Are You Purpose Seeking or Purpose Living?

This question has been on my mind for a few years. I've been trying to blog about it for a minute. Yet, I couldn't figure out how to create something real and relatable to my readers. For years after years, I lived with the hope to become a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. Was this my purpose? NO! But, after pulling a card from the Game of Life said I'd win one. Getting this award was a goal. The first goal I set when I was 8 years old. It wasn't until my 30s that I learned what purpose meant and why God gave me this vision.

What's a Purpose?

The Bible says in Romans 9:17, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” God gave us our purpose before birth and it's our job to fulfill it to glorify Him by using it. Most people, Christian or not, have an idea of their purpose early in life. When you were young what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child, I read book after book. My mom and I visited the library every two weeks. I wrote pages of story after story (personal computers didn't exist in the late 80s). I even wrote my first book in 5th grade and another in 8th. Being a writer was natural for me but, I saw it as a hobby instead of a lucrative profession.

What do you love doing? What do you do easily with little to no instruction? These are the things God designed you to do. THIS is your purpose.

This idea became a fact after I lost two friends before they turned 40 years old. My good friend William, Billy, was a natural dancer. As a child, he chose to enroll in a Tap class and he grew into a dancer of excellence, an instructor of the craft, and a choreographer for celebrities. Jazz, ballet, and urban dance were his specialties. I witness him become everything he spoke to become during our high school years. Dancing was his purpose and God called Billy home after he accomplished everything he said he would become. Less than a year later, another friend from high school was called home before turning 40. I met Melissa during our Junior year. She told me her dream was to attend Bradley University and then get her J.D. from John Marshall Law School after earning her B.S. in Political Science. Guess what? She did exactly that!

Both Billy and Melissa fulfilled their purposes. I'm sure you have goal-setting friends. People you may have met at school, church, or work. Years later you see them on Facebook or LinkedIn and learn that they accomplished their goals. Or maybe this is you? Either way knowing and trusting your purpose will outline the rest of your life. We just have to believe this is our purpose, why God put us here.

This concept didn't become real in my life until a year or two after saying my final goodbye to my friends. I wondered why? Why did they die so young? Why did this have to happen? Losing them drove me into a year-long depression. HOWEVER, once I got over myself, I saw God moving and pushing me further into His design for my life. Today without hesitation I proclaim, I'm an author, whenever and wherever I can. My words will reflect God's goodness and glory with every word I write. Now it's your turn. What is your purpose? Despite your age, what do YOU want to be when you grow up? How do you know for sure that your hobby is bigger than your assumptions? Easy, ask God. He'll confirm your inquiries.

Becoming a New York Times bestselling author wasn't approved by my family. They knew I wrote well but feared I'd be a starving artist. This fear blocked me for decades from fulfilling my purpose. However, my heavenly Father waited for me to believe Him over my earthly family and those around me. No one said I wasn't a good writer. My writings were published and I had two offers to expand my writing during my 20s. However, not knowing this was my purpose, I decided to stay in a box of fear and familiarity. I threw writing to the side until I turned 50 and retired. God saw different and, wanted me to write for and about Him before turning 50. It wasn't until I was 38 that I recognized God was answering my prayers as He saw fit, not as I assumed it would happen. I was blocking my own prayers. Are you guilty of doing this? Do you have a dream but want it to come to reality on your terms and, not His? If you are unsure, ask God. He'll let you know, just wait for His response before assuming anything.

Finding your purpose is easier than you think. Take a minute and concentrate on what you love. Think about tasks and jobs that are easy and fun. More times than not, this is your purpose. Talk to your friends and family. Ask them what do they think is your purpose. As they respond, your spirit will confirm or disagree. Seeking Your Purpose

If you are unsure, ask God. Pray and be real with Him. Ask Him to strengthen your discernment. Ask Him to open your Spiritual eyes and ears to confirm His response. Pray for Him to increase as you decrease your own thoughts and doubts Trust the reply and move forward in your purpose. Understand, everyone's purpose is different. God is not just the Creater of everything but He's also our Father. Just like any parent does, God communicates with each child differently. He'll direct and teach us as He knows we'll understand. Similar to how you know when your earthly parents agree or disagree, you will understand God's yeses and noes after you pray. Seeking your purpose is easier than you believe. Trust your spirit and walk in what you know.

Although I knew, I'm an author but once I believed, God opened numerous doors. Believing in my vision showed me I'm not just an author of books but, also a blogger, writing teacher, and a Publisher. God revealed all this and more after I trusted Him and believed in my purpose. Take a day with God. Seek Him and ask Him, what's your purpose. Ask Him to confirm your opinion or correct it if you are unsure. HE will confirm and or direct you to the answers you seek. Remember, God is our Father and He will let you know. Just believe and listen because DADDY always knows best!