Hello! I am a young lady in my mid 20's and I have had this pressing question on my heart, and that is how does one discovers God's purpose for their life?
When I read the story of Jesus, He knew exactly what He was coming to Earth for, and that was to save the world from their sins. Is it possible to have the same revelation that Christ had?
Hi nhyria7, It's a wonderful question and one that the true seeker asks I believe. God is so good in so many many ways. He knew we would ask these questions and left us the Bible so we could find out the truth for ourselves. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" Romans 10:17
God has preserved the Bible after years of the devil and people trying to destroy it and bury it. For years there was illiteracy so that people couldn't read the Bible themselves and there were very few Bibles around except those that the big churches had.
People had to depend on greedy religious people to get the truth and most often they didn't get the truth and were instead bound by man-made religion so they were controlled by fear of what those man made religions said about God that was not true. Saying people had to work hard to get good enough for God to accept them.
Many believers in Christ who tried to get the truth of the Gospel out to the people were killed for their faith and for doing what they were called to do to tell the world about Jesus and His love and salvation found clearly in the Bible for anyone to see. That salvation is free because Jesus paid 100% for our acceptance before a Holy God. Despite the opposition to getting the truth out, men and woman of God just kept coming and coming along to make sure the Bible got out to the people. Men like Martin Luther were instrumental in this.
Then the printing of the Bible happened and the history of how God used men and woman to put the Bible in different languages. It's amazing to read about the long process over the years of how the Bible got to the people. Even today the Bible is still being translated and printed in different languages. Also the Bible (the Word of God) is preached over the air waves via satellite with tv, internet, books, tapes, cds., dvds. Christians are always being used of God to get the Gospel out not only for salvation but for believers to grow in the knowledge of the truth.
So we have the Bible today and the main message (the Good News) the Gospel., is Jesus Christ and the LOVE of God in sending His Son into the world to save sinners. John 3:16-17
[SUP]16 [/SUP]For God so greatly loved
and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([SUP][
a][/SUP]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation
and be made safe
and sound through Him.
After a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior then the Holy Spirit comes in and is always with them to teach and guide and comfort. Jesus promised to send us the Comfortor John 7:38-39
[SUP]38 [/SUP]He who believes in Me [who cleaves to
and trusts in
and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs
and rivers of living water.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).
John 15:26 [SUP]26 [/SUP]But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.
All this begins with the truth in the Bible. So if we want to discover our purpose in life we go to the Bible and ask the Lord to show and teach us what He wants for us. Find a good Bible preaching teaching church that encourages their people to study the Bible. God has good plans for each of us personally. For good and not evil.
As we read the Bible the Holy Spirit teaches us personally the truth and most of all the love/grace God has for us in Christ. As far as finding out the purpose for our lives and what direction we should go in., it's different for each one of us in how we can bring honor and glory to Him., but the main thing I've learned is God wants us to know He loves us and will show us the path to go on when we acknowledge Him in our lives. It's a promise He made.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
[SUP]
5 [/SUP]Lean on, trust in,
and be confident in the Lord with all your heart
and mind and do not rely on your own insight
or understanding.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]In all your ways know, recognize,
and acknowledge Him, and He will direct
and make straight
and plain your paths.
I've seen that this is a life long journey as we learn how to acknowledge Him in everything we do in our daily life. And He teaches us more and more as we go. It's a good journey because He is always by our side and His promise to direct us is real. It's all in the Bible and the Holy Spirit will teach us as we go.
Being in the will of God and knowing our purpose for living is something God wants us to know and be sure of YES. Not only that but the JOY of the Lord is our strength. He gives us a new heart that is fulfilled in following Him. He becomes our Good Shepherd. Psalm 23
[SUP]1 [/SUP]The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
[SUP]
2 [/SUP]He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still
and restful waters.
[SUP]
3 [/SUP]He refreshes
and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
[SUP]
4 [/SUP]Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
[SUP]
5 [/SUP]You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [SUP][
a][/SUP]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]Surely
or only goodness, mercy,
and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
There is so much good news in the Bible I've only touched on a tiny bit in my enthusiasm. Even thought this post is loooooooooooooooooooooooong. Just had my morning coffee and kept thinking and typing.
So read the Bible nhyria7 and you will find the answers you are looking for. You can email me anytime.
ladylynn