Knowing Your Purpose

From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries

Ephesians 1:17-18 "May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom to know Him clearly. May He enlighten your innermost vision that you may know the great hope to which He has called you..."

Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. This is why people try dubious methods like astrology and psychics to discover it. When your life has a steadfast purpose you can bear almost anything. Without it, nothing is bearable. Isaiah complained, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing" (Isaiah 49:4). Job lamented, "I give up; I am tired of living. Leave me alone. My life makes no sense" (Job 7:16).

Dr. Bernie Siegel found that he could predict which of his cancer patients were most likely to survive by asking, "Do you want to live to be 100?" Those with a deep sense of purpose who answered "yes", were the ones who would live.

Having a steadfast purpose simplifies life. It defines what you do and what you don't do. It becomes the standard you use to evaluate which activities are essential and which aren't. Without purpose you have no real foundation on which to base your decisions, allocate your time and use your resources. You tend to make choices based on circumstances, pressures, and your mood at that moment.

When you don't know your purpose you try to do too much, and that causes stress and conflict. It's impossible to do everything people want you to do; you have just enough time to do God's will. If you can't get it all done, you're trying to do more than God intended.

A steadfast purpose makes your lifestyle simpler and your schedule saner. And it leads to peace of mind: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast" (Isaiah 26:3).