The Pursuit of Purpose

I thought I was ready to sit back and relax in my retirement but found that God didn't wire me that way. I am, therefor, trying to determine what I can do when I grow up  (74 years later) to contribute. I believe I am not alone in the quest for purpose.

                                          God's Purpose for Us!

 God seems to constantly remind us that we need to discover His purpose if we are going to  have true satisfaction in life. A modern definition of purpose is: "The reason for which something is done or for which something exists". The second definition is: " Resolve or determination of existance" (Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A. (Eds.). (2004). Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.)

            God Cares about our Purpose

God outlines His purpose for us very specifically in Paul's letter to the Ephesians 2:10 (NAS)

^"10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

If I am truthful with myself, I need to realize that God simply wants me to use me as His workmanship and not my desire to , individually, be beneficial to the world. I need to be beneficial to HIM.  Maybe we all need to spend more time trying to be like HIM?

Suggestions to Discover Your Purpose

If we are going to find our purpose in life, we have to know our personal goals in life. God says that He make each of us unique. Our individual goals should also be uniquely personal as well.  It is interesting to understand that Isaiah 46:10-13 says,"I make known the end ofrom the beginning, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

Be ready to follow God;s purpose whenyou realize what His intent is in your life. It is God who gives rain so pray for rain in time of need. Do not be afraid to pray for His favor when it goes to your purpose.  There are examples all over the bible of how God meets the needs of. people who follow His desire for their individual purpose. 

Pray for God's wisdom and then follow through. He knows you. Jeeremiah 1:4-5 says "The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you werfe born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 

If God knows us, He certainly expects us to reach His purpose. 

Daniel 12:4. "

The purpose of this search will be “to increase knowledge.” (Miller, S. R. (1994). Daniel (Vol. 18, p. 321). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

In Him

Dean