Purpose is a big deal and can have a direct impact on your physical health. Scientific research has shown that having a purpose “buffers against mortality risk“. aka having a purpose increases your life. Purpose also improves your sleep and your memory.
If you’re a Christian, you have a purpose. You’ve actually got several of them. Today we’re going to God’s Word to answer the “what is my purpose in life” question.
Plus why it’s important and what we should be doing with it.
One amazing purpose Christians have is being the temple of God with the Holy Spirit living inside of us. This purpose is one that always blows my mind.
Every single cell in your body, every molecule that those cells are made of was handcrafted by God.
Each little molecule, lovingly made by God so you could do all the incredible things He has planned for you and so the Spirit of God could dwell inside of you.
A Look at My Purpose Story
Rabbit trail: As I was writing this post, my brother came in pretty mad at me. (I was staying with family for a few days and my blood sugar was low one of those nights).
I didn’t wake up to my alarm or service dog.
My brothers anger was warranted.
“Don’t you know that if you die you’ll kill your mom?”
“Don’t you realize what’d happen to your friends or family if you died?”
There I was writing about purpose and…I know the purpose God has for me.
I know the plans He has for me.
One of those plans, at least for now, is that I carry the burden of type 1 diabetes and many other health issues.
God didn’t create me and say “oh, I’m going to make Hannah’s life miserable. I’m going to give her all sorts of diseases she can’t handle.”
The fact that we live in a fallen sinful world is why we have sickness and disease. Not all sickness and disease is because of your sin or my sin.
But…when we do something that can cause sickness or disease and know what we’re doing could be harmful – that’s sin.
My diseases didn’t happen because I sinned.
But when I know there is something more I can do to manage my diseases and don’t…
When I allow selfish pride and stubbornness to take the place of humble obedience…that=sin.
God is always so good about not wasting stuff – He didn’t waste this revealing of my sin.
Nothing Wasted...
When was the last time you recognized God “not wasting” something in your life?
What was it?
Okay – back to the rabbit trail. God wants us to rely on Him and use the Superpower strength He’s given us. That’s one of the reasons Christians have been gifted with the Holy Spirit.
But how can I write posts and a book about caring for your body, the temple of God and about your place in God’s story if…
I’m knowingly walking in sin.
Thank you Lord for opening my eyes and showing me the stubborn sinful pride in my heart.
Forgive me Lord.
Forgive me family.
Forgive me friends.
Forgive me past, present, and future readers.
I pray I always remain humble before you and that my heart remains soft to the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
I want to see the plans and purposes God has for me through to completion.
I wake up excited every morning knowing God’s asked me to study His Word and use the training in health and nutrition He provided me.
That excitement is because I know His plans, include you.
How can I write about your purpose and place in God’s story if I ignore the tools He’s given me – tools He’s provided to keep me alive.
Ready to look at your purpose?
What is Your Purpose?
1 Peter 2:9-10 says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
In the Old Testament people didn’t have direct access to God. There was a priest who acted as the middleman between God and people. The priests job was to connect God to people.
Jesus’ victory on the cross, the tearing of the temple curtain, wiped out the need for a priest.
Jesus’ death and resurrection means you and I have direct access to God.
You and I’ve become the priests who are responsible for connecting people to God.
Read this verse aloud and insert your name.
God's Special Possession
Not only are you each of those things, you are part of “a people”, “the people of God”. If there is one thing I want you to get, it’s this:
“You have a purpose. You are chosen by God and part of the people of God.”
“You, as God’s special possession, were created to declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
We want you to get this so well that we’ve created a card you can print,
write in your name, and
post anywhere you’ll see it.
Print 5-10 of them. Chosen People Card
Print as many as you need so that every time you see it you’ll remember your purpose.
To declare God’s praises
To be a part of God’s people
To be God’s chosen, special possession
To connect people to God
I’ve got a question for you now that you know these things.
The Importance of Your Purpose
How should you take care of something that is
- chosen,
- royal,
- holy,
- special,
- called, and
- belongs to God?
If this was an actual thing, like a table or chair, how would you care for it?
If it were an inanimate object we’d treasure it and give it the best care and attention possible. After all, it belongs to God and it’s royal.
Something like that deserves a glass box put around it and an alarm system just in case someone gets too close or tries to steal it.
But…you are that someone and God’s purpose for you doesn’t involve a protective glass box and alarm system.
We don’t have a protective box to live in but we do have the responsibility of taking great care of the body He gave us to carry out His purposes with.
Right?
This kinda goes back to what we talked about in Three Things You Need to Know.
“God cares about our bodies”. That’s the gospel message – that we’ve been completely redeemed – Body, Soul, and Spirit! There is no separating one from another.
What we do with our bodies is as important as what we do with our soul and spirit.”
I know that a
- sick,
- diseased,
- unhealthy,
- fill-in-the-blank body
can still declare God’s praises and share the goodness of God with others.
But…if the reason your body is sick, diseased, unhealthy, etc. is because you aren’t taking good care of it –
Are you being a good steward of the body Jesus died on a cross to save?
I’m sorry, I know that seems harsh.
When I read it, it’s speaking to me first. If you read it and are hurt by it, I get it. It hurt me too.
Would you join me in taking great care of the bodies God’s given you and me to steward?
If your body is sick or diseased due to something out of your control you can still take good, no great care of it. (I get this because my body has diseases and pain that are out of my control.)
Truth: We can take great care of ourselves, even if we’re living with difficult sickness, disease, and/or pain.
Your Purpose & God’s Word
Take a minute to read the below scriptures and answer the questions provided. These verses all have to do with our purpose.
If you’re going through a tough season right now the promises and assurance these verses hold are for you.
If you’re struggling to find your place in life or struggling to know why God even bothered creating you – these verses are for you.
As children of the Living God we each were created for a purpose and God’s plans for you were laid out before you were even born.
As you answer the below questions, ask God to reveal His purposes to you.
Here’s a PDF with the scriptures and questions.
Finding Your Purpose Devotion Questions
Psalm 33:11 “but the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”
- Do you believe God has a plan for you? Why or why not?
- What plans do you believe God has for you? Would you share some of those in the comments below? When sharing, think about how your sharing could bless and encourage others.
If you’re uncertain about the plans God has for you or don’t believe He has plans for you, would you contact your pastor or us here. We’d love to talk with you and/or pray with you.
Romans 8:28 “and we know that all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
- Do you think God’s plans for you are different from His purposes? Why or why not?
- What does it mean to be called by God?
- Do you believe God has called you? Why or why not?
In this passage ‘called’ (kletos) means
- invited,
- welcomed, or
- appointed.
If you’ve accepted Jesus then you’ve responded to the call of God.
Even if you’ve not accepted Jesus, you are still called.
God has a purpose for you and invites you to respond to His call.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
(I included two versions because I love the way reading both, better clarifies what’s said.)
- List everything you’re good at, everything you’re passionate about, and everything you’d love to do “if only”.
- Of those things, how many do you think are good works God created you to do?
- Of the ones you didn’t include in the above question, why didn’t you? Why do you think these things aren’t things God created you to do?
- Pray about and write out a prayer to God in response to all of these things. Include asking God for direction on what His purposes are for you. Keep in mind that the purposes God has for us can change.
This next verse includes a purpose God has for ALL His children. It’s also a purpose that doesn’t change over time.
It’s something we should be doing every day of our lives.
Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.‘ Matthew 28:18-20
- How do you feel about this verse? Does it make you nervous, scared, excited, wanna run and hide…?
Sharing Jesus with others is also part of the verse we started with, “declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness”.
This simply means, “telling people what Jesus did for you”.
- Write down something God has done for you in the last week.
- How could you use this to share Jesus with someone?
Think of someone who might be blessed or encouraged by what God did for you and pray, asking God to give you an opportunity to share with them.
Write down what you’d say.
Make it about what God has done for you and what He would/could do for this person.
There is so much to be gleaned from these verses but for today, understand the following.
And don’t just understand on a surface level.
Understand them deep deep deep in your heart.
These things are personal for every single person.
If you breathe air into your lungs you are called by God.
Still breathing?
You have a purpose.
I pray you take the time to answer the questions from today’s scripture and you spend time thinking about these things with God.
You may not know the answers to some of the questions but if you ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, He’ll show you the answers.
Keep your heart and mind open and expecting God’s answer to your purpose questions.
If you have any questions about the things you’ve read today, go to your pastor. If you don’t have a pastor, send us an email here.
Friday we’re bringing you a post about Spiritual Gifts. We pray you take the Gifts test and you become more aware of the purposes God has for you when you look at your test results.
We know our Spiritual Gifts fit perfectly into everything God has called us to.
Until then…God bless and keep you, may His face shine upon you and be gracious.
Haven’t read all the articles however, great work. Really loving this!
Thank you so much Lisa. We’re following the Spirit’s lead and pray it blesses you. God’s given us a purpose and it’s to help women on a redemptive journey toward understanding the way God views their body, lifestyle, and role in His kingdom. Thank you so much for taking the time to read or listen to our posts. Be sure to sign up so you get updates for new posts and also get advance notice when our book is finished. We’re also planning to offer online classes and bible studies – all in God’s perfect timing.
How could we be praying for you?