‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11
The purpose of life is a life of purpose. – Robert Byrne
I remember when I was a child when I did something wrong, sometimes I was told I did
something on purpose. Oftentimes, I would say, “No I didn’t. I did that by accident.” Now, as an adult, I think about purpose from a positive standpoint. From my adult view, the concept of living on purpose means I should do things to accomplish a goal.
We should never live without pursuing a purpose because we are all born with one. What do you intend to do with your life? What inspires you? What are your goals and aspirations? Are those goals lined up with a specific purpose in mind? Books like The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren explore the meaning of purpose, finding it, and living it.
Why would you dare live on purpose? Well, in my opinion, it is more fulfilling to live on purpose. You create goals and aspirations, which help you live a joyful life. Being goal-oriented is important. Goals set you up for the future. They put you in a state of mind that helps with accomplishing things. Do not be idle. Always busy yourself with accomplishing good things…positive things.
Although rest is necessary, it should be done in balance with the time you set to accomplish your goals. When you have something to look forward to, that enhances your life. Goal completion and living on purpose are definite enhancements. Everyone was born with a purpose. The challenge is figuring out what it is.
Have you discovered your purpose? What were you created to do? What are you passionate about? Your passion can be viewed as your gift. To understand this, take some time to think about it and make sure you have conversations with God so that it will become clear what your purpose is. I included some tools at the end of this article to help you discover your purpose.
Once you figure out your purpose, you can work toward implementing it as a career choice or to enhance your life in other ways. Your passion/gift can also line up with your purpose. However, there are times when your passion/gift and purpose do not line up completely. If it is important to you, you might want to evaluate that and find a way to line them up. For example, previously, one of my purposes was working with families who have loved ones with developmental disabilities, and I am passionate about writing. Fortunately, in that job, I connected my passion/gift with my purpose. Also, from that experience and other experiences in my life, I understand that it is possible to have more than one purpose.
The reality is we all must work to earn a living. I would much rather earn a living by aligning my passion/gift with my purpose. It would be perfect to work in a career that comes easiest to you and brings you joy, right? That is a great combination! One thing I do know for sure is it is no fun to wake up every morning at the crack of dawn to go to a place where you spend eight or more hours of your life, and you find no joy or happiness in it.
Gods word says people without a vision shall perish (Proverbs 29:18). One way that you can see your vision come to life is by creating a vision board. They are great places to store information and dreams and watch the manifestation of those dreams come true as the favor of God helps to make that happen. I challenge you to create a vision board and write down things you want to achieve within a certain period. Be as specific and intentional as possible and watch what happens.
In addition to vision boards, another tool to use is the creation of S.M.A.R.T. goals. S.M.A.R.T. goals are goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. Do not make them overwhelming and difficult to attain because that will discourage you. Start to write a few things down. Think positive thoughts. Pray daily. This will help you create some goals.
When should you live on purpose? There is no better time than the present. Daily conversations with God will lead you in the right direction to truly understand your purpose. Start making your plans now to achieve the ultimate goal of living your purpose. It is important to live each day to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Be intentional in your living, move in a positive direction, and be passionate in fulfilling your God-given purpose.
Resources
Below are the links to tools to help you understand your purpose: