If you are trying to figure out what your purpose is, let me get you to shift your thinking. I want you to take the purpose word to radically shift it from your purpose to God’s purpose.
Have you ever thought that you (and I) are God’s purpose? Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives. Ephesians 2:10 (Common English Bible)
God created you for the purpose to love you and to represent God’s experience in the world. You are God’s hands, feet, arms, legs, and heart. You are God’s physical presence in the world, just as Jesus was.
Just before Jesus was arrested, he prayed a beautiful prayer for his disciples in John, Chapter 17.
I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
These were spoken by Jesus, not written down originally, because there was very little written text. He repeats: Be one, in me, in you, in us, are one, be one, in them, in me, completely one. Be, be, in, in, in, in, one, one, one, one.
There was no bold text, underline or italics to use as emphasis. That’s why there is so much repetition in the Bible. It was to make a point. Jesus was trying to get these words to sink in.
How much more purpose-full would you feel knowing that you are God’s purpose. You were created to be loved by God and to realize God’s loving Spirit and power within you. Through your life experiences, you express God into the world.
I love this prayer from Teresa of Avila:
Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
May the words of Jesus encourage you to know God’s love and power within you. May you live out God’s purpose in the world as you step into the ultimate person God created you to be.
Living a Spirit-filled life means exuding the gifts of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You can experience these gifts by spending time in God’s presence through meditation. Be Still is a great resource to help.
Want encouragement on your spiritual path? Join me in living life with Joy and Flow. It’s free. I’ll share stories, encouragement, and other resources to help you live a life guided by God with joy and flow.
Thank you to Richard Havenga for allowing me to use his beautiful nature photographs. You can see more at http://walkwithfathernature.blogspot.com/.
Jackie Trottmann
May 15, 2016 3:06 pmHi Richard,
Thank you so much. That is my intention. May your gift of capturing the wonder of God’s creation, be enjoyed by many as you continue to share.
Blessings in return,
Jackie
Richard Havenga
May 15, 2016 12:42 pmJackie:
Your are an encourager, doing good things for God’s accomplishment in you. Your expressions give Him the glory. May you continue to be infused with passion and creativity as you live out your purpose; sharing the gifts He has given you.
Blessings,
Richard