Well, here I am again looking to encourage, extend, and elevate you to your greatness. Over the last few days, I have received an overwhelming response to the current topics. Apparently, my last post inspired a lot of emotions and thoughts in many of you. I guess that’s a good thing. It’s always good to have people be able to relate to your writings. Well, as I prepare to conclude our discussions on purpose, I hope that you have not only found it useful, but also encouraging enough to ignite a desire within you to move toward your purpose. With that being said, here goes…
Over the past few posts, we have been able to agree on at least two key points. I assume that we are in agreement because I have yet to receive any messages expressing ill feelings or points of disagreement from any of you. Therefore, I think it is safe to say that we agree on two primary points:
1) In everything, including relationships, there is purpose. Therefore, in each one of us, there is also purpose.
2) Purpose can only be given by one’s Creator.
Now, while we may agree to these simple principles, it still does not provide an answer to the question that many of us struggle with. It’s a question whose answers have, over time, eluded many philosophers, academicians, and theologians. It is a question that once answered seeks to add balance to our unfocused lives. It is the age-old question of ‘What is My purpose?’ According to Point #2, I do not have the ability, nor the authority to answer that question. However, I can attempt to provide a few tips on finding the answer for yourself.
Yes, purpose can only be given by one’s Creator. But like anything else in life, there is a process to determining your purpose. Bear with me, as I explain.
Your purpose can only be given by your Creator. Correct. Now, let me rephrase that statement. Your purpose is attached to your Creator, meaning that you have been created to service a need seen by your Creator. Therefore, to understand your purpose you must develop a relationship with your Creator. And to establish any relationship, there must be an initial experience. Relationships cannot be established without an experience. In the natural, these experiences may be initial meetings, conversations, or personal encounters, to name a few. It is through these experiences that we develop positive feelings and emotions, which later cause us to establish value for the relationship. And as we begin to value the relationship and continue to have experiences with the One that we are in relationship with, we, voluntarily engage in service, out of reverence and respect for the relationship. It is through this process in which you are then able to simply ask for your Creator to define your purpose.
More plainly put, to obtain your purpose, you must:
1) Have an experience
2) Develop a relationship
3) Engage in service (Nurture the relationship)
4) Ask God
5) Serve your purpose
And contrary to what many individuals believe, your purpose has nothing to do with you. In other words, your purpose will never be solely to your benefit. And after purpose is determined, vision is achieved, which, in fact, now adds a new dimension of accountability to your life.
I thank God for the process of purpose. And while I continue to struggle to walk in my purpose and be the man that God has created me to be, I thank Him for keeping me when I fall short. Have you begun your purpose process?
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