God has a purpose for you (or, what is Gods will for my life?)

Ephesians 4:17-18 (ESV)
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

What is Gods will for my life? What am I doing here? What am I supposed to be doing?

Is there even a plan for my life?

If God loves me, why am I still sitting here not knowing what to do?

These are all valid and frequent questions in our lives. Now I am not going to tell you exactly what you should do – sorry! But I do want to go through some basic Biblical principles to help in our daily and lifelong search for Gods will.

In all honesty, you have to remember that the testimony of most people is that Gods will is most evident in retrospect. It is often difficult to see God working, or why things are happening. But when you look back and see where you have come, you will be amazed at all the ‘little moments’ that meant nothing to you at the time, but ended up guiding you and defining your life.

Firstly, I want to affirm something important. God has a plan for your life. Are you alive? Yes? Then God still has a use for you, God still has a plan for you. We don’t serve a God who sits back, watches the scenery and makes adjustments as He goes. No! We serve a sovereign God, a deliberate and purposeful God, who has a plan for everything, as amazing as that sounds.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

So, we know God has a plan for our lives. How can we find it?

Faith

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

We first have to have faith. Have faith first in God, then in the fact that He is sovereign. Once we know that God exists, and we know God has a plan, we have a foundation to go forward. Without a foundation of faith in God, it is very hard to do anything else!

Stop worrying

Matthew 6:27 (ESV)
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

You got it, stop worrying about it. There is a distinct difference between ‘concern’, ‘interest’ and ‘worry’. We all want to know what God wants of us in our lives – that is natural. He gave us that desire when He made us! But worrying about it isn’t going to help! We need to take more active measures. So starting with faith, that utter knowledge and conviction that God DOES have a plan, we can take it to Him in prayer…

Pray

You got it, pray. Pray for guidance. Even more so, when you are worried, instead of fretting about it, take it to God in prayer! It doesn’t need to be long winded and formal (see mark 12:38-40 for example) – just call out!

Mark 9:23-24 (ESV)
And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Maybe you will just call out something like this. “God, help me. I don’t know what you want, and I am worried about it. Help me to have faith! Help me to have peace in the knowledge that you do have a plan! Guide me now, in Jesus name”. Nothing fancy, just honest, open communication to God.

Read the Word

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Read your Bible. Don’t expect it to pop out and say ‘DZ, you need to go and apply for a job at Boeing today’. Do expect it to speak into your life however, because God speaks through His word. Expect it to guide you, teach you, adjust you, move you, in ways you don’t even expect. And as you grow closer to God, you will find your way!

Seek counsel

I know this one seems obvious, but seek some counsel with Godly people. We can’t always see everything in our lives! I was reading just the other day about a guy who is now a pastor. Before he was one he was struggling mightily with what God wanted him to do – he really didn’t know, and was lost. But he was at a Bible study, taking and teaching, when a wise, godly old lady said to him ‘you have a gift, have you thought of being a pastor?’. He didn’t seek the counsel, but he remained in the presence of other Christians, doing God’s work, reading the Bible and praying, and it came clear as day to him.

Have Peace

Romans 15:13 (ESV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

This is the final point, and for many of us, the place we need to come to before we can take the next step forward. Because for you to have peace, your foundation needs to be secure. Your faith in God is secure, full in the knowledge that He has a plan for you, He knows what He is doing, and He will reveal it the moment you need to know more – not a moment sooner lest you pre-empt God, not a moment later so that you will miss it.

Have peace, knowing that God has a plan for your life – a full and complete plan, that is Good, and part of His will.