Apicontent

Pursuing God’s purpose for your life.

God created you to live in this particular time and place so you would have all the right traits, experiences, and relationships to accomplish the purpose and plans he has for you. Despite how you may feel about where you are in life right now, God has great plans for you. Plans for which he uniquely designed you.

Eternal impact happens by doing what God has planned for you

It is important to understand that while God loves you more than you can ever imagine, you are meant to fulfill part of his master plan. God does not exist to fulfill our plans; we exist to fulfill his.

The prophet Isaiah explained it like this, “Yet, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor” (Isaiah 64:8)

You were created to do the good things that God planned for you before you were even born. Your life has purpose. Your life matters. You are significant.

Perhaps you are thinking, “Yeah, God may have had a plan for me but I have royally messed that up by the mistakes I’ve made.” Yes, you may have made mistakes, but that doesn’t disqualify you from still fulfilling God’s purposes. Through his foreknowledge and sovereignty, his plan for you incorporates your mistakes. Think about Paul’s life before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was transformed from a persecutor of Christians into the greatest preacher of his time.

God’s plan for our lives is usually revealed progressively, one situation at a time. Obviously, most of us would like to see the entire road map now, but that is not how God operates. He wants us to walk by faith, taking one step at a time in the direction he is guiding us. Doing that without fear requires a close relationship with him that involves communication and trust.

Our ultimate significance is determined by how well we fulfill the plans our creator has for us.

Eternal impact happens by doing things God’s way

God does not just want us do what he has assigned to us. He also wants us to do things his way. That means following his guidelines, depending on his resources and involving his family members.

Many believers do not realize that the Christian life is a supernatural life. Jesus Christ lives in us, and wants to live his life through us. Tragically, most Christians try to live the Christian life through their own self-effort. We couldn’t save ourselves, or earn our way to heaven, through our own self-effort. It is equally important to realize that we can’t live the Christian life in our own self-effort either. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul explains,

“Each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done.”  —1 Corinthians 3:13

In addition to being dependent on the Holy Spirit’s power and interdependent on others within God’s family whom he has gifted, God wants us to do his work with the right motives. Self-centeredness, selfish ambition, greed and many other worldly motivators have no place in accomplishing God’s agenda.

Eternal impact happens through the use of your time, talent and treasure

God has entrusted each one of us with varying amounts of time, talent, and treasure. Even though these are in our possession, we are to use what he has given to us as good stewards for his Kingdom. Unfortunately these precious resources are usually used thoughtlessly and wasted on perishable pursuits.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21

God wants to show you how you can better use the days and years of life he has given you for eternal purposes.

God wants to guide you into situations where your particular abilities and spiritual gifts will have an impact for his Kingdom.

And God wants to direct you in the use of your money and wealth so it is invested in ways to produce dividends in heaven.

Whenever we invest our time, talent, and treasure in the heavenly kingdom of God, they become imperishable and generate eternal rewards. And the best reward is hearing God say, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Becoming the Person God Created You To Be

God wants you to see yourself from his point-of-view. As you do, you will recognize the tremendous value God has placed on you and his desires for your life.

But before God’s vision for you can become a reality, he must help transform you into the kind of person he can use to fulfill his purposes, that is, a person with an increasingly more intimate relationship with him, a person whose values and priorities become increasingly aligned with his, and a person whose character becomes increasingly more conformed to the image of Christ.

Transformation is instantaneous and a life-long process

For personal transformation, you must learn to see yourself as God sees you. Who are you really? There are three perceptions of “you”:

1. who you think you are,
2. who others think you are, and
3. who God knows you are.

The “new you” actually came into being the instant you invited Jesus into your life as your Savior and Lord. The apostle Paul explains,

“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

When you were spiritually born again, God exchanged your old identity for a brand new one. In the spiritual realm, you were instantly transformed into a totally new person with a new nature. On the outside you still look the same but on the inside God gave you a new identity in Christ.

But now in the physical realm, you must learn who you are in Christ so you can make choices consistent with this spiritual transformation. It is foolish to live in the past by continuing to make decisions based on your old identity. However, this new discovery and renewal of your self-perception is a life-long process.

By faith, continually accept the reality of who you are in Christ and allow God to help you conform to your new identity. Start believing what God says is true about you. When we establish our identity in how God sees us, we can confidently live in the assurance of his perfect plan for our lives.

Transformation results in character development

Spiritual maturity shapes character. And that is of prime importance to God and should be to you as well.

Character is the essence of who we are. Our character is comprised of the values and convictions that have been shaped by our relationships and life experiences. Character is developed over time.

When the prophet Samuel was sent by God to anoint a new king of Israel to replace Saul, God cautioned him,

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “’Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way people do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” — 1 Samuel 16:7

Whenever God reveals something he wants to change in what you think, say or do, stop and ask the Holy Spirit to help bring about the changes in character necessary for successful Christian living. Otherwise God’s ideal plan for your life will be jeopardized through character flaws and you will miss out on becoming all God wanted you to be.

Transformation happens by overcoming adversity

God uses adversity as a tool to refine us and increase our capacity for greatness. Our difficulties reveal our strength of character.

“Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope.” — Romans 5:3-4

Through adversity, God gives us the opportunity to grow in our spiritual character so we reflect more of his values and strength. But it is our choice whether we allow that transformation to take place. If we harbor resentment toward God and others, we will be diminished instead of strengthened.

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” — Romans 8:28

God is uses times of adversity to develop your character. It’s those potholes, detours and difficulties of life that provide opportunities to reshape or refine your attitudes and actions.

Seeing Life From God’s Perspective

When God looks at you, how does he see you? If you are a believer, he sees you as perfect. Why? Because of all that Jesus Christ accomplished in his death and resurrection. God sees your life embodied in his Son.

God told the prophet Jeremiah,

“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” — Jeremiah 1:5

The reality is you are very special to God.

God sees your unique design

God custom-designed you. Job acknowledged that he was the result of God’s handiwork,

“Your hands have shaped me and made me, but now you destroy me completely.” — Job 10:8

King David praised God as he considered how he was designed by his creator:

“Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb. I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly” — Psalm 139:13–14

Don’t allow the labels or perceptions of others to define you. God has wonderfully designed you.

God sees your Kingdom purpose

Our all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving heavenly Father personally shaped you. And he set you apart for a special purpose while you were still in your mother’s womb.

While you were still in your mother’s womb, God designed your personality that is perfectly suited for his plan for you. The abilities that you have were not randomly assigned to you. God has given you specific abilities so you can better serve him and his kingdom.

“For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” — Ephesians 2:10

God sees you through eyes of love

If you are like most followers of Christ, you have heard and believe that God loves you. But somehow that knowledge isn’t permeating your heart and life experience like it should. Why is that? Why are so many believers not consciously aware of God’s overwhelming love that surrounds them every day?

Consider Jesus’ directions to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion:

“Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain in my love.” — John 15:9

This is love passing from God to Jesus to His disciples. And His directive is to “Live in My Love.”

God loves you and wants a love relationship with you. You may ask, “Why would an eternal, holy God care about me?”

The answer: Because God is love. Love permeates His entire being. No person will ever love you more, be as committed to you, or make a greater sacrifice for you than God.

When you understand God’s incredible love for you, it fills your need for love. This revelation helps you rest in his love regardless of your circumstances. Human love from imperfect beings will often fail you, but God’s love is solid truth that will last forever.

You will only see more of the depth of God’s love for you as your mind is renewed—when you believe the truth of who God is, what He has done for you and the wonderful plan he has for your life.