HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

Success means different things to different people, to some its having a large bank account, to others, is been an entrepreneur or owning your own business and to others it could be having a big car.

All of those things mentioned above are some of the things rich people have, we must be able to distinguish between been rich and been successful. All rich men are not necessarily successful and all successful men are not necessarily financially buoyant.

So, success is not been rich in the sense of money, or owning a house or an n expensive car, it is not a particular event and it is not a destination. I would like to take the definition of one of my mentors.

John Maxwell defined success thus: Success is a journey not a destination, Success is knowing your purpose in life, and growing to reach your maximum potential and sowing seeds that benefits others.

Success actually starts with the discovery of purpose; have you found what your God given purpose for life is? Because until you discover it, you just exist, filling space. Your life actually begins when you discover your purpose. Your life doesn’t start the day you were born but the day you discover the reason why you were born.

How then can one identify his purpose in life, I would state four simple ways how you can discover your purpose;

    Listen to your dissatisfaction:

We have been taught that dissatisfaction is a bad thing, that we should do everything to avoid it, shove it down, ignore it and act like it doesn’t bother us. Take a pill, plaster on a smile, buy something new, but above all don’t consider that God might be using it to make us uncomfortable so we’ll want to swim in another ocean where our gifts can shine.

Don’t get me wrong; dissatisfaction can be a result of spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-12) and not an indication that we are out of God’s will. But it can also be a road sign that He has another purpose for us. So if you’re miserable in your current career or job, (and you have been for a long time), you’ve prayed, sought counsel from others, looked for guidance through Scripture, and you’re still miserable, consider that God may have another plan.

   Listen to others:

One of my friends when recently when we talked about the entertainment industry, he spoke so much about the industry, he seems to have so much knowledge about musicians and actors, he loves singing and he does have a fantastic voice, I remember asking him, why are you not into entertainment? His response was that, others ask him that question too.

Just as dissatisfaction can be a road sign from God to show you your purpose, listening to what others say about your gifts can do the same; so when someone notices or comments on one of your talents, take note. God may be trying to tell you something through His people.

There are times, however, when we shouldn’t listen to what others say. But when what they say about us agrees with our passions, internal convictions, gifting and what God has already revealed to us, it can be a solid indication of our God-given purpose.

   Listen to your gift:

I have a class mate who is fantastic at law and history also with anything related to politics, but he is studying management. He is a great composer and writer, I admire him a lot, I always wonder what he is doing studying management. He is a very outspoken guy, always wanting to speak out when he feels people are oppressed, I call him a human rights activist. Your gifts are road signs to where God is directing you.

Have you ever considered your talents and gifts? Do you get a kick out of soccer? Are you a strategic thinker? A great listener? Can you motivate others to action with your words? Are you skilled at building things? I suggest making a list of the things and activities that interest you in which you excel. You can also ask yourself, “What’s the one thing that I do better than others?” This can also clue you in to your God-given purpose.

The gifts God gives us are like little seeds planted inside us, but for them to grow we have to use them. This means that if you can’t identify which “Gift Seeds” God has given you; try doing new things that interest you. Through these new experiences, God will reveal more to you about who you are and how He has called you to serve Him.

  Listen to your passions:

If I could ask you what makes you angry, joyful, excited or passionate, what would you say? Take note of when your emotions are moved; these times can be a sign of your God-given purpose.

I get fired up when I hear about the state of the church, I realize that my passions are toward making it better in the body of Christ. When I was into business I knew that, I was going to be in there for a while, because all of my passions were about the church. I realize in my conversations with my friends it’s all about the church, this could be a pointer to where God wants me to be.

I am always concerned about what happens to my pastors or pastors anywhere in the world, my ears are on the ground watching for their progress and when something happens to them it worries me, so much. All these are pointers to what God wants me to do. I know and I have always said it that I will only find fulfillment in the church, doing God’s work.

Pray. Ask God to show you the things that move you and make a list. And remember, He wants you to discover His purpose for you more than you do.

Lastly, consider that your purpose is not just about you; it’s about what God wants to do through you. Therefore, if you ignore or neglect your dissatisfaction, what others say about you, your gifts and your passions, you are not only betraying yourself, but betraying God; because He has called you to a purpose and wants you to walk in it — for others and for your own joy.

Also consider that since God has called you, He is completely able to reveal your purpose to you, and He will as you diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).