Christian Living

His Good Purpose

by Anne O'Donnell
12/13/20
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The million dollar question many Christians ask over the course of their life is, "How do I figure out God’s plan for my life?" or, “When will I know if I’m making the right choices?”

Maybe they have asked these questions a couple of times or maybe they ask it frequently. I think it’s safe to say most Christians want that feeling of recognizing the direction God has for their life. They look for open doors and opportunities to serve in the Kingdom, hoping to feel they are fulfilling their calling to touch the world using their specific gifts and talents.

When we get a sense that God is wanting to move us forward in an area of service to others, what does that look like and feel like? Are we quick to recognize His hand upon us or do we have to look hard and dig deep to discern where He is leading us? 

As humans it's easy to identify others by what they do, and we do the same thing to ourselves. We build our identity around our performances, our titles, and our accomplishments, for example:

I am a lawyer, my husband is the CEO of a company, she started the food bank, he coaches the high school volleyball team, she is our Ambassador to Europe, he is a doctor of theology, she runs the soup kitchen, etc.

We often look for tangible means to serve, like using our skills and talents and strengths to convince ourselves that God is pleased with our efforts and commitments. All these have their place in the kingdom.

While we may be busy looking on the earthly plane for clues of what we are to do, like a job, or outreach, or a ministry, or a career or profession, we may overlook the fact that God has already spelled out exactly what He wants us to be doing. All we have to do is open the Bible to any page to learn God’s principles for godly living. 

At the top of the list are verses like, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind", and "Love your neighbor as yourself." That is a full time job right there! Not much wiggle room is there? Other indicators are found in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, and Matthew 5-7. 

God can, and often does use the "what we do" as a vehicle to shape the "who we are". While there is much satisfaction to the human soul knowing our purpose on this earth and the specific plans laid out for our lives since before the beginning of time, the greater goal God has for us is to become Christ-like, "Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love." (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Our grid for becoming all we can be must follow the pattern laid out for us that Jesus provided while on earth. 

I personally have found there is really only one way to discern His will for my life, and it begins with getting to know Him and letting Him get to know you - every flaw, setback, shortcoming, weakness, dream, desire, hope, ambition, and hope. 

Getting to know God is really like any other relationship you have with those you want to be close to. You spend time together; you each spend a significant amount of time doing the talking and you each spend a significant amount of time doing the listening. You probe deep into the person's heart to understand them and connect at a level that is reserved for such a close and intimate friendship. 

Once you feel close to the person, you take critical steps to stay close. Over time, the bond becomes so strong you're sure nothing in all of creation could break it. Soon, that person becomes a part of who you are. 

The same happens with God.

While I might have questions of what to do next with my life in the earthly realm, I have my work cut out for me without having to look very far. All I have to do is open the pages of my Bible and read verse after verse of what I am to do that really is synonymous with who I am to become. God's plan for my life never really changes, it's just that I grow into a greater awareness of it. He who began a good work is certain to carry it on to completion. What a comfort to know He is on your side.

It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose, (Philippians 2:13)