Is It Possible to Fulfill God's Purpose for You?

Teenagers push for increasing independence in our society, for it’s a normal step in moving toward adulthood. There continues to be a strong drive by women to seek more independence from their traditional roles and identity. Women now contribute their intellectual, social, and leadership skills in most career fields.

With every change there’s a trickle-down effect for the rest of society. The role of men in response to women competing for power and position is an example of the trickle-down effect. Another is that most fathers want their daughters to succeed to the place that best accommodates their intelligence and goals.

However, there continues to be some prejudice against women in leadership roles. God, the creator of intelligence and aptitude, has a purpose for each person willing to move faithfully toward fulfilling his purpose. 

Participating in what God is doing creates peace and joy that cannot be overcome.                                

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Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

~Romans 12:2 New International Version Bible

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Mean What You Say and Say What You Mean

To see clearly and understand what’s been communicated builds a bridge to sound decisions and possibilities. The phrase, “I see what you mean,” indicates both comprehension and understanding. To see ourselves as we want others to see us should motivate us consistently to mean what we say and say what we mean.

God commissions us to be messengers of encouragement and information to others so they clearly understand how to be the people he expects them to be. Realistic expectations that are achievable challenge us to press onward and upward so as not to disappoint ourselves and others. God enables us to achieve what he calls us to do.

As we accept that God knows us completely, including our future, he gives us strength and courage to fulfill his continuous purpose for us. This should be encouragement to press on and face any obstacle. Let your expectations be commensurate with your love and trust for God, who will never fail to fulfill his purpose for you.   

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Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

~2 Corinthians 8:21 Good News Bible

 

The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet  gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere.

~James 3:17 The Living Bible

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Called from Obscurity

In every generation an individual surfaces from obscurity to become a hero. The Iraqi civilian who risked his life to tell the Americans that Jessica Lynch, an American soldier, was being held as a prisoner of war in an Iraqi hospital is considered a hero along with the soldiers who dramatically rescued her.

Samson does not present himself as a hero because his choices portrayed him as too self-centered. However, he refused to be portrayed as a man without courage or lacking bravery. His final act of self-sacrifice was a triumph God would use for the benefit of his people, demonstrating to all that God’s purpose would be fulfilled.

Someone observed, “The world is in need of heroes, for unhappy is a people that have none.” There are unsung heroes who risk everything for others because God consistently calls ordinary people to serve, sometimes quietly, sometimes with loud praise. Be ready to demonstrate your gifts and talents when Jesus calls you.  

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At first, I was weak and trembling with fear. When I talked with you or preached, I didn’t try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God’s Spirit show his power. That way you would have faith because of God’s power and not because of human wisdom.

~1 Corinthians 2:3-5 Contemporary English Version

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Aging by Stages

It's not uncommon for a young person to want to hurry up and get older for the explicit purpose of having more freedom and privileges. The conflicts of late adolescence and young adulthood tend to center around identity issues that include separating from family of origin.

All too soon the days of youth are left behind, and aging seems to accelerate. The first real hint of this phenomenon shows up around thirty. Up to this point you've been considered a young person, but now you’re thrust into middle age, which may bring on an identity crisis that may have been brewing for years.

The Apostle Paul’s secured life made a radical shift from persecutor of Christians to someone commissioned to carry the Gospel of Christ Jesus to the Roman Empire. Aging within each stage of adult development includes defining what kind of follower of Jesus you aspire to be. Fulfilling God’s design and purpose for you produces joy, confidence and great expectations for all eternity. 

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So be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don’t veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you’ll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you’re about to possess.

~Deuteronomy 5:32-33 The Message

Seeking Valuable Pearls

Throughout history God has challenged men and women to be courageous and press on to new heights of achievement. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me in Christ Jesus," was the Apostle Paul’s greatest challenge. It takes tremendous courage to make significant changes in life.

What seem like small changes to a mature Christian may appear monstrous for the new Christian, especially when friends are encouraging that person to return to the old lifestyle. It's little wonder that courage ranks high on the list of virtues to be sought after when faced with changes that seem out of bounds.

Jesus told a story about a man who found a pearl of great value and immediately sold all he had to purchase it. Courage and wisdom are pearls of great value to be sought after, for they will enable you to seek forgiveness for failures as well as the need to be forgiving. God will give you courage to press on toward the goal of fulfilling his purpose for you.   

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Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. And though it cost all you have, get understanding.

~Proverbs 4:6-7 New International Version

Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, “God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?”

~Hebrews 13:5-6 The Message 

Sidetracked by Distractions

God has a superior plan for each person that is assured to bring contentment, thanksgiving and joy. His purpose for us is achievable. Jacob knew when he left his father-in-law’s home that he was to return to Bethel where he had met God forty years earlier, but he decided to stop at Shechem, falling short of God’s plan.

 

Getting distracted is not unusual. A young man knew God's plan for him was to acquire a college education which would equip him to serve God as directed. Near the end of his junior year, however, he left college to become a full-time evangelist. Years later he longed to go back and finish what he had begun.

Distractions are never in short supply when we're called to pursue God's purpose for our lives. As worthy as distractions may appear, they can sidetrack us from complying with God’s plan and purpose. So “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” It’s something to consider wherever you are.  

We Can Trust God...What about Others?

Disappointment is unavoidable when an apology isn’t forthcoming from someone you’ve trusted but has caused you pain and suffering. Withholding trust for a person who does not honor personal boundaries, who betrays commitments, is both normal and necessary. Trust and confidence flourish or decline, based on behaviors and personalities.

Trust is a complex word, in that it connotes confidence and faith as well as beliefs and values. To dishonor boundaries is indicative of betrayal, and it questions whether trust can be continued or ever regained. To continue to trust after continuous betrayals is dangerous to one’s health and well-being.

          While trust is not easily regained, it’s important to communicate a willingness to do so wherever promises and efforts exist to change negative behaviors and attitudes that would promote distrust. God is patient with us as we struggle to mature and become more like Christ Jesus. To bring glory to God by fulfilling his purposes for us is a goal worthy of all our efforts. 

Meeting the Challenge of Obstacles

Have you noticed that in just about every task, obstacles must be overcome to be successful? God told Adam and Eve that upon being expelled from the Garden, life would change for them to having to struggle to achieve their main goal of staying alive. These words meant there would be serious obstacles to overcome. 

To Adam and Eve these words surely created anxiety, but God did not leave them to survive in their own strength. In meeting the challenges of those obstacles, they were given opportunities that would bring both happiness and sorrow. They became parents and experienced the joys and sorrows of parenting. 

When Jacob left the place where he dreamed of meeting God, he knew he possessed a chance for a new beginning. He was now being redeemed from a life of grabbing to satisfy his greed to a lifestyle pleasing to God. God saw beyond Jacob’s character flaws to a man who would fulfill his purposes. Can God see his purposes being fulfilled in you?   

Hope for the Future

Jacob, a grabber and a deceiver, will grab every opportunity to get what he wants. He’s mentally quick to strike a bargain with anybody, including God when it’s suits his purpose. Yet Jacob is convinced he needs redemption and deliverance from impulsive, shameful behavior, so he promises to honor and serve God and give Him a tenth of his earnings.

 

Why would God take a person of such low character and promise him hope for a bright future? God’s grace is greater than our sins, so He sees far beyond the moment to what a person who has been redeemed will do to fulfill His purposes. Consider Peter, who in anger denied even knowing Jesus. 

  

It is our privilege to seize the day and realize that whatever our past has been, by God’s grace there can be a bright future for us. When to the best of our ability we commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ for redemption, we are no longer condemned but saved for eternity. Jacob could now go on his journey knowing God had touched him in a way he would never forget.

A Command to Create

Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:26 continues, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, over the cattle and over every creeping thing on the earth. So, God created male and female and blessed them…When God saw all he made, he declared it very good.”

The word created begins this unimaginable work of art and wonderment. God commissions both male and female to master, to take dominion over all he created. Before we become overwhelmed, let us remember God commanded his created to be creative, which is one of his finest gifts.

So how have you used your creativity in fulfilling God’s purpose? Your creativity is very important to God, and you can rest assured when it’s used in his name, to further his purpose, he will continue to bless it. You can ask Christ Jesus to help you accomplish this wonderful endeavor.