How to Find Your DestinyParaugs

How to Find Your Destiny

We all long to understand our purpose in life, don't we? We hope to fulfill a destiny we believe has been uniquely assigned to us. I know I'm not the only one who's gone to Google to help me unpack what my unique destiny could be. In my search, I've found tons of articles and tips on how to quickly identify what I was created to do. Maybe you've also found web pages saying you can find your why by answering just four simple questions. Or maybe you've stumbled across a 30-day plan for finding your purpose or 12 tips for unlocking your best life. One blog post even promoted the idea that it was possible to discover your life's plan in just 20 minutes!

I'm sorry to tell y'all, but discovering your destiny in 20 minutes is never going to happen.

The truth is, I have learned that discovering our purpose is a lifelong process that hinges on knowing this one thing – the voice of God.

So how do you get to know the voice of God? Well, I'm glad that you asked.

When Jesus addressed the unbelief of the Jews in John 10:27, He admonished them, saying, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." The original language of the word "hear" in this verse indicates that it is by "hearing" the voice of God that faith is then birthed within us. Paul echoes this later in Romans 10:17:

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (ESV)

God's voice is accessible to us through His Word, but to hear His voice, receive His directions, and know our life's purpose, we must first want to know His voice.

Let's be real here – many other voices are vying for our attention, aren't there? Some voices will try to derail us from our purpose, delay us from our destiny, or do their best to diminish our God-given potential. So having the discernment to recognize the voice of God is foundational.

Just ask Ruth. Ruth is one woman in the Bible who understood the importance of hearing God's voice. I believe knowing her story will help us do the same. Ruth was a Moabite woman married to a Jew. Her culture did not worship the God of Israel. After a heart-wrenching decade of loss, Ruth lives as a young widow. Motivated by her love for her widowed mother-in-law, she defied the voices of emotion, reason, and the masses and left the familiar behind. With that one bold decision of faith, Ruth began to walk right into her destiny.

As we begin our series this week, we will examine Ruth's story, the voices that could have derailed her destiny, and her adamant desire to know the voice of God. I hope that as we do this together, you, too, will be able to discern the direction that God is speaking in your life.

Prayer:

Father, as I study Your word this week, help me to tune out all other voices that vie for my attention and intimately tune into Yours. Speak into my heart through Your holy Scriptures, teaching me how I should go and counseling me with Your eye upon me, Father. I'm listening. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.