Finding Our Purpose

I find inspiration in unusual places. At a friend’s funeral, I noticed her funeral bulletin contained the following two quotes. The first one contained Terry’s thoughts on the purpose of life. The second one showed what inspired her.

“I think one should make the most of what he/she is given in life. It may not be what you planned; but there is a reason for it and only God knows what that is.” By Terry.

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson.

What is My Purpose in Life?

These quotes caused me to stop and think about “what is my purpose in life?” Sometimes we can feel lost in a fog of indecision when looking for our purpose. These quotes tell us to make the most of our lives, become compassionate, and make a difference. Great advice, but what about our purpose in Christ? How do we discover our godly purpose in life?

Steps to Finding Purpose

Let’s begin by reading Colossians 3:12-17. These verses tell us the way we should live our lives for Christ. The verses show us the first step towards finding a purpose is to ensure we are living a godly life. Next, we need to talk with God about His plans for our lives. Ask God to show you His plans. Daily prayers and scripture readings keep us connected to the source of our purpose. Finally, look for signs in life. What do you love to do or always dreamed of doing? God puts those godly longing in our hearts to guide us towards His purpose.

Create a Purpose Statement

Your biblical purpose isn’t a lengthy “to do” list of duties. It should express why God created each of us. Focus on how God wants us to live instead of on a list of tasks. From a Godly life flows a river that can nourish a dry and thirsty lands. As I researched ideas for this post, I found some suggested writing out a Biblical purpose revealed to you as you read scriptures. Here is an example I wrote:

“The purpose of my life is to know God and hear his voice so I can live a life of servanthood and obedience; This allows me to shine the peace and light of Christ into every situation.”

Your Turn

Your turn. Read, pray, and study the word of God. Write up a few sentences you think will encourage you to walk in your godly purpose of life. Reread them and ask God to refine them as needed. And, through time, God may change them, so remain open to His ways. I pray God will help you on this path towards His meaning for your life.

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If you enjoyed Yvonne's article, then be sure to check out her new book Gypsy for God

Purchase a copy of Amazon. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.

Regina and her book are also on the Women On Writing blog tour over at The Muffin. Be sure to check out the tour and all of the exciting stops

Author bio: Yvonne M. Morgan is an author and blogger who writes stories to help deepen a relationship with God. On a personal level, she was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is a wife, mom, and grandmother, but most importantly, Yvonne is a child of God who is passionate about prayer and missions. Her passion is to share stories of trusting the Lord and watching Christ in action. As a faithful prayer warrior, she trusted God when he called her to help orphans after losing her son.