What God Has In Store For You: Finding Your Divine Purpose
Have you ever wondered if there is more to life than just working, eating, and sleeping? Do you feel like there must be a higher meaning or purpose for your existence? You’re not alone. The quest to understand God’s plan for our lives is an ancient and universal one.
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer to what God has in store for you: God has prepared great plans for your life according to His purpose and timing. By seeking Him through prayer, Bible study, and community, you can discern your divine calling.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore questions like: What does the Bible say about God’s will and purpose for every person? How can you tune into God’s frequency to understand your destiny? What practical steps can you take to walk in your divine calling? Let’s embark on this journey together!
The Biblical Foundation: We Are Created on Purpose, for a Purpose
Every person is made in God’s image
The Bible teaches that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This affirms the sacred worth and dignity of every person. We all reflect God’s attributes – His creativity, love, intelligence, free will, etc.
Though marred by sin, God’s image in us gives us inherent value and purpose. As image-bearers of God, discovering and living out our purpose brings glory to our Creator.
Jeremiah 29:11 – God’s good plans for us
One of the most beloved verses in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11 declares, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
This verse assures us that God has beautifully ordained plans for each person, plans filled with meaning, success and hope. His plans are perfectly tailored to the gifts, passions and experiences He has woven into our lives. As we seek Him first, He directs our paths and reveals His purposes for us.
Ephesians 2:10 – We are God’s workmanship
Ephesians 2:10 continues the theme: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Here we see that not only were we intricately crafted by God, but He has also prepared specific Kingdom works for each of us.
Our core purpose is living out the good works He has foreordained for us, which align with our gifts and personalities. Fulfillment is found when we tap into these customized callings. Interestingly, the Greek word translated as “workmanship” is poiēma, from which we derive “poem.”
Our lives are literally God’s poetry in motion when we thrive in our divine purposes!
Seeking God First: The Key to Discerning His Will
Prayer – Two-Way Communication with God
Prayer allows us to develop a close, intimate relationship with God. Through heartfelt and sincere prayer, we open our minds to receive guidance, wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27).
Setting aside quiet time for prayer every day enables us to align our will with God’s perfect will. We can bring all decisions and questions we have to the Lord in prayer, fully trusting that He will make His purpose clear (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Bible Study – Our Instruction Manual for Life
Studying the Bible gives us a solid foundation for making decisions that honor God. Through scripture, we learn God’s principles and precepts which serve as a compass to keep us on the right path (Psalm 119:105).
Immersing ourselves in God’s word enables us to renew our minds and transform our thinking to align with His perfect will (Romans 12:2). The more scripture we store in our hearts, the more discerning we will be when hearing God’s still, small voice guiding us forward.
Hearing God’s Voice: Learning to Recognize Divine Guidance
The still small voice – sensing God’s subtle nudges
God often speaks in a quiet whisper that we sense in our spirit. We get an intuition, a spontaneous thought or mental picture, or a feeling of being led in a certain direction. It’s easy to miss or ignore these gentle promptings from the Holy Spirit.
We need to train ourselves to tune in to God’s soft whisper and pay attention to his subtle nudges. As we spend time daily in prayer and Bible reading, we become better able to distinguish God’s voice from our own thoughts.
The more we know God’s character and desires, the easier it is to recognize when he is speaking to our heart. Listening for that still small voice leads to a life of divine appointments and miracles.
Confirmation through multiple means
God often confirms his guidance by speaking the same thing through different channels. Before making an important decision, it’s wise to seek confirmation in various ways – through Scripture, trusted friends, circumstances, common sense, and peace in your spirit.
As you stay surrendered to God’s will, he will make his will clear and give you “the way of wisdom.” For example, if you sense God calling you to missions in Africa, he may confirm it by putting a burden for Africa on your heart, highlighting Scriptures about serving the poor, the enthusiastic support of mature believers, and the provision of needed finances.
When you have confirmation from multiple means, you can move forward with bold confidence.
Pay attention to divine timing
God often speaks through timing, arranging circumstances and opening doors of opportunity at just the right moment. He orders our steps and wants us to pay close attention to his timing. Often he puts a desire in our heart, then fulfills it in his perfect way and time – not ours!
For example, you may sense God calling you to start a business. If the timing isn’t right yet, doors of provision will stay closed no matter how hard you push. When God says “not yet,” we need to listen, wait patiently on his timing, and not try to make things happen in our own strength.
But when God says “now,” we can move forward in faith according to his leading. Walking in God’s perfect timing leads to the blessing and success he desires for you.
Stepping Out in Faith: Actively Pursuing Your Purpose
Discovering your divine purpose is an exciting first step, but it’s only the beginning. To truly live out your purpose, you must be willing to step out in faith and actively pursue it. This requires courage, commitment, and trusting that God will guide you every step of the way.
Stepping out in faith means moving past fear and doubt to boldly follow where God is leading. It’s easy to come up with reasons why now is not the right time or make excuses for why we can’t fully devote ourselves to what God is calling us to do.
But we must silence those doubts and take that first courageous step. As the old saying goes, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
Clarifying Your Call
The first thing to do is clarify exactly what you believe God is calling you to. Ask yourself: What specific actions can I take to pursue this purpose? What tangible steps can I take this week, this month, this year? Get very clear on what pursuing your purpose looks like day-to-day.
For example, if you feel called to start a nonprofit serving underprivileged youth in your community, your action steps may include researching legal requirements for starting a nonprofit, looking for available grants, connecting with other local youth programs, and making a plan for launching within the next 6-12 months.
Have a clear vision of what pursuing your purpose entails.
Making Big and Small Changes
Often, fully devoting yourself to your divine purpose requires big changes – a career change, relocating, going back to school, starting a business, etc. But it may also involve smaller day-to-day changes and priorities.
For example, you may need to get up an hour earlier each morning to pray and journal. Or you may need to be more intentional about having conversations with your spouse to assess how this calling aligns with family needs.
Look at both the big, life-altering steps as well as the small daily habits and routines that need to shift to properly align with the purpose God has for you. Be willing to prayerfully consider what changes are necessary to wholeheartedly pursue His call.
Overcoming Fear and Doubt
Stepping out in faith is often terrifying. Your mind fills with anxious thoughts: What if I fail? What will people think? What if I’m not up for this? This is completely normal! Even biblical heroes like Moses, Gideon, and Jeremiah felt inadequate when God called them to daunting tasks.
When fear and doubt creep in, you must counter those lies with scriptural truths. Remember that God will equip you for everything He calls you to do (Hebrews 13:20-21). If God is for you, who can stand against you (Romans 8:31)? Have courage, for God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
Renew your mind with these reassurances.
Trust the Process
Finally, trust that as you step out in faith, God will guide your every step. He has good plans to prosper you and give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). You don’t have to have it all figured out.
Just take the next right step, and trust that God will order your footsteps going forward (Psalm 37:23).
Pursuing your divine purpose requires courage, faith and commitment. But you are not alone. God promises to be with you, equip you, and guide you each step of the journey. So take that leap of faith, and boldly follow His call. Amazing things happen when we step out and follow where God is leading us.
Fulfillment Along the Way: Discovering Joy in the Journey
Life is full of ups and downs. There will be times of happiness and times of struggle. Yet even in the difficult seasons, we can find joy if we approach life’s journey with the right perspective.
The key is realizing that our purpose and fulfillment do not lie in the destination alone. There is fulfillment to be found along the way. When we focus too intently on the future, we miss the blessings in the present.
God has promised us a hope and a future, but He also asks us to rejoice in this day (Psalm 118:24).
How can we discover joy in each step of life’s journey?
Appreciate the Present
Often our joy is hindered simply because we fail to open our eyes to the gifts around us. We get so focused on problems or the next big milestone that we overlook the little moments of beauty and grace we’ve been given.
Yet life is made up of tiny details – the smile of a child, the warmth of the sun, the changing colors of the leaves. There is abundant joy to be found if we pay attention.
Focus on Personal Growth
Lasting joy comes from inward renewal, not outward success. As we mature spiritually and emotionally, we gain an eternal perspective and learn to rest in God’s love. We begin to find satisfaction in simplicity, service, and fellowship with other believers. We worry less about titles and status.
Inner peace is no longer tied to circumstances.Cultivating the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) – helps us experience stable inner joy regardless of what life brings.
Trust God’s Plans
Knowing that God orders our steps gives us freedom to enjoy the journey. We can rest in the fact that He is with us always, working everything for good in accordance with His purposes (Romans 8:28). Even when we don’t understand our present struggles, we can ask Him for grace to take the next step.
Living in surrender to God’s will allows us to travel lightly through life. We learn to hold plans and possessions loosely, not placing our identity in temporal things. With an eternal perspective, we can face every season with poise and patience.
The road ahead may be filled with uncertainty, but we never walk alone. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, our faithful companion, we will find unexpected joy rising within us – joy that remains long after worldly happiness has faded away.
Conclusion
While the details of God’s calling on your life may still be unclear, take hope! As you commit each day to pursuing an intimate relationship with Him through prayer, Scripture, and community, His perfect will shall be revealed step-by-step.
The Lord promises that as you delight yourself in Him, He will place divinely prepared works before you to walk in (Isaiah 64:4). His plans for you are good and purposeful.
Stay close to God and trust in His timing. Your destiny awaits as you faithfully follow His lead each day!
