This article appeared in Charisma's online magazine 1/12/16 and is a perfect fit for our library which links to resources which help you discover your Godly destiny. Vallotton opines, "American culture is fixated on always moving on to the next big thing.
If you're single, it's "when are you getting married?" If you're married, it's "when are you going to have kids?" If it's your career, it's "what is your five-year plan?" All of this can feel like a ton of pressure to have it all figured out.
To not only know exactly where you're going in life, but to know the perfect route to get there.
It has become all too common in the church for many to defer to "God's plan" for our lives. On its surface, it sounds like a "good, Christian" approach to life, but what if I told you it's not true? That God does not have a plan for your life?
Allow me to explain.
I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God has a purpose for every single person on the planet, but I do not believe He has a plan. What I mean by that is God has called each and every one of us to fulfill a particular role in the context of history, and there are 1,001 ways He can get us there. Instead of a singular, pre-mapped path to your final destination, it's a little bit more like a "choose your own adventure" story.
Revelation chapter 13 tells us that Jesus was crucified from the foundation of the world. Before the world ever had a problem, God had an answer.
It's beautiful that God had this laid out from before the beginning; that His Son, Jesus, would be born and die as a sacrifice for the sins of man that had not yet occurred. But isn't it interesting that in that grand purpose God had for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, there was no room at the inn for Him to be born?
If you're single, it's "when are you getting married?" If you're married, it's "when are you going to have kids?" If it's your career, it's "what is your five-year plan?" All of this can feel like a ton of pressure to have it all figured out.
To not only know exactly where you're going in life, but to know the perfect route to get there.
It has become all too common in the church for many to defer to "God's plan" for our lives. On its surface, it sounds like a "good, Christian" approach to life, but what if I told you it's not true? That God does not have a plan for your life?
Allow me to explain.
I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God has a purpose for every single person on the planet, but I do not believe He has a plan. What I mean by that is God has called each and every one of us to fulfill a particular role in the context of history, and there are 1,001 ways He can get us there. Instead of a singular, pre-mapped path to your final destination, it's a little bit more like a "choose your own adventure" story.
Revelation chapter 13 tells us that Jesus was crucified from the foundation of the world. Before the world ever had a problem, God had an answer.
It's beautiful that God had this laid out from before the beginning; that His Son, Jesus, would be born and die as a sacrifice for the sins of man that had not yet occurred. But isn't it interesting that in that grand purpose God had for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, there was no room at the inn for Him to be born?
While I have heard—and even taught on—a lot of good prophetic significance in Jesus being born in a manger, the Bible says the reason why Jesus was born in a manger is simply because there was no room in the inn.
Don't you think if God planned Jesus' birth from the foundation of the world, He would have made sure there was a place in the inn for him to be born? But God didn't map out every single step to make sure everything was completely smooth and seamless. His Son was created with a purpose that would be accomplished regardless of whatever roadblocks might arise.
And so it is with His purpose for your life.
God does not intend for you passively await for some unknown point in time in the future; He is calling you to prepare today—right in this moment! No matter where you are in life, you are in an important part of the story of your destiny.
I have outlined five keys below to help give some focus and guidance on living your life intentionally with God's purpose for you in mind:
1. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. When Saul was sent by his father to look for lost donkeys, he didn't just give up when he couldn't find them on his own. Instead, he sought guidance from the prophet Samuel who ended up anointing him as king. His choice to perform this ordinary task in an extraordinary way ultimately led him to his destiny.
2. Steward your responsibilities. You may be tempted to not take your current job or role seriously, but God is looking for you at your place of responsibility. After the birth of Jesus, angels showed up at the place where the shepherds were keeping watch over their sheep. In the gospels, Jesus came to Peter, Andrew, James and John where they were fishing and mending their nets and called them to be his disciples. Where God told you to be responsible, that's where He's going meet you.
3. View every job as training for your destiny. When David was just a boy tending sheep, he killed a lion and bear with his bare hands when they attacked his flock. When the Israelites were faced with Goliath, David's confidence in his ability to vanquish the giant won him an audience with the king, and it was his account of defeating the lion and the bear that convinced the king to let David fight Goliath. Like David, the things you are doing at your job now—when no one is looking—are training you for your ultimate destiny.
4. Behave as though you're passionate, even when you don't feel like it. In sports, a good team will rise to the occasion and "play up" when going against a stronger team. But it's the championship teams that play up all the time, no matter who they are playing. It's really easy to do your absolute best job when you're feeling passionate, but an extraordinary person does this all the time—even when they don't feel like it.
5. Seek first His kingdom. When Jesus brought the kingdom down to us, He didn't bring it as another thing to add to our list of jobs and priorities on Earth—even if it's at the top of that list. Rather, it is by and through the kingdom that everything else in life flows through. He commanded to "seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you" (Matt. 6:33). If you are seeking His kingdom, you are not going to miss everything and anything God has for you. He is faithful to honor His Word and fulfill His promises. Choose Him above all, and all of these things—including your extraordinary purpose—will be added to you.
Does this resonate with you?"
Don't you think if God planned Jesus' birth from the foundation of the world, He would have made sure there was a place in the inn for him to be born? But God didn't map out every single step to make sure everything was completely smooth and seamless. His Son was created with a purpose that would be accomplished regardless of whatever roadblocks might arise.
And so it is with His purpose for your life.
God does not intend for you passively await for some unknown point in time in the future; He is calling you to prepare today—right in this moment! No matter where you are in life, you are in an important part of the story of your destiny.
I have outlined five keys below to help give some focus and guidance on living your life intentionally with God's purpose for you in mind:
1. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. When Saul was sent by his father to look for lost donkeys, he didn't just give up when he couldn't find them on his own. Instead, he sought guidance from the prophet Samuel who ended up anointing him as king. His choice to perform this ordinary task in an extraordinary way ultimately led him to his destiny.
2. Steward your responsibilities. You may be tempted to not take your current job or role seriously, but God is looking for you at your place of responsibility. After the birth of Jesus, angels showed up at the place where the shepherds were keeping watch over their sheep. In the gospels, Jesus came to Peter, Andrew, James and John where they were fishing and mending their nets and called them to be his disciples. Where God told you to be responsible, that's where He's going meet you.
3. View every job as training for your destiny. When David was just a boy tending sheep, he killed a lion and bear with his bare hands when they attacked his flock. When the Israelites were faced with Goliath, David's confidence in his ability to vanquish the giant won him an audience with the king, and it was his account of defeating the lion and the bear that convinced the king to let David fight Goliath. Like David, the things you are doing at your job now—when no one is looking—are training you for your ultimate destiny.
4. Behave as though you're passionate, even when you don't feel like it. In sports, a good team will rise to the occasion and "play up" when going against a stronger team. But it's the championship teams that play up all the time, no matter who they are playing. It's really easy to do your absolute best job when you're feeling passionate, but an extraordinary person does this all the time—even when they don't feel like it.
5. Seek first His kingdom. When Jesus brought the kingdom down to us, He didn't bring it as another thing to add to our list of jobs and priorities on Earth—even if it's at the top of that list. Rather, it is by and through the kingdom that everything else in life flows through. He commanded to "seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you" (Matt. 6:33). If you are seeking His kingdom, you are not going to miss everything and anything God has for you. He is faithful to honor His Word and fulfill His promises. Choose Him above all, and all of these things—including your extraordinary purpose—will be added to you.
Does this resonate with you?"
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