Finding your God-given Purpose and Calling can be hard sometimes. How do you find your purpose in God? How do you know your calling and purpose? What does the Bible say about your calling?
Samuel’s God-given purpose and calling
Samuel heard someone calling him. He thought it was Eli, the priest. After questioning Eli about it two times, Eli realized God was calling Samuel. He told Samuel to answer God’s call when He called again. God called Samuel one more time. God wanted him to be a prophet for Him (1 Samuel 3 ESV).
Don’t you wish you were Samuel and could hear God calling your name? If it could only be so simple, right?
How do you find your purpose in God?
With anything in life, it is good to pray and seek out what God has for you. In Psalm 57, David cries out to God to protect him from Saul. He knew that God would fulfill His purpose for him.
I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
Psalm 57:2 ESV
The Hebrew name for God Most High is a name that means the highest of all kings or rulers. The God who is the sovereign ruler of the world will fulfill His purpose for you!
In addition to praying, seek out what the Bible says about your calling.
What does the Bible say about your calling?
Similar to God’s Will meaning, where God has a will for all people to know Him and have a relationship with Him, He has a general calling for all of us too.
That calling is to help others know who God is and His Son, Jesus Christ.
The calling of helping others come to Christ is holy and given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV).
Does that mean you are to be an evangelist, a missionary, or a pastor? Could be. Only you will know if that is what God wants you to do. Or God could be calling you to share Christ with your neighbor, a family member, or a co-worker.
Paul calls this a ministry of reconciliation, and we are to be His ambassadors.
The Greek word for reconciliation is ‘katallasso,’ which means exchange or to change for equal value or return to favor. When you reconcile your bank account, you make sure that your record matches the bank’s record of your account.
God reconciles the world to himself by not counting a person’s sins against them. He did this by having Jesus take our place. Jesus, without sin, took on our sins so we could be right with God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 ESV).
We are trusted with this message and are ambassadors for Christ (vs. 20). As ambassadors, we represent Christ to others.
Similar to having a specific will, God has a specific purpose and calling for you.
How do you know your God-given purpose?
Each of us has been given certain gifts and talents. Whatever they are, God wants us to:
Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1 ESV).
There are many different verses about spiritual gifts (Eph 4:11-12 ESV, 1 Cor 12:27-28 ESV, and Rom 12:6-8 ESV. And you can do a spiritual gifts inventory online to see what you are most gifted at.
These gift inventories are helpful. But what should you do with this information, and how does it line up with your purpose?
Do a Soul Search and call out to God for your purpose
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
God wants us to continue to look to Him for guidance and spend time in His Presence. We get to know Him more and understand His heart when we do that. In understanding someone, you learn their likes and dislikes and want to please them.
Have you ever lost or misplaced something? You will look everywhere to find it! I don’t know how many times we have searched for lost keys in our house. Or I put something in an obvious place and won’t forget it. Right? It happens a lot.
God’s Word tells us that we will find Him when we diligently search for Him.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Proverbs 8:17 ESV
Spend time daily in God’s Word. Talk to him about your desires. Ask Him if these desires are from Him. Diligently look for His direction daily!
Journal about your calling
What are you passionate about? What drives you to get up in the morning, or do you want to spend extra time doing it?
Write down your thoughts and even your prayers. Keep a conversation going with God and how He speaks to you through His Holy Word. You will find that as you read His Word and spend time in prayer, God will speak to your heart.
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
Seek Wise Counsel
What do others who know you well see you doing or recognize as your talents? Get the insight of wise people around you to let you know what they think. And be sure that these people have the same mind of Christ as you do.
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 15:22 ESV
Notice it says many advisers. Check-in with several wise friends. Listening to unwise advisors can lead you astray.
After you have gathered these insights, take them before the Lord, pray on them, and journal about them. Listen to what He tells you. And this will help you confirm that these plans, calling, and purpose are His desires for you.
Finding your purpose and Calling: Reflection Thoughts
- What are you passionate about? Is there something that drives you to get up in the morning or that you want to spend extra time doing?
- What are your spiritual gifts? If you don’t know, take a spiritual gifts inventory. How do your spiritual gifts line up with your passion?
- Spend time in God’s Word daily and seek Him out. What is God telling you that His desires are for your life?
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Resource Library
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