Why have I been born in this exact moment in life? How should I be spending my time? Who should I be making the effort to see?
Just when will my great life’s purpose slap me in the face?
I hope I’m not the only one who sometimes thinks these thoughts. I believe we all may from time to time and if you can answer them, well fantastic! But if you can’t, I think that’s okay as well.
I believe we are all born for a reason, that God sees us as unique, and that there’s something only you can bring to this world. But what exactly is that?
The more I ponder, pray, and read on this topic the more I feel these answers won’t come as a specific career, calling or vocation, although it just may happen this way for you.
Where’s our focus?
In Myles Monroe’s In pursuit of purpose there’s an awesome quote that states, “Keep your head and heart going in the right direction and you will not have to worry about your feet.”
I love this as it is a great reminder about focus, and on where and whom I should be focusing. If we are focusing on God and eternal things then we needn’t worry about our feet as they will naturally head in the right direction.
In John chapter six, verse 27 Jesus says, “But you shouldn’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose.”
I wonder how much wasted energy I have spent on earthly matters because I so often get weighed down in the daily grind of life. Some of these daily matters include; cooking, cleaning, shopping, working, disciplining and bottom wiping (of my two-year old!)—just to name but a few. Whilst all of these things are responsibilities that can’t be ignored, I need to learn not to obsess over them.
My focus shifts from the eternal to the natural very quickly but it really needs to be the other way around.
Created to be like God
Munroe says God’s purpose for creating men and women is that we would know and have the close union with the Father that Jesus had during His time on earth. He states, “Christ retained the likeness of God and he has created us, like he did Jesus, to be like him. His desire is now to have sons and daughters who share his interests, perspectives and visions.”
Jesus came to restore our relationship with God the Father and now our purpose is to be conformed into His likeness for the purpose of displaying His glory.
Created in His image to shine His spirit
Genesis chapter one, verse 27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.”
We were created in God’s image to be in close fellowship with Him, and thankfully Jesus came to restore His original plan. After our re-birth as sons and daughters of the Father, His spirit now dwells in us.
Galatians chapter five, verses 22-23 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Whatever stage of life you are in right now, I do believe God has a unique and personal purpose for you. If you are unsure of what this is, I encourage you to keep asking and praying that God would reveal it to you.
Above all, no matter what you may find yourself doing, we have first and foremostly been created to reveal God’s character and to become more like Him.
You and only you can shine a particular facet of God to the rest of the world, and if that isn’t an amazing life-purpose then I don’t know what is!
Jo Fuller is a primary school teacher with degrees in journalism and education. She lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband and young son.
Jo Fuller archive of articles may be viewed at
http://www.presserviceinternational.org/jo-fuller.html
Jo Fuller lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband, son and daughter. Jo is a teacher with an education in journalism and early childhood who loves to spend time with her family and enjoys reading and writing whenever she can.
