Everyone was born or created for a purpose, but how do you figure out what that is? Better yet, what can you do to fulfill your purpose right now?
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What Does It Mean To Fulfill Your Purpose?
Table of Contents
The idea of each person having a purpose is one that we hear—and speak—about all the time. We believe that each person is created for a specific purpose, but many times we have no idea what that purpose is or how we can go about fulfilling our purpose.
Let me make it easy for you right now. You were created for a specific purpose. You were created for worship.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9 ESV).
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV).
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1 ESV).
We fulfill our purpose when we give glory to God. I can hear your questions, “Is it really that simple? What about my individual purpose?”
I feel you. This whole purpose thing is really huge. Many persons spend their lives trying to figure out where their individual purpose lies and to be honest, it’s something that can really drain you…this trying to figure out what your purpose is.
Finding Your Purpose In God
It’s so much better to find our purpose in God than trying to find our purpose outside of Him or in what the world says about us. That’s why I love what the Bible says about purpose.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 ESV). #hebrews12endurance Click To TweetFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 ESV).
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 ESV).
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV).
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (2 Timothy 1:8-9 ESV).
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: (2 Peter 4:10 ESV).
How Do You Fulfill God’s Purpose?
So how do you fulfill God’s purpose? It begins with making yourself available to Him. Now hear me out. It’s one thing to say you’re a Christian, it’s quite another to do what God has asked us to do.
In my experience, God always asks you to do things bigger than yourself. He asks you to take, what seems to the human mind, crazy risks. He asks you to walk a different path from your peers. And then He tells you He’ll always be with you.
You want to believe Him. You know He speaks the truth. But until you let go of your personal desires and surrender to God’s calling, you won’t be able to go where He sends you.
Let me show you what I mean. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when God called Jeremiah to be a prophet. Jeremiah was relatively young, and while we don’t know how old he was, he still considered himself a youth, a naʻar.
In the Hebrew language, na’ar referred to a child from birth to adolescence or maybe as old as twenty years old. When God told him He had called him to be a prophet, Jeremiah wanted nothing to do with God’s plan. Let’s jump into that story and see what happens next.
“O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:6-8 NLT)
After that meeting with God, Jeremiah goes on to be a prophet to the nations. He spoke before the elders of Israel, its king, and all its people. And yes, there were times when Jeremiah wanted to go his own way but he found that obedience and submission to God’s will allowed him to fulfill his purpose.
How Do You Achieve Your Purpose?
I don’t what your individual purpose is and maybe you don’t either, but I believe there are three things you can do right now to help you fulfill your purpose. I know that sounds contradictory, but remember your primary purpose is to give glory to God so we’re focusing on that. Here are things you can do today to begin walking in your God-given purpose.
Here are 3 things you can do today to begin walking in your God-given purpose. #fulfillyourpurpose #hebrews12endurance Click To Tweet
1. Make yourself available to Him
If you want to fulfill your purpose, you must first make yourself available for God to use. Opening up yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit may mean that you sometimes have to do things you’re not ready to do. It may mean existing outside of your comfort zone, but as you do that, remember you can do all things through Christ who gives you the strength (Philippians 4:13).
2. Assess your skills
God gives us spiritual gifts but many times our purpose involves those skills and talents that we’re naturally good at. Spend some time looking at the things you do well. Make a list. Determine how you can use those skills, assets, and talents to give glory to God.
3. Try different things
As you assessed your skills you probably found some things you were not so good at. Don’t allow what you consider a natural ineptitude to prevent you from trying new things. Sometimes your purpose lies in an uncovered talent.
Being in the church is a great place to try new things as there are so many ministries you can participate in. Make it your ministry to try new ministries.
4. Pray for God to reveal your purpose
Bonus tip: Pray about it! Ask God to reveal your unique purpose. Ask Him to show you ways you can fulfill your purpose. When He reveals the answer, write it down somewhere. There will come a time when you will need to remind yourself of your purpose and what God has called you for.
I started thinking of ways we can fulfill our purpose even when our circumstances are less than ideal as I read Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano.
My Review of Storing Up Trouble
Beatrix Waterbury is sent to Chicago to spend time with her aunt. The story she’s told is that because she had been arrested twice and was way too involved in the suffragist movement she would be sent to her mother’s older sister for a while.
But of course, trouble follows Beatrix. Before she even gets to her aunt’s house she is involved in a series of misfortunes starting with the train robbery.
She is thrust into the company of Norman Nesbit a man completely unlike any she had ever met before. He is studious and does not fawn over her. In fact, he annoys her more than anything but, because they are drawn into each other’s company by the circumstances surrounding them, she gets a chance to see other parts of his personality.
Parts of this book were laugh-out-loud funny and the cast of characters was engaging and entertaining.
Still, there were parts of the novel where the author chose to show rather than tell which caused the pace to lag a bit. But for the most part, I enjoyed this book. I was especially intrigued by the bits of history that were woven into the plot.
Know God–throughout the course of this novel, Beatrix came to realize that God had given her the advantage she had because he had a plan for her. He wanted her to use her money and influence to improve the plight of the less fortunate. Norman learned that having a superior intellect is no excuse for treating others poorly.
Like Beatrix and Norman, we are stewards of the things God has given us. It’s up to us to use them wisely and to finish the work of the kingdom so that Christ can return.
Know yourself–Beatrix had a pretty clear idea of what she liked and what she stood for but it wasn’t until she spent time under her aunt’s tutelage that she really streamlined her knowledge of herself. Sometimes we have to go outside of her comfort zone in order to learn more about our characters.
Run your race–each of the characters in this book had to run their own courses. Sometimes they overlapped but ultimately they had their own visions, dreams, and challenges to go through.
Storing Up Trouble was an intriguing look at what the suffragist movement may have looked like from the perspective of a rich heiress. I also enjoyed the romance between Beatrix and Norman.
On the surface, their relationship shouldn’t have worked but they were good for each other. I liked how Norman smoothed away her rough edges whereas Beatrix forced Norman to open his eyes to the relationships he’d been missing out on.
Get your copy of Storing Up Trouble. I received an advanced reader’s copy of Storing Up Trouble from the publishers courtesy of Celebrate Lit and Net Galley; a positive review was not required.
About Storing Up Trouble
After Miss Beatrix Waterbury suffers multiple mishaps due to her involvement with the suffrage movement, her mother decides a change of scenery is in order for her incorrigible daughter. Banished from New York, Beatrix is sent off for an extended stay with her Aunt Gladys in Chicago.
Mr. Norman Nesbit, a gentleman and a brilliant man of science devoted to his work, doesn’t have time to be distracted with members of the feminine set. When robbers descend on the train, intent on divesting him from his important research papers, Norman is thrust into Beatrix’s company when she has the audacity to interfere–leaving him no choice but to try to save her from herself.
When Beatrix’s life is put at stake after she takes employment as a salesgirl, she and Norman find themselves propelled into each other’s company again and again. With danger and intrigue dogging their every step, they become surprisingly drawn to each other–until information comes to light that threatens this relationship that’s barely had a chance to blossom.
About Jen Turano
Jen Turano, a USA Today bestselling author, has written four historical romance series. She is a member of ACFW and RWA and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
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Looks like something I really need to read, and an enjoyable story to boot 🙂 Any book that will help you fulfill your purpose and have fun too is going to be special! Thanks for sharing this, Ami!
It’s definitely something you would enjoy, Aryn. I’m glad you enjoyed the review?.
Nice review. This sounds like a good book to read.
Thanks, Helen. It was a really fun read. If you like historical fiction you should definitely check it out.