Principle # 5 - Remember that God has a purpose and a plan for your life.
Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life hit a nerve when it was published in 2002. It catapulted onto the New York Times bestseller’s list and stayed there for 174 weeks. It currently reigns as number 11 on the list.
Our fifth principle speaks to the deep hunger all of us have to live out our purpose. Have you ever felt that you had no purpose, that you were just taking up space? As Christians, we sometimes find it hard to believe that the God of the universe wants to use us to do His work on earth. Yet one of the greatest joys in life is fulfilling God’s purpose for us. As we step out in faith and obedience, the Lord will begin to reveal His purpose for our lives.
I yearned to be in full-time ministry ever since I was saved in 1979. However, for years I doubted that God could use a flawed, messed-up person like me. When we lived in California, I served on the church growth committee. One day I saw an article in the paper about community access TV shows. This was during the time when televangelists were giving Christianity a bad name. Immediately I longed for a show on the air that highlighted Christian values through interviews with Christians making a difference.
I presented the concept to the church growth committee, and they applauded the idea. I expected someone else to step up and put the show together. Instead, the pastor on the committee said, “You do it.” Me, I thought? You’ve got to be kidding! However, I began working on it, and God brought together a crew of 20 people who went through the training. He provided a talented director, and I became the producer and co-host of California Family Focus, a 30 minute magazine show which aired in four cities in northern California. I did the show for three and a half years until I turned it over to someone else when my husband was transferred back to Texas.
I now believe doing that TV show was part of God’s ultimate purpose for my life. The show helped prepare me for the ministry that I’m currently doing. It developed character traits such as perseverance, patience, and a strong dependence on the Lord that God knew I would need. I also rejoiced when I saw many former pew-sitters join the crew. Through that show, I recognized that I have a strong desire for everyone to use their gifts and talents for God’s glory. That desire permeates the Comfort and Compassion Ministry that my writer and speaking partner, Carrie, and I have started. God has equipped me with the ability to mobilize people for His purposes.
I have this verse hanging in my office so I can see it every day: The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever─do not abandon the works of Your hands.(Psalm 138:8)
Whenever doubts try to creep in about my ability to do Comfort & Compassion Ministry, I stop and thank God that He will fulfill His purpose for me. Then I do the next thing that needs to be done.
In church this morning we sang Step by Step which goes:
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise you
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise you
And I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days
I love that song! God leads us one step at a time in preparing us for our purpose in life. I produced and co-hosted California Family Focus from 1990 to 1994. If I had known then what His purpose was for me today, I would have been petrified!
Living out God's purpose for us brings adventure, excitement, and never-ending surprises. Yes, we'll still go through heartache, difficulties, and trials; that's a given. But a sense of purpose allows us to live above our circumstances and come out on the other side when tough times hit.
I pray we would believe that the Creator of the universe really does want to use us to do His work on earth. . .and then go do something about it!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment