David L. Johnston - Why You Were Born

Testimonials

In Why You Were Born, Pastor David Johnston gently takes you on a journey into the knowledge of Gods Word to reveal the answers every man, woman, and child so desperately need to knowthat they are special, unique, and lovedand an important part of Gods plan. But this is not just one of those feel good books. Pastor David takes you by the hand and shows you how to overcome your past and step into a future full of hope, promise, and divine purpose.

Dr. Jerry Williamson

President, Go To Nations

Why you were born helped me reposition my mind in relation to hurts I faced. It brought a level of deliverance that was needed to free me from unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment. God used this teaching to help me navigate past painful experiences and prepare me for a new role in life.

Kent A Jacob

Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Ministries Trinidad and Tobago

If I hadnt been a Christian before seeing and hearing Why You Were Born I certainly would have become one. I found out who I really am. It is life changing.

Mark C

Christian Bookstore Owner

Realizing the truth in Why You Were Born not only helped me wrestle with my own life challenges but equipped me to help my patients through theirs.

Dr. Paul Shirley, MD

Thank you for speaking life into me through Why You Were Born. Truth is alive to me by Gods spirit through your faithfulness.

Kent Staples

Educator and Coach

Why You Were Born

Copyright 2020 David L. Johnson

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE: King James Version. Scripture quotations marked AMPC are taken from The Classic Edition, Amplified Bible, Copyright 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ISV are from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version. Copyright 1996forever by The ISV Foundation. All rights reserved internationally. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked PHILLIPS are from The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips copyright 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops Council of the Church of England. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The Living Bible, TLB, and the The Living Bible logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). ESV Text Edition: 2016. Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Published by HigherLife Development Services, Inc.

PO Box 623307

Oviedo, Florida 32762

(407) 563-4806

www.ahigherlife.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher or copyright holder, nor may any part of this book be transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other, without prior written permission from the publisher or copyright holder.

ISBN: 978-1-951492-21-2 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-951492-20-5 (Ebook)

Printed in the United States of America

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I dedicate this book to the single most important person YOU!

D ear Reader, this book is to you, for you and about you. What others think of you is of little concern compared to what you think of you. Other people may have an opinion about you, the good, the bad, the ugly. But dont become a prisoner to their thoughts and opinion. Dont live your life held captive to other peoples expectations for you and thoughts about you.

In the quiet, you can have serious thoughts about yourself. In reading this book I hope you choose to shake off all outside data, unmanipulated and uncoerced where even the memories of what others have said or done to you are summarily dismissed. Use your time reading this book to have a heart-to-heart with yourself just you, mentally and emotionally naked, pondering and contemplating the meaning of you, your life and your future.

It is in this stillness that you will meet your Maker. You will hear Him speak to you in a still small voice a voice that is not brash, rash or harsh just there as a voice to encourage, support, direct, sometimes correct but always LOVE you in consummate, immeasurable ways.

What does it take to Know Thyself as the ancient maxim inspires us to do? The answer can only be found in knowing the One who created you in the first place, your personal Designer. Im not writing to tell you the answers to who you are, but to get you in contact, personal contact, intimate contact with Him.

God be with you on your journey.

David L. Johnston

There are two important days in your life: the day you were born, and the day you found out why!

Mark Twain

T his book is about you, just you, the real you, the only you, the magnificent you. And you, my friend, have intrinsic and inherent value. You are not valuable simply because of the sum of your parts. Your existence is much more profound than your mere biological arrival.

Ren Descartes, the French philosopher and mathematician, known as the father of modern philosophy, is famous for his statement made in 1637: Cogito ergo sum, which translates: I think, therefore I am.

To be true to thyself is virtually irrelevant if we do not know the self to which we should be true.

And yet, simply knowing that you exist is hardly sufficient or inspiring. What you need to know about yourself is that you are not a copy. Youre not a clone. You are an original, a first edition, if you please. There is no one like you. No one can ever take your place. You are indispensable.

Regardless of the circumstances of your birth, you are not an accident, a biological mistake, or the mere product of passion in the night. How you think about your self is vital and will be reflected in how you treat yourself, how you treat others, and how you live your life. You need to know the truth about yourself, no matter how wonderful it is. To be true to thyself is virtually irrelevant if we do not know the self to which we should be true.

How will you discover your real self? The answer lies beyond the rationale of parents or peers. In fact, if you want to remain frustrated for your whole life, just try being what everyone else thinks you should be. Terrifying, right?