PRACTICAL
WAYS OF KNOWING YOUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE AND THE WISDOM TO MANIFEST IT
Everyone
has a mission to discover; not to invent – Viktor Frankl.
Purpose has been
defined as God’s original intent and
desire for a person’s life (Isaiah 46:10; 55:11). Our God-given purpose thus
reveals the reason for our being, our
life assignment and destiny! Therefore, discovering
your purpose, among other benefits, gives you direction in life and clarifies your significant roles. Besides, it gives meaning and fulfillment to your life.
Viktor Frankl, a physician
and celebrated survivor of the holocaust, was right in stating that everyone has “a mission to discover; not
to invent.” We can only discover our purpose because it is God’s
original intent and desire. Our purpose is the work “God prepared in advanced
for us to do” – Ephesians 2:10. That is why your job cannot be your purpose
because your job is not your work. It is said that your job is what you’re paid to do but your work is what your are called to do. Your purpose is thus your specific calling. It is worth noting,
however, that your job can be your work. This conclusion must however be based
on proven discovery. Besides, if the motivation behind your job is not monetary
or material rewards and you are committed to it, then there is a high
possibility that that job is also your work.
Jesus discovered and fulfilled
his purpose on earth. He discovered it from the Isaiah 60:1-2, ‘The scroll of
the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it
is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the
poor. He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”” – Luke 4:17-19(NIV). This
reveals that the Bible is the primary means of discovering your purpose. The Bible
is the acid test for verifying the originality
of your discovered God-given purpose. This means that although you may discover
your purpose through prayer, godly counsel, dreams, visions, prophecies,
angelic visitation, audible voice or your shape;
your discovered purpose must be consistent with God’s Word. Any so-called
purpose that is inconsistent with God’s Word was not discovered but invented. But
invented purpose is no purpose because it is both deceptive and speculative!
Discovering your God-given
purpose is not enough; you need divine
wisdom to manifest it. It has been said that the day you discover your purpose
you discover your enemies, true! The day Joseph (Genesis 37) and Jesus (Luke 4:21-37)
publicly announced their purpose their enemies were annoyed and sought to
eliminate them. How people respond to your purpose reveal whether they are your
enemies or helpers. However, you need both your enemies and helpers to fulfill
your purpose. That is why you need divine
wisdom to relate with them. Divine wisdom will give you strength and power (Proverbs
24:3-6 & Isaiah 40:28-31) to fulfill your purpose despite your enemies. God
liberally gives divine wisdom to
those who ask it (James 1:5; 3:17) for the purpose of fulfilling their
discovered God-given purpose (1Kings 3:5-10). For example, God granted King
Solomon’s request for divine wisdom because
Solomon needed it as a leader and also to administer justice. It is worth noting
that divine wisdom will always be
tested (1Kings 3:23-28).
Richard
Obeng Mensah, author of Wisdom
Thoughts.
Email:
richardobengmensah@gmail.com
Blog:
Richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com
