Do you know God’s purpose for your life, or should I say, are you fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. I think every person has asked themselves this question.
I trust you are, but not everyone is. In our chaotic and unsettling world, it is sometimes hard to understand how God’s purposes are being worked out in our lives.
You can go all your life, and not know God’s purpose for your life. God gives you everything you need at birth to fulfill your purpose. Your purpose in life is as unique to you as your fingerprint.
Every grace. Every talent. Every assignment. Has the grace of God upon it to fulfill your purpose. God will grace you to do what He called you to do.
Whatever your case, in the midst of the confusion, fears, anxieties, and distractions of this present world, all of us can benefit from a firmer confidence that God is indeed working out His plans in our lives. He can take any difficulty you face and turn it toward his purpose.
Here is what the Amplified Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”
Remember what God told Jeremiah, “
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations, that’s what I had in mind for you.” Jeremiah 1:5 (Message Translation)
God does not expect you to do it by yourself. As you pray asking for His direction, take time to stop and listen (see Proverbs 3:5-6).
Then, do not be afraid to step out and do the things He tells you. Remember, He will never lead you to do something contrary to His written Word.
I encourage you to seek God to find your purpose and if you feel that your calling will be connected to work, to find a career, vocation or life’s work that brings you fulfillment while you impact the world around you.
If you do not know what your purpose is, that is fine (for now). I would advise spending quality time talking to the Holy Spirit, inquiring of Him.
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What Does the Bible Say About Your Purpose?
As a believer we discover our individual purpose by seeking God and studying His Word, will, and ways. God designed each person as an individual creation, and His purposes unfold to transform every area of life.
Purposes may be given for a specific time, such as with the prophets. Or God may give certain abilities, giftings, or callings for particular events, such as with Joseph’s preparation to preserve people during a famine, or Esther’s purpose in rescuing her people—a calling “for such a time as this.”
In studying the lives of other Bible characters—such as Abraham, Noah Deborah, Ruth, David, and Mary—we can find unique ways God’s people fulfilled His purposes for nations and the whole world.
There are special callings, such as when Paul said he was set apart for a special purpose (Galatians 1:15-16); but clearly, the Bible teaches individual purposes are enhanced throughout the church through different spiritual gifts that are given by the Holy Spirit to every believer.
God uses your troubles to strengthen your faith. It is similar to the way you strengthen your muscles.
If you were lifting weights, each time you added more weight, the stronger your muscles would become.
In the same way, God uses problems to help you grow spiritually, building your character through a series of tests that strengthen your patience, your persistence, and many other traits he wants to develop in you.
God has long-range plans for your life. When you exit one life, you will enter another life.
Therefore, he is changing you into a living image of Jesus. As you trust God in the midst of your troubles and trials, you will grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
What Does Walk in Your Purpose Mean?
What does it mean to walk in your purpose? I hear so many people saying it a lot, but what exactly does it mean?
Walking in your purpose means living your life in alignment with the will of God, allowing Him to guide and direct your steps. Purpose is what you were called to do.
If we are doing things that are not from the heart, and not enjoying what we do, that is not walking in your purpose. When we focus on doing everything with a heart bent toward God and furthering the Kingdom, that is walking in your purpose.
How each of us accomplishes that task is different based on our gifts, talents, callings, and the sphere of influence in which God has placed us
How Can I Discover God’s Purpose for My Life?
If you are asking yourself, “What is my purpose?” Why did God place me on this earth? Then you are not alone.
God is eager for His children to know His plans, and there are many ways to unlock His purposes. The Lord gave this message to Jeremiah:
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
God knew you, as he knew Jeremiah long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable. He loves you and created you for a purpose.
Jeremiah was appointed by God as his prophet to the nations. God has a purpose for each Christian, but some people are appointed by God for specific kinds of work. Deborah (Judges 4:4-5) Samson (Judges 13:3-5), David (1 Samuel 16:12-13), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17), and Paul (Galatians 1:15-16) are examples of those God called to do a particular task. (Some followed God’s calling better than others.)
God’s purpose for your life is so important, knowing that God’s purpose for our lives will stand forever.
Whatever work you do should be done for the glory of God (Philippians 1:11). If he gives you a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence.
If you have not received a specific call or assignment from God, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers to love, obey, and serve God- until his guidance becomes clearer.
God has shaped and prepared you to play a unique role in each step of your story. You have a destiny that will bring glory to God, share the grace of God, and extend the reign of God. Understanding your unique destiny starts with understanding what the Bible says about your purpose as one of God’s children.
Those talents, abilities, and passions are tools for fulfilling God’s purpose on earth. We first need to understand God’s purpose to understand our unique purpose as individuals. For example: If you want to discover God’s purpose for your life.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
What Are Your Passions?
Your passions are a good indicator of the area in which your life purpose might lie. But they can be hard to identify. They are so ingrained in our ways of thinking that we can become blind to them.
If you are not sure what your passions are, ask the people who know you best. Likely, you are already pursuing them in some way without even realizing it.
You are a mentor to youth in your community. If so, that could be your passion.
Another way to find your passion is to think about what you are good at. Someone who is great at helping others solve their problems might want to consider a career as a coach.
You might prefer to keep your passion as a hobby, or you might decide to turn it into a side hustle or full-time source of income. Just think about it!
- What are you passionate about?
- What area do you have a strong desire to learn about this particular thing.
- What kind of people attract your attention?
- What sparks your creative juices?
- What do other people compliment me on?
- What is the deepest desire of your heart?
God created earth because he wanted to share his love, grace, and kindness with us. When Adam and Eve sinned against God in Genesis 3, it formed a fracture in our relationship with him.
God loves us so much and wants our relationship with him to be restored more than anything else. That restoration comes with us admitting our faults to God and receiving his forgiveness (Isaiah 12:2). God wants this for everyone. To discover God’s purpose for your life:
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for directions, and to reveal wisdom about what He desires.
Focusing on self is not a good place to begin to know God’s purpose. It is far wiser to begin with God and ask Him for His will and direction. After praying, be quiet and listen. Then determine to trust and submit to God and walk in the wisdom He gives (Proverbs 3:5-6; 28:26).
Spend time in the Word of God
Because of Christ, we have the honor of having a relationship with the God of the universe, and it should be our greatest joy and satisfaction to spend time with Him! What a great privilege we have as believers!
Stand in Faith
God may lead by giving a believer a sense of inner peace about a decision—but as John Piper says, “Peace and calm are not the only factors in determining what one ought to do.” If a believer senses a check in his or her spirit, it may be wise to wait in active trust until God brings greater clarity and peace, while moving ahead in areas of obedience and conscience. Sometimes God uses delays to deepen faith, test motives, develop patience and endurance, or better align hearts with His will.
Be Quiet and Listen
There are times when God wants us to be quiet and listen to what He is saying. Elijah was a great prophet at a time when Jezebel, Israel’s queen, was killing God’s prophets. When the queen threatened his life, he ran away, hid in a cave, and complained to God. While Elijah was quiet and alone, God gave him his next purpose. He was to anoint Elisha, who would be the next great prophet.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
As His handiwork, He will provide whatever you need to complete those good works. If you need courage, faith, money, staff, or an idea, He will provide. If God can find a man, a woman, or a student whose heart is fully His, He will do extraordinary things through ordinary people, for His glory.
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”
God is orchestrating the events in our lives according to His good plan. In fact, even before we were born, He knew all the days of our lives:
Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in Your book before any of them came to be. ~ Psalm 139:16 NLV
God has a purpose for us that reaches beyond what we can imagine. Even if we dream up great things we can do in life, His purpose is greater. That is because it is His purpose, not ours, that will be accomplished. His purpose is bigger than ours, and it will stand firm no matter what happens to us.
Related: Live on Purpose: 100 Devotions for Letting Go of Fear and Following God
What Are God’s Purpose for My Life?
God’s purpose is bigger than ours because it is not about us, it is about Him! He has chosen us to be a people to bring Him glory. Everything we do is for His glory. If you want to know your purpose, you will not find it in a self-help book, on television, or in the movies. You also cannot find it in yourself because you did not make yourself. God made you.
Only God—the one who created you—can tell you your purpose. You do not have to go from one friend to another to find out what is your purpose, your purpose, it is already inside you. God planted all the purposes for every season on the inside of you when He created you.
God knows how each of our individual lives will bring Him glory. Going back to Psalm 138:8, we see that He fulfills this purpose, not us.
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”
God is intimately involved in our daily lives to accomplish His purpose. If every day is in His book, then His purpose must be very detailed! We do not know everything that He has planned for us. But we do know that He works out every little detail according to His plan, for His glory.
God knows how each of our individual lives will bring Him glory. Going back to Psalm 138:8, we see that He fulfills this purpose, not us.
Isn’t it amazing? He completes his plans… He does everything… He accomplishes all things for me. Everything I have. Everything I am. Everything I have ever done—it is all from God! He is the one who sustains me and gives me life.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (AMPC) says,” He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in man’s hearts and minds.
God has created in you a sense of purpose for what He wanted you to do. You just have to ask the Holy Spirit, who lives inside you, to reveal it.
John 16:13 (NLT) says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
We all go through different seasons. In life, each one has a purpose. With every season, our purpose changes.
He knows the purposes and plans God has for us in the next season. Just ask him to reveal your purpose.
The Bible tells you this in Ephesians 1:11-12: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for . . . part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone” (Ephesians 1:11-12 The Message).
It is very freeing to realize that the Lord’s purpose does not depend on us, but on Him. We might make a mistake, make a bad choice, or lose focus, but God is faithful, and He is even working through our mistakes to bring about His purpose. No matter what happens, we can trust that He will finish what He started:
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Rom. 8:28–29)
What Does God Say our Purpose Is?
God says that our purpose is to glorify Him and enjoy our relationship with Him forever.
He has created us in His image and given us the ability to reflect His character in our lives.
Our ultimate goal should be to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
He wants to be in a relationship with us that is fruitful and growing, today, here, and now.
This is the essence of what God desires from us.
We were not created to pursue our own selfish desires or to seek temporary pleasures.
Rather, we were created for His glory and to fulfill His purposes on earth.
When we live according to His will and seek to honor Him in all we do, we can experience true joy and fulfillment in life.
Bible says in Job 12:10, “It is God who directs the lives of His creatures; everyone’s life is in His power.”
1 Cor. 2:7, “God’s wisdom… goes deep into the interior of His purposes… It is not the latest message, but more like the oldest – what God determined as the way to bring out His best in us….”
Choose to live each day in a way that brings glory and honor to God, knowing that He has a plan and purpose for our lives that is greater than anything we could ask or imagine.
Ephesians 1:11 says, “It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.”
God has a purpose and a plan. He planned to bring salvation to the entire world long ago. God rules the world; he is in charge. When your life seems chaotic, rest in the truth. Jesus is Lord, and God is in control. God’s purpose to save you cannot be thwarted, no matter what evil Satan may bring.
How Do I Find My Purpose in Life?
God has a specific plan for your life and his greatest desire is that you operate in it daily.
To find your purpose you need to get yourself into His presence, spend time in the Word, engage in dialogue that means pray, wait, and listen.
This will probably give you the answers you need and provide the clarity and revelation you so desperately seek.
Too many Christians today presume to know the will of God for their lives. I have heard people say that they are called to the ministry, and then struggle with finances, marriage, and the people they serve until they become weary in well doing.
The answer to this question lies in the power of the Holy Spirit within you.
We were all created with a specific purpose, a divine calling that only we can fulfill.
However, it can be difficult to discern what that calling is amidst the noise and distractions of the world.
Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your search for purpose.
The Spirit will lead you to where you need to be and reveal to you the gifts and talents that God has bestowed upon you.
Through prayer, time in God’s presence, and reflection on the scriptures, you can cultivate a deeper relationship with the Spirit and gain clarity about your purpose.
It is important to remember that our purpose is not necessarily tied to a specific career or profession.
Rather, it is about using our unique gifts and talents to serve others and glorify God.
When we align ourselves with God’s plan for our lives, we find true fulfillment and joy.
Trust in the power of God to guide you on your journey to walking in your purpose.
Remain open to His leading and be willing to step out in faith when He calls you to action.
With the Holy Spirit and the Bible, you cannot go wrong.
How Do You Know If You Are Walking in God’s Purpose?
We all have different passions, spiritual gifts, and natural skills that will help us in walking out our purpose.
As we begin to discover these gifts, we will start to see opportunities arise and doors opening.
If you are going to walk in your purpose, you must stay focused. Keep your eyes set on Jesus. He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Related: How to Discover God’s Purpose for Your Life
Keep Your Eyes on Your Purpose.
Living out your purpose is a daily challenge. There will be many oppositions that you will face as you strive to live the life that God has destined for you.
No matter how hard things get in your life, refuse to ever Give Up! Keep pressing forward to your purpose. Do not Quick!
Refuse to engage in things that do not speak directly to your God-given purpose.
God may give us different tasks in life, but they all line up with our purpose.
What is our main purpose? To glorify God and further His Kingdom. Our purpose is not about us, it is about the Kingdom!
Here are three things to remind you to boldly walk in your purpose.
- When you are walking in your purpose, God will give you the provision and resources to make things happen.
- When you are walking in your purpose, you will love what you are during.
- Be patient and wait while you discover your Purpose.
- Enjoy the wait.
Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) – We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Be determined to keep focused on your purpose, and God will give you the grace to keep moving forward.
As you pursue your purpose, keep an open on what God is doing. As you spend time with Him in the waiting season, let Him speak to your heart. He has a great plan for you!
God will fulfill His purpose.
The bible is full of stories of people living out their purpose.
God has a purpose for your life and God will fulfill that purpose.
God will accomplish His purpose. Nothing can stop God from accomplishing His purpose. Remember:
God has made you for His purpose.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 NASB)
Your purpose is to fulfill God’s great commission.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20 ESV)
Your purpose is to do everything to God’s glory.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31 ESV)
For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled. Revelation 17:17
The Lord works out everything to its proper end – even the wicked for a day of disaster. Proverbs 16:4
I pray the Lord reveals His will and purpose to you, and how to accomplish it in a greater way than He ever has before. Together, as each of us does what He instructs us to do, we will make a big difference in this world.
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Walking In Your Purpose Bible Scripture Verses
Isaiah 14:24 – The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
Isaiah 14:27 – For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Philippians 2:1-4 – If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Isaiah 14:26 – This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
Psalms 139:13 – For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Isaiah 43:7 – Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Free Printable Bible Reading Plan for your Study Time
Our 31 Day “Walking in God’s Purpose for Your Life” reading plan with prayer journal/worksheets printable are ready to download. Do you ever wonder what is your purpose on the earth?
This free Bible Reading Plan with worksheets will guide you through each day’s scripture that will strengthen your faith, along with worksheets that will help you in your study time.
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