What is God's purpose for you?

Abide with me.

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How do you know what God's purpose is for you? What sign's does he send you when you are feeling lost?
Sometimes people have brought suggestion's to me, they usually bear the best fruit, sometimes it's a thought which pop's into my head after praying for guidance.

We are in full lockdown here in the UK, and I have been unable to work as an art tutor for a full year now, I have created a long term art project to keep me occupied, but as it is people centred even that has run aground, and I have found myself wondering what the point of it all is and have allowed myself to drift, so I googled...' What does the bible say about a lack of motivation'? Well, quite a lot as it turns out! But I would be really interested in how you think God has guided you in your life?
 

bèlla

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I asked Him and used the waiting time for study and service. I tried different things that resonated with my spirit. By the time I received my calling I had leadership experience, a solid understanding of the bible, a strong prayer life, was comfortable with evangelism, completed a missionary prep program, and ministered to the lost and led several to Christ.

That was my spiritual preparation. The biggest gain in that period was dependency and trusting God. I knew I could rely on Him. When He revealed my purpose my focus shifted. There was a lengthy learning period. Now I’m in phase three. Professional education and experience.

He didn’t call me to an area expertise. I started at the bottom. But He utilized my interests and experience in a manner I didn’t expect.

My calling was confirmed by three people. A pastor, nun, and rabbi. I can see early traces of this path in my childhood. It was always there. I’ve stepped into my destiny and its very fulfilling.

Keep asking and remain openminded. Your position in the body may not be the one you expect or are qualified for. But you’ll know when you find it. The fire is second to none.

Yours in His Service,

~bella
 
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ViaCrucis

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How do you know what God's purpose is for you? What sign's does he send you when you are feeling lost?
Sometimes people have brought suggestion's to me, they usually bear the best fruit, sometimes it's a thought which pop's into my head after praying for guidance.

We are in full lockdown here in the UK, and I have been unable to work as an art tutor for a full year now, I have created a long term art project to keep me occupied, but as it is people centred even that has run aground, and I have found myself wondering what the point of it all is and have allowed myself to drift, so I googled...' What does the bible say about a lack of motivation'? Well, quite a lot as it turns out! But I would be really interested in how you think God has guided you in your life?

Each of us has our vocations in life, the places we find ourselves in in relation to our neighbors--as wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, siblings, friends, co-workers, colleagues, as doctors, firefighters, lawyers, construction workers, stay-at-home parents, full time students, pastors, or whatever we might be in this life. And it is here that God calls us to live and have life in Him and with one another.

I don't know if each person has a "specific purpose", I don't subscribe to fatalism. But I believe in God's grace, and that He keeps His promises, is faithful, and is faithful to continue and do His work in our lives, and through us, by His grace, through faith.

To that end, here is the Scripture I am reminded of,

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and on earth.

In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.
" - Ephesians 1:3-14

-CryptoLutheran
 
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1watchman

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One need not be a fulltime Christian minister to serve God. Whatever skill one has they can pray to God about it (if they truly are a "born again" believer --as John 3:16; & John 14). Our God will open doors of work and ways for one who honors Him --- "them that honor Me, I will honor" (1 Sam. 2:30).
 
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aiki

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How do you know what God's purpose is for you?

He tells you in His word, the Bible, what His purpose is in making us all. What He made you to do in particular is discovered in the midst of doing what He has told us all to do. Of course, if you aren't following God's general will for everyone, why would you expect Him to give you even more direction?

What sign's does he send you when you are feeling lost?

Signs? He has given you His word which is jammed with truth, wisdom, spiritual principles and commands by which to live your life. In light of this, none of His children should feel lost or aimless. It's a busy, fulfilling life, walking with God!

We are in full lockdown here in the UK, and I have been unable to work as an art tutor for a full year now, I have created a long term art project to keep me occupied, but as it is people centred even that has run aground, and I have found myself wondering what the point of it all is and have allowed myself to drift, so I googled...' What does the bible say about a lack of motivation'? Well, quite a lot as it turns out! But I would be really interested in how you think God has guided you in your life?

I am self-employed, too, and have experienced the same total halting of my work by the outrageous lock-downs the government has imposed. Thank God my wife has a job unaffected by the lockdown (for now, anyway) or we'd be in very dire straights financially!

Our self-derived attempts at meaning and purpose often run aground on the shoals of life's troubles, exposing the ultimate emptiness of these illusory counterfeits of the eternal meaning and purpose found only in God. There is no ultimate point to living a life that is not directed by God and that does not fulfill His eternal purposes. This world and all that is in it will one day be entirely burned up. All the great works of art, the music, the "human achievements" commemorated by statuary, buildings and monuments, all the photo albums, all the libraries and museums will be dissolved, vanishing away as God creates a new heavens and earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:1-13)

In light of all this, my Mom used to say me, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." She's right. The Bible says the same:

Colossians 3:1-4
1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.


Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.


Matthew 6:30-33
30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'
32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.


Matthew 6:19-21
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
 
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Bob Crowley

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... But I would be really interested in how you think God has guided you in your life? ...

The three most useful guidelines I've found since becoming a Christian were my old (Protestant) pastor way back, Scripture and other Christians, with one more being simply the circumstances and opportunities that came my way.

I lifted this off the net. It's Catholic and probably aimed at hopefully getting young people to consider religious life, but it has some useful advice. Amongst the passages was the following.

How to discern the will of God - Denver Catholic

Another basic principle of discernment is that you cannot drive a parked car. What I mean is that too many of us are so worried about making a mistake or making the wrong choice that we end up paralyzed and do nothing at all. Young people who find themselves in this situation will often say things like, “I’m still discerning,” also known as perpetual discerners. Perfection has no place in the spiritual life or in the act of discerning God’s will. God has a beautiful plan for your life, but he’s usually waiting for us to turn the key and rev the engine. What do I mean? Go on a date! Visit a convent! Talk to a religious sister! Visit the seminary! It’s no good just sitting around waiting for God to send a spiritual email. In my experience, God always starts talking when I start walking. If I run into a dead end or receive “no” for an answer, praise the Lord! At least I have found an answer.

God's interested in our character, not how "successful" we'll be. I think the greatest saints in heaven will be people we never heard about - those who invested their lives in helping others but never sought public acclaim in doing so.

Your circumstance right now is one that demands a lot of patience, and that may be one of the things God is using your circumstance to develop. It's also a test of whether you'll continue to trust Him in a situation where your hands are tied, and there's not much you can do.

He knows where you're at, even if it might seem you're trying to drive a parked car, caught up in a massive gridlock imposed by Covid in the UK.

I think He does more to change us in our troughs than in our triumphs. I'm not an unblinkered admirer of Winston Churchill. But he went through some dry gullies in his life. They forced him to develop a toughness which was to see him in good stead in very trying times.
 
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splish- splash

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I believe as one starts to seek the face of God In their life, everything in the spirit will also start organising itself under the power of God and this enables the manifestation of our calling.​

The following chapter is good for reciting. Just find 5-10 minutes, to pray that you will walk in your divine purpose.

Isaiah 61

1 The spirit of the Sovereign Lord
is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of theLord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenantwith them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

 
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Sune

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Sometimes it helps to think of the talents you have been blessed with, as they may be part of God's plan for you. But don't forget, even if you don't get there right away, it's part of God's plan. I'm currently studying a degree I never really considered simply because it was a logical choice. However, this path is now taking me to a land where the church has had little success, so that may well be God's plan for me, and I hope I can bring people to God there.
 
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timf

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What is God's purpose for you?

Years ago when my wife and I were dating, I took her for a canoe ride. She had never been in a canoe and was apprehensive about what to do. I told her that she could paddle on the left, on the right, paddle wrong, or not even paddle at all. As long as I was in the back we would get to where we were going.

In a way I kind of see this as how God guides us. There can be dramatic ways in which we can see intervention. But most of the time we "paddle" as best we can. Hopefully as we grow in the word and mature in faith, our paddling becomes useful.

If you are at a loss to consider how your art could be used to "paddle" in this present situation. Consider emailing different churches to offer your services to any church young people who might have an interest in art. This could combine both art and ministry.
 
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1watchman

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There is no need to despair: Abidewithme --but put the Lord Jesus FIRST in your heart and walk with Him daily (and He WILL 'abide' with you). You will thus find peace and purpose in life, until we are home with Him in the Father's house above.
 
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EverydayBread

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I don't still know God's purpose, but I stay awake, I stay in faith. I am sure God shows me the right way and my full purpose when the time is right. I am not wise from my own, but from God.

I have seen two important dreams and one mark.

1. I was going to some kind of hill with my friends. The hill was for idolatry. I was on the top and there were boxes full of dead people's ash. When I opened one of these boxes all the ash blew forward me. It was so fast that it scared me off totally. Somebody said, "This is why you should not play with spirits." And I woke up.

2. Those days I wondered that what if God's word includes wrong knowledge. I fell asleep and somebody said, "God's word is truth, don't construe anything by its own." And I woke up.

3. This mark came to me when I pleased God to tell me something, anything. I heard "Malach" which means "A messenger" in Hebrew.

I still wait for an answer. May God bless you. Praise Lord. :amen::angel:
 
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Hazelelponi

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How do you know what God's purpose is for you? What sign's does he send you when you are feeling lost?
Sometimes people have brought suggestion's to me, they usually bear the best fruit, sometimes it's a thought which pop's into my head after praying for guidance.

We are in full lockdown here in the UK, and I have been unable to work as an art tutor for a full year now, I have created a long term art project to keep me occupied, but as it is people centred even that has run aground, and I have found myself wondering what the point of it all is and have allowed myself to drift, so I googled...' What does the bible say about a lack of motivation'? Well, quite a lot as it turns out! But I would be really interested in how you think God has guided you in your life?

I'm disabled so I battle feelings of being fairly useless from time to time. That usually reflects how I feel personally about my limitations more than it reflects how I feel about my role as a Christian.

I would say God always tries to keep me busy. Whether that be spending time each day with a fairly long prayer list praying for others, or reading various books and Scripture, listening to good sermons and just plain growing in faith, in practice as well as in knowledge.

The practice feels limited from home, but its really not that limited.I have a full life in Christ, however limited my body may be.

I'd hope this was helpful for you... just try being with God, existing with Him alongside for a while. It's nice. We should be able to find joy in Him no matter what our circumstances are. Sometimes, God sends us trials to teach us the how... :)
 
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Abide with me.

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I'm disabled so I battle feelings of being fairly useless from time to time. That usually reflects how I feel personally about my limitations more than it reflects how I feel about my role as a Christian.

I would say God always tries to keep me busy. Whether that be spending time each day with a fairly long prayer list praying for others, or reading various books and Scripture, listening to good sermons and just plain growing in faith, in practice as well as in knowledge.

The practice feels limited from home, but its really not that limited.I have a full life in Christ, however limited my body may be.

I'd hope this was helpful for you... just try being with God, existing with Him alongside for a while. It's nice. We should be able to find joy in Him no matter what our circumstances are. Sometimes, God sends us trials to teach us the how... :)
What a lovely post.
I do some times wonder if we are kinder, nicer, and more giving people when we are humbled by our circumstances, your post has reminded me of this, thank you:wave:
 
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andreha

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How do you know what God's purpose is for you? What sign's does he send you when you are feeling lost?
Sometimes people have brought suggestion's to me, they usually bear the best fruit, sometimes it's a thought which pop's into my head after praying for guidance.

We are in full lockdown here in the UK, and I have been unable to work as an art tutor for a full year now, I have created a long term art project to keep me occupied, but as it is people centred even that has run aground, and I have found myself wondering what the point of it all is and have allowed myself to drift, so I googled...' What does the bible say about a lack of motivation'? Well, quite a lot as it turns out! But I would be really interested in how you think God has guided you in your life?

Me, I ask the Spirit to lead me, and He has a ton of ways to steer us. Like one time where unemployment struck. So, there were 2 opportunities, both equally attractive. So, I prayed about this, and could not find any direction. So I prayed that the Lord seal the wrong door so I couldn't choose it. It was like that recruiter dropped off the edge of the planet - never could get hold of him again, even 6 months later. And now, looking back at where I started my first job, 30 years ago, my average annual increase over that 30 year period was just over 100 fold. That's 17.52 percent per year - and not through my own doing at all. I mean, I started working as an apprentice telephone exchange technician. Now I work as a systems integration specialist. Life felt like it was going nowhere, until I started learning to follow the Holy Spirit for guidance in all things. He is awesome.
 
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Abide with me.

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Me, I ask the Spirit to lead me, and He has a ton of ways to steer us. Like one time where unemployment struck. So, there were 2 opportunities, both equally attractive. So, I prayed about this, and could not find any direction. So I prayed that the Lord seal the wrong door so I couldn't choose it. It was like that recruiter dropped off the edge of the planet - never could get hold of him again, even 6 months later. And now, looking back at where I started my first job, 30 years ago, my average annual increase over that 30 year period was just over 100 fold. That's 17.52 percent per year - and not through my own doing at all. I mean, I started working as an apprentice telephone exchange technician. Now I work as a systems integration specialist. Life felt like it was going nowhere, until I started learning to follow the Holy Spirit for guidance in all things. He is awesome.
Totally agree, the same thing happened to me, my life was a desert before I put my life in God's hands, nothing I tried worked out, then everything wonderful just came my way. Pity the non believers, they don't know what they could have.
 
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andreha

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Totally agree, the same thing happened to me, my life was a desert before I put my life in God's hands, nothing I tried worked out, then everything wonderful just came my way. Pity the non believers, they don't know what they could have.

^^^ That. It's so sad that the enemy tricks them into being afraid of the Lord, and run from Him, where is patiently waiting for them to show how much He cares.
 
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