Finding Your Purpose

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.         Psalm 138:8 

There is a scene in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland where Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me, please which way I ought to go from here?“ The Cheshire Cat replies, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.“ When she says, “I don’t much care where,“ the Cheshire Cat states, “Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.“ Alice continues, “…So long as I get somewhere,“ and the cat responds, “Oh, you’re sure to do that. If only you walk long enough.” 

When it comes to knowing God’s purpose for their lives, some Christians seem every bit as lost as Alice, not sure of where they are headed, or how to get there. “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves. But when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed” (Proverbs 29:18, The Message). So what is God’s purpose for you? What are His plans? What is it God wants to do in your life? The psalmist said, “You have made known to me the path of life” (Psalm 16:11). 

Oklahoma pastor Kade Young offers the following steps to finding God’s purpose for you. First, know Him, have a close relationship with the living God. Step two is to find freedom. Young says, Jesus paid the price for you to be free – He wants you to have freedom in your body, freedom in your mind, freedom from your past and freedom in your heart.” Then discover what it is in your life where you make a difference. The prophet Micah states that the Lord’s purpose is for you to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). The Apostle Paul also offers instruction, to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you“ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). As you submit to the direction of the Holy Spirit, God will continue to fulfill His purpose within you. The result for you, and for those on the receiving end of how you make a difference, is abundant blessing. The remainder of Psalm 16:11 says, “In your presence there is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 

Today’s Verse: Psalm 138:8 

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; 
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. 
    Do not forsake the work of your hands. 

All Scripture quotations and audio 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.

Recommended for further reading: Psalm 37:1-6, 23-27 

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; 
    be not envious of wrongdoers! 
2 For they will soon fade like the grass 
    and wither like the green herb. 

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; 
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 
4 Delight yourself in the Lord, 
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

5 Commit your way to the Lord; 
    trust in him, and he will act. 
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, 
    and your justice as the noonday. 

23The steps of a man are established by the Lord, 
    when he delights in his way; 
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, 
    for the Lord upholds his hand. 

25 I have been young, and now am old, 
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken 
    or his children begging for bread. 
26 He is ever lending generously, 
    and his children become a blessing. 

27 Turn away from evil and do good; 
    so shall you dwell forever. 

All Scripture quotations and audio 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.


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