Purpose-Full Lessons

Purpose. 

I spent a lot of time on that word last year. It was the precious word God gave me to focus on at the beginning of 2021.

At the beginning of the year, I had no idea what I would face and all the changes that would ensue before the year’s end. I also had no idea that all of it would make me question what my Purpose in kingdom work veritably was. 

By the time December had rolled around,  I was war-torn from fighting against self-doubt and lack of confidence in the areas I had felt so strongly called to several years before. I had started to ask God some hard questions. Had I heard Him correctly about where I was to serve, or was it merely meant to be a temporary assignment?

After months of note-taking and journaling on my word, I was no closer to figuring out absolutely assuredly what God was trying to say to me with this word. Every time it popped up in my FB or IG feed on other Christian writers’ posts, I wrote it down and even took screenshots. I wrote down scriptures containing the word and found lyrics of songs that included the word. I had even felt led to choose the word purpose as part of my website’s tagline in 2020. 

On a long tiring day in the last month of the year, God would finally tie up any misconception I had about my word. He sat me down, immersed me in his word, and gave me understanding.

The following is what He is teaching me about Purpose: 

There is not any of us that God hasn’t called to divine Purpose. Period. The enemy will try to convince you that you have no purpose. He wants you to believe the lie that everyone has a gift but you. Everyone is talented but you. But the truth is God has given us all a unique gift that we bring to this table called Purpose. 

Our Purpose is quite simple. Unfortunately, we are the ones who complicate it. God calls us as his people to spread the good news of Jesus. That’s it. We are also uniquely called for Purpose, but how we manifest it into action varies from person to person. My calling is to spread the good news of Jesus through written and spoken word. God may lay on your heart to serve in your local church; some may be called to overseas missions, others to positions as pastors and worship leaders, and others to raise a family. Yes, teaching those special babies about Jesus in your current season is a Purpose with a capital P. Mamas, don’t forget that. 

Unfortunately, because we live in a fallen world with an enemy who came to steal, kill and destroy, having such a divine purpose or calling puts a target on our back. Meaning he will stop at nothing to make you stop pursuing that God-given Purpose. 

So because of that, enter all the stressful problems, financial setbacks, doubt, fear, and anxiety. Oh, that is just naming a few of the enemy’s tactics. He has an arsenal of them trying to make you stop sharing Jesus.  

He will try to convince you that you aren’t good enough, not worthy enough, you have made too many mistakes, and even get you to compare yourself to her till you stop trying altogether. Believe me when I say this. I have learned from experience from battling many of his belittling lies. 

I am also learning we are much like a particular donkey in scripture that carried Jesus into Jerusalem. 

 “Now when they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Lose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them. All this was done so that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet said: “Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.” Matthew 21: 1-6 (NKJV)

This donkey chosen for a kingdom assignment felt the weight of Jesus as they traveled into town and toward Jesus’ mission of the cross. We often will feel that weight too. We must be vigilant not to let the enemy load us down with other things. The enemy loves to weigh us down with the cares of this life, so we will stop bearing forth the good news of Jesus. 

My word for 2022 is the word Move. I’m already feeling a stirring in my spirit that it is still somehow connected to my word from 2021. Maybe not just for me but for you too.  

In the words of Paul, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 (KJV)

Perhaps this year will be the time for us to put our callings in action and not allow anything to Move us from our Purpose. 

2022 here we come. 

See you in the field, 

Susan