WordPress has some cool stats. I like how I can view the search terms people use to find my blog. Almost every day I see phrases like, “what is God’s purpose for me,” “fulfilling the purpose of God for my life,” “what is my purpose”. You might be one of those people who is wondering, “How can I know what my purpose is?”
No person is an accident. Everyone has a specific purpose–a reason to be on this Earth. One of the most amazing things to discover is God knew you even before the world was formed (Ephesians 1:4). He knew everything about you before you were conceived, and He had a special purpose in mind for you (Jeremiah 1:5).
I recently heard a fellow community member say, “Be present with God every moment, and do the thing that only you can do.” He was speaking about being a great leader, but I think his statement perfectly describes how to fulfill your purpose. No one else in the entire world has your unique set of gifts, talents, personality traits, and experiences.
God has a purpose that fits you and only you. No other person can fulfill your purpose. Every purpose is important–no matter how big or small. Even smiling at people can be a ministry and a purpose in life.
Two things will last forever: God and people (souls). It makes sense to invest your time, energy, and talents in things that will last forever instead of material things.
Here are some things that might help you discover your purpose:
- Pray, pray, pray! Ask God to speak to your heart and reveal His plan for you. Trust that He will guide you. God never tries to hide is will. If you ask with pure motives, He will answer you.
- Get to know yourself better. Take the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment. Take a spiritual gift inventory questionnaire.
- Ask friends and family what they think your gifts and talents are.
- Try lots of different hobbies, service projects, ministries, and/or vocations until you find something that you are passionate about, something that gives you energy.
Books About Purpose
- The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
- Knit Together: Discover God’s Pattern for Your Life by Debbie Macomber
- The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee
Purpose Quotes
“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,…everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16 (Msg)
“It’s not about you.” Rick Warren
“Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.” Bertrand Russell, atheist
“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” Jim Carrey
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11
“God, I’m going with your plans for my life, not my own. I’ve got plans, I’ve got dreams, I’ve got goals, I’ve got ambitions, but I know that you put me on this earth for a reason, for a purpose, and I am intentionally choosing your plan for my life instead of my own. I know you’re not going to reveal it to me all at once; it’s going to come a little bit at a time. But, I’m willing to take it one step at a time, knowing your plan is better than mine.” Rick Warren
“There is no happier place than the intersection of God’s will and your giftedness.” Phil Vischer
“Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller
“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Tim Kizziar
“This is true joy in life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” George Bernard Shaw
“Give yourselves to God…Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.” Romans 6:13 (TEV)
“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2
“What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God.” Danish proverb
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me…” Psalm 138:8