what’s my purpose?
Out of all the things available to us in the world, how do we know what it is that we’re supposed to be doing to live a fulfilling life?
I think this train of thought can be intimidating for a lot of us.
It’s a heavy question that holds a lot of weight. Because our whole life truly depends on how we answer this question.
OUR PURPOSE
So, you’re probably wondering, what is my purpose?
Here it is:
You were created in the image of God,
to love God, and glorify God.
It’s truly that simple.
God made you in his likeness (Imago Dei). Actually, every single human being who has ever walked on earth was made in His image. And because you were created in His image, you were made to know and love Him, which should result in living your life to give Him glory and praise. To advance His kingdom.
And the beauty is that you can live out your purpose within your callings!
CALLING VS. PURPOSE
Yet, I think this idea of purpose can be easily mistaken for our calling.
Let me explain what I mean.
A wise mentor once told me “You can have many callings in life under one purpose.”
A calling may change from season to the next. It’s what we do with our time and often makes up our forty-hour work weeks. In one season your calling may be to be a student: learning, studying, working towards an education. It could be your vocation like a teacher, author, speaker, pastor, doctor, construction worker, or entrepreneur. It could mean you become a wife or a husband. A mom or a dad. Truly the list can go on.
You may even have more than one calling at any given time in your life. Perhaps you’re even serving in some way, helping with a nonprofit or raising awareness for a cause. Yet, none of these define your purpose.
HOW TO LIVE OUT OUR PURPOSE
By glorifying God, you are ascribing the worth and honor that is due is name (Isaiah 26:8)
By dying to your flesh, (Romans 8:5 – 6), you no longer conform to the pattern of this world (Romans 12: 1 – 2). Rather, you choose to let the Spirit work in you and focus your mind on the things of God. It may not seem logical to the world or be popular, but others will take notice, which in return gives glory to God!
And as the Lord sanctifies you to reflect him more, love him more, and glorify him more, you share the Gospel with others, believing they too will see the sweetness in living out their true purpose (Matthew 28:20 – 21).
You were created by God and for God.
Perhaps living to glorify God as a mom looks like praying with and for your children daily and serving them. Maybe dying to your flesh as a teacher means you don’t gossip about others in the faculty break room. There are so many more examples of how your purpose can intersect with your callings.
So that, my friend, is how you live life fully and in all the areas of life God has called you to use your gifts to give Him glory.
~Laura