Fulfill Your Purpose

Then I heartd the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” — Isaiah 6:8 NIV

Thinking, planning, and preparing are all well and good, but none of those things will actually fulfill your purpose. To do that you have to act. God doesn’t instruct us to overthink everything to death. He instructs us to obey. To hear His call, accept His instructions, and get to work.

In the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32), a father told each of his two sons to go work in his vineyard that day. The first son at first refused to work, but then he later changed his mind and went and did what his father asked of him. The second son promised to go, but then he never did the work he committed to doing. Jesus asked the crowd, “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” The answer, of course, was the first son. The second son said all the right things, but he never acted. Thinking about your purpose and making plans don’t count. When God calls us, He expects action.

You will always be able to find a good excuse not to act. After all, life is busy and complicated, and there will always be a lot of demands on your time. It is up to you to choose: to keep up with the demands and expectations of society or to obediently say yet to God. Even if, like the first son, you have said no to your purpose time and time again, it is not too late to change your mind and go do what your Father has asked of you.

Live Your Purpose

He has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. — 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV

God called you to a holy, purposeful life with Him to fulfill His greater plan and purpose. There’s nothing you could have done or not done to earn such a distinction. It was given to you because of His grace and love. That is huge!

God is trusting you to do something for Him, to further His plans, to bring glory to His Kingdom. Not because He needs the help, but because He wants to do it with you. Can you think of a bigger honor? Even if you feel unprepared or scared or uncertain, it’s time to accept that trust and step into the purpose that He has prepared for you alone.

• God has put His faith in you, so it’s time to put your faith in Him.

Trust that He knows exactly what He’s doing and answer His call.

When you think about God trusting you with a holy purpose, how does it make you feel?

What most inspires you to get going and act, even if you feel scared or unsure?

Chase Joy

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV

Yuur purpose should not feel like a heavy burden or a drag. God created this purpose for you and you for this purpose. It’s a part of you, something important and fulfilling, just like your relationship with God.

If what you think is your purpose fills you with dread and feels like a chore, then that isn’t really your purpose. Your purpose, although it may be difficult or discouraging at times, should be joyful, meaningful work. Sometimes we can let our anxieties and stress overwhelm the joy. When that
happens, it’s time to pray and ask God to replace your worries with His peace so you can find that joy again.

What is holding you back from joy in your pursuit of your purpose? Why is it a stumbling block?

• What brings you true joy in your purposeful work?

Keep Talking to God

I have not ever acted, and will not in the future act, on My own. I listen to the directions of the One who sent Me and act on these divine instructions. For this reason, My judgment is always fair and never self-serving. I’m committed to pursuing God’s agenda and not My own. — John 5:30 The Voice

There will always be times when things don’t go according to plan. No matter how long you’ve spent on the plans or how airtight they seem, you can’t control everything. Pursuing your purpose in the face of obstacles and detours will require you to be flexible, creative, and, most importantly, a prayer warrior.

• When it’s time to change your plans, the best counsel you can receive is God’s.

Pray about your purpose every day. Keep God looped in about what you are learning, get His advice for overcoming the obstacles you encounter, and celebrate your success with Him. Keep talking to God and keep listening. He won’t ever steer you wrong.

Do you share everything with God? Or do you only come to Him when you have a problem?

How many times a week do you ask for God’s wisdom and instructions? Do you think that’s enough?

Excerpted with permission from The Weekly Purpose Project, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

Do you know what your purpose is? Are you working to fulfill it? When you get discouraged or tired, lean into God the Father and ask for His help, enthusiasm, and creativity! Come share your thoughts on your purpose. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily