What Is The Purpose For My Life?
YOU WERE CREATED FOR A UNIQUE PURPOSE
God has a purpose for each of us. As you grow in him, he will begin to birth dreams and desires in you to do certain things. These interests are God-given to set you on your path to fulfilling whatever God has called you to do. It’s not a process to resist; let God breathe his dream into you.
You may not see evidence of a purpose (or calling or vision) but it is there, without a doubt. Not everything about your calling will make sense to you in the beginning but someday, when God is ready, it will.
IT'S TIME
Sweet sister, it’s time to begin seeing yourself the way God sees you. It's time to walk in the gifts God has blessed you with! It's time to stretch toward the purpose you were created for!
You can't get there without learning to trust God in all areas of your life. But how do you get to that point? The steps below will help you but they are not in any particular order (except number one).
DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE
SEEK GOD
The most important thing to keep in mind is to love, obey, and seek our Lord. Nothing should come before that. We should never seek the things of God, including his blessings, without seeking him first.
"But seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
(Matthew 6:33)
HAVE A WILLING HEART
You must be willing. Praying God will guide your feet is useless if you aren't willing to move your feet. It takes talking with God (prayer) to get to this point. You will begin to feel urges to act or do certain things such as volunteer in a soup kitchen or work in the nursery. You will find yourself passionate and excited about certain things and not others.
God may share your purpose with you early in your walk/life but He may not. It is all in his timing to fulfill his purpose. So when you feel excited to do something, stop and pray. Rushing ahead without consulting God first will not help anybody. If you still feel it is God nudging you to move forward then do it. It just might be a building block to get you where God needs you to be. Ask God to use you.
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. "
(James 1:5-6)
ACCEPT WHO GOD MADE YOU TO BE
That may seem silly to you but I can’t tell you the number of friends who have “wasted” years because they were fighting against who God made them to be. Like Moses in the Bible. He resisted the purpose of his life because He felt inadequate and unworthy.
Accept that all Christians have special abilities (talents, gifts). Yes, even you. What do you enjoy the most? What are you drawn to? Maybe this is your God-given passion. Sometimes, God uses the area where we have spent the most time climbing the mountain and wandering in the desert.
For Additional Reading: A beginner’s guide to spiritual gifts.
A former pregnant teen might volunteer or open a teen pregnancy center.
We have a family friend who loves to work out and study how the body works. He has a strict workout schedule. As a result, he gets a lot of attention. Because he desires to be used by God in every area of his life, he allows God to use him daily while at the gym. He does not hide that he is a Christian and is frequently approached by lost, hurting folks who he then points to Jesus.
"As every man hath received the gift, even so, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praised and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
(1 Peter 4:10-11)
PRACTICE THE ART OF BEING STILL
Be still before God. You can ask for his vision of your purpose or calling but quiet the noise around you and still your thoughts. Spend as much quiet time with God as you can during this time. If God has given you a vision or idea, meditate on it. Write it down and pray over it.
One of the reasons you need to do this is that God’s ways are not our ways. It's pretty much a given that your ideas for your purpose are not the same as God's. Most people's dreams are too small. They lack vision and allow insecurities and fear to rule what they do (again, think of Moses).
For Additional Reading: Finding a devotional time that works with your busy schedule.
So many Christians equate being busy with being spiritual and a "good Christian". But if that is true, God would tell us in his word to "get busy!" not tell us multiple times to "be still" and seek HIM. He doesn't desire for you to run around like a chicken with its head cut off so others will think more highly of you.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
(Isaiah 55:8)
LET GO OF THE CONTROL
We cannot possibly accomplish our purpose on our own. We must give God control and allow his power to work in us and through us. Let God grow it in your spirit as you are taking baby steps to do as He asks.
For example, before you take steps to open a homeless shelter, maybe you should volunteer in one. But pray about it first and see if that is how God wants you to spend your time right now.
If you insist on holding what you believe to be your calling tightly in your spiritual fists, God cannot use you. Ask Him to search your heart. If your motives are wrong and you are searching for a title or pats on the back, God cannot use you. What would you do if your purpose turned out to be on a small scale, say just in your church, and not on national TV or something like that? Would you be okay with reaching just one instead of thousands?
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
WITHHOLD NOTHING FROM GOD
Don't go to your pew mate in church or your favorite co-worker and tell them your fears. Tell God your fears. He already knows them. Fear is normal but we can't allow ourselves to get caught up and stay in the fear. God already has it figured out so you might as well trust him.
Besides, faith and fear can't exist together so take your fear right to God. Ask him to help you with your lack of faith that has allowed your fear to grow in this area.
Watch what you say. Don't allow yourself to spout your negative thoughts. Negative, ungodly thinking will hinder receiving God’s blessings. Ask God to renew in you a new spirit and to seal your lips to evil talk such as putting yourself down or belittling yourself or your dreams.
"But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”
(Psalm 56:3-4)
JUST DO IT ALREADY
As God gives you your next step, do it. Don’t ignore it, wait for something better, or hold off until a "more mature" Christian confirms what God has told you.
The birth of your calling is between you and God. He created you for this purpose. God is very orderly and builds line upon line. So don't expect the entire dream at once. Trust him with each step believing that He will take you where you need to be when you need to be there. That is often called faith in action.
God will test you to grow you. He wants your obedience. If you try to force or manipulate your vision or calling, you can guarantee you will wander around in the desert until you reach a point you are ready to turn it over to God and follow his plan instead of your own.
FINAL THOUGHTS
God is a good God. Stepping toward your calling is all about learning to let go and trust your Savior.
Let God breathe his dream into you. Whatever God asks you to do, do it with confidence that the Holy Spirit is there guiding you. He has a specific purpose to use you and your calling to accomplish his will. He never calls unless he provides.
You might not feel special, qualified, or able. But God says you are and you were born for just such a time as this! You can take that to the bank because God cannot lie. Ever.
This purpose you have is as unique and individual as you are and was created just for you by your Father who is completely in love with you.
"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!”
(Psalm 139:1-6)
YOUR TURN
Have you discovered the purpose for your life? How has God directed you to carry out that purpose? Comment below and let us know what it is!
