting, Awaken Your Destiny comes highly recommended!"

T. N. Taylor,

Chick Lit Cafe Reviews

AWAKEN

YOUR

DESTINY

THE BIBLICAL JOURNEY

FROM FAITH TO SUCCESS

NARCIS I. MURZA

33372.png

Copyright © 2022 Narcis I. Murza.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6248-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6250-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6249-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022906100

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/14/2022

CONTENTS

Introduction

A Word for You

Chapter 1: Rich Dad, Poor Dad: Abraham

The Perspective

The Promise

The Pilgrimage

Letting Go

Chapter 2: Children of the Promise: Isaac

When God Laughs

The Waiting

The Bride

Famine, Seeds, Fountains

Chapter 3: On the Road of God’s Promises: Jacob

The Shortcut

From Fear to Faith

Blessed Assurance

A Different Sunrise

Chapter 4: Unclaimed Promises: Israel

The Comfort Zone

The Fear

The Immediate Pleasures

Chapter 5: Promise – A Vision that Requires Action: Othniel

The Trailblazer

Against the Flow

Live A Big Life

Chapter 6: Becoming Who You Are: David

The Anointing

The Fight

The Run

The Temple

Chapter 7: The Price and the Prize: Jesus

I. The Price

Trading Divinity

Reclaiming The Kingdom

The Cross

II. The Prize

The Temple

The Royals

Beyond this World

Conclusion

Appendix 1: Why You really Need to Know Your Purpose in Life

Appendix 2: General Calling and Specific Calling

Appendix 3: The Importance of Focus

Acknowledgments

Notes

To all the people who believed in me

and to Fineas, my brother

INTRODUCTION

H e woke up at once.

His bare soles touched the cold floor. He stopped the alarm and looked at his watch. It was 2 am. He quickly changed at a lantern’s light; he had prepared his clothes the previous evening. Stepping out into the hallway, he heard the regular breathing of his parents sleeping in the next room. He hurriedly wrote a note and left it on the kitchen table. Pulled up his trekking boots, then picked up his jacket and took the backpack, trying to reduce noise to a minimum.

He opened the door and walked outside. The sensors’ bulb at the entrance was already on. He heard a voice:

Are you ready?

Yes, let’s go!

33401.png

Have you ever embarked on a journey you were so looking forward to that you slept for only a few minutes the night before?

That trip you have dreamt of many times because it promised not only an adventurous road but also an unearthly destination?

I invite you to share in the most important journey you can take as a mortal: the journey to God’s promises, the journey to your destiny.

I want this book to act as a guide. Each chapter is like a peak to be conquered. I will be with you, but we will be accompanied by other characters too. They will help you acquire the skills needed to move on.

I chose narratives, not just principles illustrated by biblical examples, because humans have always liked to be told stories and to tell them further. In fact, before it was a written book, the Bible was orally transmitted. What I want you to discover is that the general narrative of Scripture makes room for your story. The heroes’ list can continue with you.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6:11-12)

According to the author of the epistle to Hebrews, the main forces that must characterize the life of a Christian are passion and hope. But I have a vague suspicion that, in reality, many who call themselves Christ’s descendants are on the verge of survival. Their companions are the mourning that comes with the trials and the depressing thought that they will never be able to reach the standard set by the Scriptures. The problem is that they strive to please God without knowing the greater purpose for which they were created. A shift in perspective is needed.

God has never wanted you to live a small, gray, meaningless life. In fact, Scripture draws us to a path of fulfillment, of blessing based on divine promises and gives us so many examples of courageous people who went on this journey.

There is, in the eyes of those who know their purpose in life, a flame that cannot be denied. They have a contagious passion in them that the tests and trials of life do not destroy but, on the contrary, give vigor and force to. Lying within them is an enviable peace and security, a solid stability, hard to challenge, an unwavering will. Wouldn’t you like to find yourself among them too?

I wish this book to be a continuation of the apostle’s invitation, an encouragement to walk in the footsteps of those who through faith and patience have entered into the inheritance of the promises. They have come to realize their life’s purpose, and nothing could stand in their way. They were there on the mountaintop and have seen the promised land.¹ But not only that, they have entered their inheritance. They have fulfilled their destiny.

I pray that this journey will be one in which you will find out the purpose for which you were created, or, if you are already among the happy ones who know, may this trip encourage you, give you new insights and fresh power to follow your call to the end. Arm yourself with a Bible and a pen, and go through it in a spirit of prayer and meditation, answering seriously the questions attached to each chapter. I promise that I will also pray for you to come to understand God deeper, to grow in the knowledge of Christ, and, thus, perceive more and more your calling to be a blessing.

To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and

honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! (Revelation 5:13)

Warning!

I don’t want to disappoint you, and I’m telling you from the beginning. Although we will discuss faith and success, this book does not promote a prosperity gospel. It does not encourage the idea that the children of God must always have health and wealth. It will not tell you how to become rich on the basis of faith or to follow rituals that will bring you luck. If you think success can be easily earned, you can put the book aside and donate it. If you think you can avoid the risks and suffering to reach the proposed target, if you think I’ll tell you the secret password that makes you immortal in the game, you won’t find it. So, think twice before you start reading.

But if you like traveling, if you like to discover places, things, and people, you might like this book.

If you think that happiness is intertwined with suffering, that a smile amid tears is more beautiful than a good joke, if you think that victory and sweat are two sides of the same coin, if you understand that there is no glory without a cross, I encourage you to read.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

A WORD FOR YOU

Before we set out on the road, let me introduce two people: John and Joy. Although bearing different names, perhaps under other circumstances, they actually exist. Maybe you’ve already met them. They are the main reason I write this book.

John is a good boy.

A good friend, I’ve known him since I was a kid.

A good Christian. He attends the church regularly.

A good colleague at work. Respectful and knows how to give valuable advice.

He has a normal, balanced life. He also does sports at least once a week.

But sometimes, when we go out in town with friends, for a pizza, for a Coke, when we talk face to face, a shadow of sadness can be deciphered in his eyes.

As if he came from a fight in which he put his weapons down.

As if he were giving up a dream.

As if he were satisfied with the resignation.

Sometimes, he envies how many young people around him find their calling and practice their gifts full of enthusiasm.

It seems that many run past him and he is always behind.

Many are advancing but he is stuck at the same level.

How he would want to also exercise his gifts, talents, but he has no time.

At work, he often stays overtime because the demand is high as well as the pressure from his superiors. He also wants to have small savings for hard times.

When he gets tired at home, he also has responsibilities here. He has to take care of a younger brother with disabilities.

He can hardly cook anything and rest.

But you must try hard to see his joy, in the rare moments when he makes use of his gifts, when he sings within a group in the church, when, at youth meetings (at those he can attend), you see him conducting discussions as a group leader. How he listens to those going through difficulties, how he knows to give good advice.

Deep in his soul he knows that he was created for more. He knows that everyday life does not really define him. He believes that one day, he will break this cycle, this routine, this rat race, and he will live the life he always wanted, a life in which his gift would be a blessing to many. But when?

33405.png

Joy is a young mother.

She is a good, serious Christian. She attends church regularly with her husband and their two little girls.

She is a devoted wife and mother. She respects her husband and loves her children like the light in her eyes. They live together in a beautiful house.

A valuable friend, loved and appreciated by all her friends.

She has an ordinary, balanced life. She also plays sports from time to time.

But sometimes when she talks about her dreams, her voice starts to shake. And at times when no one sees her, she lets her tears flow freely.

She has always wanted to be a singer. To give glory to God through her gift. As a child, she went to a music school, then to a music high school. Before getting married, she was heavily involved in church service by singing: either solo or in groups or the church choir.

Since she married, however, she has dedicated herself to family responsibilities, and set aside her gift. She’s too tired; she’s too busy. She sometimes sings to her little girls, or hums songs while performing her chores.

But one time, she went with her husband and other young people from the church to a small church in a different town, where a handful of people gathered. They sang a few songs with their group. The person in charge of the service asked if anyone had a solo song. Joy took her courage in both hands and said she would sing. She chose a song from the hymnbook. At the first verse her voice trembled, but gradually she became more and more confident. Everyone fell silent to listen. They began to tear. Her voice was so beautiful! A crumb of heaven descended in that little church that night. God touched hearts. Now Joy was filled with joy! She knew that there and then, in that very moment, in that simple frame, she followed her calling, she touched her destiny.

She realized once again that she is more than the definition given by her daily routine, society, or even family, that she was created for more. She hopes from the bottom of her heart that a day will come, when she can devote more to her calling, when, through her gift, she will reach many hearts and bless hundreds of lives. But when will that moment come?

I pray and believe that this book will help John, Joy, and others like them bring that liberating moment closer. If you somehow see yourself in these people, in their stories, then this book is for you. It will help you