God has a destiny for each person?

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cinder

cinder

Senior Member
#1
Mar 26, 2014
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#1
So this morning's sermon focused on the topic of God having a destiny or something specific that he wanted each person to do. There was a time I was completely on board with that idea, but now after dealing with burnout, seeing leaders fail, and realizing that most lives have been lived primarily in the mundane, I'm not so sure I can believe that or even think it is a biblical idea. Getting into the semantics and details is where things really break down because I guess I would say that I do believe God has plans for people, but I'm not sure that for most people those plans are as specific as pursue this career and work at this company. So I'm opening up the discussion for our little corner of the internet.

What do you think is meant by "God's destiny for you" or "God's will for your life"?
How has your concept of it influenced your faith and the decisions you've made in life?
How do you know when the setbacks and discouragements are tests of faith and when they're a sign that you just completely have gotten it wrong?

And anything else you can think of relevant to the topic.
 
S

Stranger36147

Guest
#2
#2
I wonder a lot if I have a destiny, a purpose that I will one day fulfill by the will of God. I have my doubts, though. If not, guess I'll just try to enjoy the ride that is life. :)
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#3
Feb 7, 2015
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#3
I think we all have a self-centered arrogance that whatever God has in mind for us, it MUST involve something noble or somehow kind of great.

I don't think He ever said that...... only that He had a plan for everyone. "To bless us" is a phrase we like to believe means great things headed our way. I think it means that He intends to give us what He intends to give us.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#4
Aug 13, 2014
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#4
I have a few questions to add to this:

What is success? How do you know if your life is successful? How do you know if it's a complete failure?

Is it possible to be homeless for fifty years, die on the street in some city and still be where God wanted you to be?

What is the objective of this life? What is the end-goal? How do we know if we are getting closer to or further from it?

Yes these questions directly relate to the OP.
 
S

Susanna

Guest
#5
#5
God wanted me on the battlefield, both at home and on the road. I have done what he told me to do.
 
M

Mooky

Guest
#6
#6
I have thought about this question alot.I came out of the charismatic movement so I am well aware of the " God has a plan for your life" clap trap.
Firstly.He does have an ultimate purpose for our lives.And that would be to conform us to the image of His Son.All other scenarios are secondary to this one ie. Who I will marry, what career to pursue, where to buy a house etc.I think that God cares about these things too ....but they are not of primary importance.His first concern is that we are conformed to Christlikeness.

Then, as far as ministry goes.Alot of those who we deem to be christian " super stars" are really people who found some area of ministry they are good at and kept at it for years.The rest of us might not be called to one specific thing only but be led to serve in a variety of ( seemingly mundane) ways.

I have also wondered alot about success.How can I know that I have lived well?Perhaps its worthwhile asking oneself ," Whose praise am I after?Mans or Gods?" There is a verse somewhere that says that the praise of the praiseworthy is greatly to be desired...or something to that effect.In light of this ,I think its fair to say that if one gets a " Well done good and faithful servant"at the end of your life ....you are on the right track.We only have two commands.Love God ,Love neighbour.If we can grow in these two areas ...we are doing something worthwhile and of eternal value with our lives.
All this " God wants you to pursue your dreams" nonsense is confusing and takes our eyes off the very real spiritual battle we are locked in 24/7 and from simple obedience.
As the prophet Micah once said:"
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8.
 
blue_ladybug

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
#7
Feb 21, 2014
70,869
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#7
My destiny is to live in pain for the rest of my miserable life.. :/
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#8
#8
cinder said:
So this morning's sermon focused on the topic of God having a destiny or something specific that he wanted each person to do. There was a time I was completely on board with that idea, but now after dealing with burnout, seeing leaders fail, and realizing that most lives have been lived primarily in the mundane, I'm not so sure I can believe that or even think it is a biblical idea. Getting into the semantics and details is where things really break down because I guess I would say that I do believe God has plans for people, but I'm not sure that for most people those plans are as specific as pursue this career and work at this company. So I'm opening up the discussion for our little corner of the internet.

What do you think is meant by "God's destiny for you" or "God's will for your life"?
How has your concept of it influenced your faith and the decisions you've made in life?
How do you know when the setbacks and discouragements are tests of faith and when they're a sign that you just completely have gotten it wrong?

And anything else you can think of relevant to the topic.
Click to expand...
Destiny is an unknown force playing willy-nilly with our lives. Nope. Not buying it.

The force isn't unknown. His name is God. And the purpose is the same purpose he has always had and it has/is/will happen. God's purpose is to have himself a people who will worship and enjoy him forever. He hasn't hidden this message. He hasn't changed it or modified it.

And, yup. He's working it out using all people, even if all people aren't the people who will worship and enjoy him forever.

As for how grand that is? How grand does it have to be? Some woman promises to follow her MIL and be a part of her people and her God. She gleaned grain fields. And yet, she got her name in the book. (Ruth.)

Another woman had a baby in an unusual way. And then she got married, had more kids and lived her life. (Mary.)

Some poor woman watched some dude ogling her sister for seven years because her dad promised that sister to the guy, if he would work that long for her dad. Seven years later? The surprise of her life! She has to marry the guy. (Leah.) Then she got to watch her husband ogle her sister for the rest of their lives.

We won't get written in that book, but does it matter? Even if my primary reason for living was to happen to be there when some girl needed a sandwich one day, isn't that enough?

The ending is grand. We get to stand before God for eternity enjoying him perfectly. He gets his purpose through us, just like he promised.
 
cinder

cinder

Senior Member
#9
Mar 26, 2014
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#9
Excellent thoughts ( and additional questions). Thanks and keep em coming.
 
chickwithsticks

chickwithsticks

Senior Member
#10
Jul 25, 2015
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#10
Great thread Cinder. I loved the responses but I need to think on this one for awhile.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#12
Aug 13, 2014
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#12
More questions spawned by this thread:

What if God has a destiny for you and you know what it is, but you don't like it? What if God wants you to spend the rest of your life working at a fast food factory because God wants a christian influence in that workplace? Or more drastically, what if your destiny is to be killed by a bank robber, because you will say something to him that ten years later leads him to repent? Would you follow that destiny if you knew it?

On the flip side, what if you don't have a specific destiny? Would you still be a christian if you knew that God did not have a certain specific place He wanted you to be, and a certain specific thing He wanted you to be doing? Would the things the Bible says about how to live your life be enough, or would you look for something else to give your life some kind of meaning?
 
Mo0448

Mo0448

Senior Member
#13
Jun 10, 2013
1,209
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#13
Lynx said:
More questions spawned by this thread:

What if God has a destiny for you and you know what it is, but you don't like it? What if God wants you to spend the rest of your life working at a fast food factory because God wants a christian influence in that workplace? Or more drastically, what if your destiny is to be killed by a bank robber, because you will say something to him that ten years later leads him to repent? Would you follow that destiny if you knew it?

On the flip side, what if you don't have a specific destiny? Would you still be a christian if you knew that God did not have a certain specific place He wanted you to be, and a certain specific thing He wanted you to be doing? Would the things the Bible says about how to live your life be enough, or would you look for something else to give your life some kind of meaning?
Click to expand...
If you're thinking of things of this world the answer might be no...however, if you're thinking that you're living every single day for God and for his Glory...then I imagine you wouldn't have any problem following his desires...that's the thing though if we are to live our lives for the glory of God...then it's much more simple than we could possibly imagine...God calls us to be his representatives on earth...you can represent and witness to God anywhere...whether it be in a far away country or at your job...mc donalds or a big law firm or a lab at the end of the day doing what God asks of us should be bringing joy to our hearts especially if we are living under the idea that our lives are not ours but the Lord's...heck if it was God's plan that I die in a manner that as you described I'd say bring it on...if we are here on borrowed time and our true home is heaven then all this is meaningless when we look at the bigger picture at least that's how I see it...sure God has a destiny for us but its not necessarily this giant intertwined plan as many would think it's to be a witnesses and to reflect his glory so that others may come to see him at least that's how I see it...
 
Mo0448

Mo0448

Senior Member
#14
Jun 10, 2013
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#14
To add: Jesus doesn't promise us smooth sailing if we choose to follow him...in fact if we infer from scriptures it appears that things go a lot "worse" in this life for Christ followers...however if we're living what's to come and not what is currently here we shouldn't be distraught or worried life isn't meant to be easy or pain free or problem free...but you know what that's okay because Jesus promised to always be there and that's the important thing :)
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#15
#15
We have free will, and can make choices that affect our lives- for good or bad. And Christians can make choices that are out of the will of God. I certainly don't think He has a job path picked out for us, or where we choose to live, or things like that. As far as "success" goes- every Christian has a gift that is supposed to be exercised within the Church. I think we will be rewarded based on how well we exercised our gifts, how faithful we are (I mean rewarded in Heaven). Let's say a little lady's gift is to clean the church- it doesn't seem much, but if she is more faithful than the pastor, who does not do his all, she is more successful.

Romans 14 kind of talks about this- how God judges His servants.
 
Tinkerbell725

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
#16
Jul 19, 2014
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Philippines Age 40
#16
God is good and great so, as His children, we are all destined for greatness. (whatever God meant by greatness for each one of us so be it)
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#17
Aug 2, 2009
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#17
I'm on the fence about the destiny thing.. I mean I used to believe it wholeheartedly, but now I'm not too sure. Not just because of my own uncertainty of having a destiny or a "grand plan", but also because there are babies who are stillborn or miscarried or die at a very early age. What of their destinies?

Also, homeless who die on the street and young people who die in car crashes, etc.... Its easy to believe in destinies when you see all the successful, important people, but what about the rest of us, especially those who don't have kids (a parent's destiny is probably to raise their children)? Do people meandering through life who can't seem to get a step up have destinies too? Just my 2 cents...
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#18
Aug 2, 2009
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#18
OK.. I probably should not have posted that. (Can't delete it now) One of the tenets of our faith is Hope, and well as christians we are supposed to remain hopeful.... Faith Love and Hope... the three tenors... umm I mean tenets. :rolleyes:

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#19
Aug 13, 2014
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#19
For some reason this whole thread reminds me of an old Sara Groves song.

[video=youtube;cK_WmVFAIP8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK_WmVFAIP8[/video]

"Remind me of this, with every decision
Generations will reap what I sow
I can pass on a curse or a blessing
To those I will never know"
 
H

Hungry

Banned
#20
Nov 26, 2012
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#20
I think that the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 clearly states that there are expectations. From what I gather from scripture is that we are supposed to primarily be light. No matter what the call on our life, we are to always be ready to share the Truth with the lost, and lead by example. Aside from that God will increase us as we let Him, dependent on our surrender to Him. Christ is the head of the Church and we as the body should be in concert with the other members. At the same time we need to be available to whatever is required of us. If our body parts were busy concerned with their own desires, when it came time to employ them with intended purpose they may become resentful, reluctant and disobedient. The Lord has filled me with so much knowledge and vigor. I have the desires to chase so many dreams but I recognize that these things may not glorify God, as much as glorify me. The flesh calls me to create and conquer and the spirit opens my eyes to its selfish ambition. I am thankful for the knowledge and wisdom He provides and this is enough to satisfy. Often He reminds me of Moses and Joseph, waiting until the proper time. While I wait, I serve Him with what He has given me by serving my family and sharing with the people at CC.
 
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