What's My Purpose in Life?

It seems that every one wants to know his/her "purpose". Why am I here? What does God want me to do with my life?

So, you read books and listen to successful people, hoping to glean some magical formula for self discovery. You want to know that you were created for some special purpose, right? If only you could find the key to discovering exactly what it is!

If I may be blunt: stop worrying about finding some super unique purpose and concentrate on fulfilling the basic purposes found in the Bible. Maybe once you start down that journey, your unique purpose will become apparent. While you're praying about your purpose in life and wondering about hidden talents, try removing your thoughts from SELF and focusing them on JESUS:

1 – Have a personal relationship with God.
2 – Praise and worship the Lord.
3 – Spread the Word of God.
4 – Develop your gifts.

God has a purpose for us all. We all have gifts. Some gifts are more apparent than others: singing, acting, dancing, etc. Some gifts are more subtle: serving and helping others, gentleness, kindness, the ability to make others laugh or feel good about themselves, etc. Your gift doesn’t have to be in the area of science or genius. If your gifts are not apparent, they will become apparent through serving God and spreading His word.

1 Peter 4:10-11: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 12:27-31: Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Oprah Winfrey knew that she had the gift of gab since the age of 5, but I'm pretty certain she had no idea that her speaking would lead to billionaire status. She grew into her calling as she traveled the journey from reciting church sermons to being a voice that the world would listen to 5 days a week for twenty-five years. Her purpose didn’t just hit her at 5 years old.

As we go through life we will find things that interest us. We may not know ultimately what we are supposed to do with our lives, but should recognize our strengths and weaknesses.

Sometimes our strengths are subtle. A woman who finds herself with immense caring and compassion may not know that her destiny is to talk to and help young women in peril in third world countries. Instead, she may initially think that her life’s purpose is to be a nurse. While nursing, she may find herself comforting foreign women with her words as well as her medical skills. Eventually, she'll venture into volunteer work and/or counseling. One day she will be moved to travel out of the United States to help women in other countries.

The possibilities for each of us are endless, but the key is to wrap yourself in God’s word and start doing things that you love and really care about. This will help guide you to your purpose.

Yolanda Adams says that many people don’t know their God-given gifts because they haven’t taken the time to ask Him, “What is my gift?” I would take that one step further and say that even if they have asked, and they do know, they may be too lazy or scared to take the steps necessary to bring that gift to life. Then, sometimes even when their gift has been revealed they are unwilling to accept it because the gift is not “important enough” and won’t bring worldly accolades and recognition. But, that’s unfortunate because when we embrace the gift that God has given us, large or small, we never know where we will be led. God has already mapped out our lives and it’s up to us to tap into that blueprint and...live.

There's a saying: “We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.” Simply put, the lazier you are, the lazier you will become. If you will only get up and do something, the motivation will set in to do more. The more you press forward, the stronger you become. Every time you achieve a small victory, something euphoric happens: healthy pride kicks in and propels you to greater heights.

No one should just live; we should all live, give, and excel. If you have a boring job, find another one or take classes doing something you enjoy. Join an organization with upwardly mobile, progressive peers. Spend time bettering your community. Serve others with an unselfish heart. Remove the focus from self and place it squarely on God and the many people in this world who NEED you. After doing all of this, you just might find some real happiness and your purpose in life.