Living in Increase (Part 12) - Increase in FocusSample

Discover Your Purpose

Do you remember when you were a child growing up and playing pretend? I remember growing up and always playing school with my sister and cousins. I loved playing make-believe school! We would all take turns deciding who would be the teacher, the student, and the principal. I loved it so much that even when I found myself in trouble, grounded in the solitude of my room, I would play all by myself with my make-believe students. Growing up, I always thought I would be a teacher, but as I got older, I discovered working with 20-30 kids at a time was not enjoyable. I always wondered why I had such a passion for teaching when I was younger if I didn’t have the passion or desire to be a school teacher. As a business owner, I now teach others biblical business principles. I teach people how to invest in real estate and lead bible studies at my local church.

Some people grow up with a purpose planted so deep in their hearts and minds that they know what they want to be at an early age. Others, like myself, find themselves in their 30s, still trying to determine their purpose. Regardless of your situation, you can know that God has a purpose for you. He predestined you for it before you were even a thought in the mind of your parents!

Earlier, we said if you are searching for your purpose, you are really asking, “What was I created for?”. When God created you, He created passions, desires, gifts, and character traits within you to achieve your purpose. You have abilities and talents wired inside every ounce of your being that only you can do. God created you uniquely and wholly to be you.

If you find yourself in a place where you are searching for purpose, then consider what natural talents and gifts God gave to you. What can you do easily that everyone else struggles with? What thought processes, abilities, or skills come naturally to you that others must train for years to achieve? What dream or desire do you have deep inside of you that scares you because it feels unachievable in your own power? These clues point to the purpose God has intended for you. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s masterpiece! He created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

I love that verse because it wipes our past away when we receive the gift of salvation. The enemy will try to convince you that you are not good enough or that your past is too bad, but God will use you for the purpose for which He created you, regardless of the mistakes you’ve made in the past. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose for them. If you are a Christ follower seeking and working within the will of God, He will use your past to propel your purpose. Do not let the enemy tell you any different. Stand firm on the truth of God’s Word with the love, forgiveness, and promises that come with it!

Lindsey Whitney

Action Step: Write down a list of the things you are good at and what you are not good at. Ask God to reveal the gifts and talents He gave you to achieve your purpose. Then, listen for the answer.