Originally published Friday, 14 April 2017.
It’s been an exciting adventure to talk about purpose and how to follow God in this leap of faith. In my previous posts, I admitted to being weak with fear. I’m not the bravest soul. None the less, I dared to take a step outside of my comfortable radio bubble. I believe God stretches us to a place of faith to look to Him for each step.
There are a lot of things that can get in the way, however. Emily Freeman listed some problems regarding a “stuck” feeling towards your purpose. Check these four ideas to see if you find yourself in one of them:
- Shame: Are you feeling unqualified or “not enough”?
- Frame: Are you feeling scattered, distracted or don’t know where to start?
- Name: Do you wonder who you are doing it for or who is your audience?
- Blame: Are you feeling opposition or spending all your energy fending off the critics?
These “same-isms” prevent you from creating or moving in your purpose. We are image bearers of God Himself, who has planned a fruitful life for each of us. Your purpose is so special and unique that it has a path all it’s own. And it’s God’s design that sets you ablaze with passion. The good news is there are God-given talents inside of you! And God has prepared things for you!
Romans 11:29 states, “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” The New Living Translation refers to God’s gifts as something that can never be “withdrawn.” The word irrevocable means permanent. A constant, changeless, or predetermined, predisposed, even inevitable, or irreversible, and final. So there you have it! God wasn’t kidding when He put His purpose, gifts, and abilities inside of you. You can believe the gifts are from God because He is the One who put them there.
Once you commit to Him, then all He desires is our simple devotion. That’s where each purpose looks different but as the Lord directs He will make your purpose known to you too! God has plans to prosper and grow us; to bear His fruit in our lives so that we can replicate His nature as He originally intended. A lot of this work is done in the secret places of our soul and heart.
Therefore, I encourage you to seek God in your purpose. Proverbs 16:9 “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” The New Living Translation says the Lord “determines”; as in sets our course directs our path, and establishes the way for us. We must have faith because God sees the big picture of our lives. He sees the entire course, including all the hurdles, obstacles, and distractions. And He loves us so much he doesn’t leave us alone to figure it all out ourselves. He helps us every step of the way, even strengthens and lengthens our days, and empowers each of us.
The Holy Spirit works in us to bring about even “greater works” than Christ did. God talks about purpose in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
And finally, God is the rewarder of faith. He sees everything and takes such delight in you. Remember when it gets challenging…and it will…God sees you! He’s cheering for you in the hard times and in the failures. In my experience, when you go all in and surrender unto His purpose, then He set’s ablaze the passion and marries purpose to passion.
Instead of a map, God offers His hand – Emily Freeman. Tell me how you have married your purpose to passion?
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