The Apostle Paul said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”1
“Stephen Covey once said, ‘Be sure that, as you scramble up the ladder of success, it is leaning against the right building.’ Many people work hard to achieve goals that they think they want only to find, at the end of the day, they get no joy or satisfaction from their accomplishments. They ask, ‘Is this all there is?’ This occurs when the outer accomplishment is not in harmony with your inner values. Don’t let this happen to you.“2
Time and again I have asked classes I have taught, “How many of you believe that God has a purpose for your life?” Most of the hands are raised but then, when I ask them to spell out their God-given life purpose, very few have any idea what it is. This reminds me of an old ditty I heard as a teenager that said, “Blessed be he who aimeth at nothing for he shall surely hit it.”
I don’t know about you but when I stand face to face before God and have to give an account of my life I don’t want to go into heaven empty-handed.3
God does have a divine purpose for your life. Make sure that you know what it is and that you are, with God’s help, fulfilling it. God’s purpose for you will have to do with discovering, developing, and serving God by using the natural and spiritual gifts God has already given to you. And remember that we serve God by serving people. Also make sure that your life-purpose is in harmony with God’s will so that your ladder isn’t leaning against the wrong wall.
I have written out and/or stated my life-purpose probably thousands of times. I have done this pretty much daily for many years and plan on doing so for all the days of my life. Repetition with feeling helps program your life purpose into your unconscious mind and belief system. This helps to operate on automatic pilot. I encourage you to write out your God-given life purpose and repeat it at the beginning of every day as part of your daily devotions.
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have a divine purpose for my life. Please help me to discover what it is and to get excellent training so that I can do my utmost to fulfill your purpose for my life and, in so doing, bring glory to your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
1. Philippians 3:14 (NIV).
2. Brian Tracy, http://www.briantracy.com.
3. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 (NIV).
<:))))><