God's Purpose For You

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

Your ministry is an area of service in which you use your God-given gifts, talents and abilities to glorify God and edify the body of Christ in the place where God has asked you to join him. In Pastor Rick Warren's book, Purpose Driven Life, he used the acrostic SHAPE. God shapes us for His purpose. He uses our S - spiritual gifts, H - heart or passion, A - abilities, P - personality, and E - experiences. 

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." -Psalm 37:4-5

I believe that as you pursue God and His will, He will give you a passion or heart for what He is passionate for. It is not that He will give you what you want but will change what your "wanter". That is why you see people abandon what the world would say is best and good - success, security, and comfort, for a life that is focused on God and others. Less of the world and more of God.

During the Katrina recovery, I recall someone asking me if I liked being in Mississippi while we were serving there. We were surrounded by piles of debris, damaged houses, and what seemed to be an endless line of discouraged - heartbroken people. We lived in a 24ft RV next to a swamp.  Working 7 days a week,14 to 16 hours a day. I thought about it for a minute and then told them that "what I have come to realizes is there is nothing better than being in the center of God's will for your life. Geography and circumstances, for that matter, have nothing to do with it." When you surrender to your God-given purpose, there is nothing that seems more natural. Like slipping on your favorite pair of shoes. It is a comfortable life - even in the midst of a disaster. 

So, what is it that God has SHAPED you for? It may be right where you live and the place where you work or, are serving and it might not. It is not about geography or difficulty. You may not be purposed to preach on a street corner, but maybe you are. Whatever it might be, I want to encourage you to step into it. God won't ask you to do anything that you can do without Him.  Remember, He is asking you to join Him in the field that He is ploughing, not you. He was there before you arrived.  Whatever it is - big or small - far or near - do it all for the glory of God and the good of others.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone