WHERE TO START IN DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE: PDL INSIGHTS (PART 9)

3 STAGES IN THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE: PDL INSIGHTS (PART  9)


STAGE 1: THE GOOD WILL OF GOD

"Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship."

"And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]." [Romans 12:1- 2]

As earlier discussed, your purpose is a role that allows you to express your inner values, doing what you love to do and what you are good at and maximising on your creativity.

We have discussed the three clusters in the convergence of which is our purposes. These three clusters are the gifts, passion and vales cluster. You might then be asking, where should I start the journey if I am not able to identify my gifts, passion and values? The Purpose Driven Life progresses in three stages which are identified in the above scriptures. The three stages are walking into the good, walking into the acceptable and walking into the perfect will of God. Jesus talks of three stages in the unfolding of God’s will of fruitfulness saying,

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. [Mark 4:28]

Stage 1: Walking into the Good Will of God.
Your question may be where to start in the PDL path. You do not have to wait for fully knowing your values, passions and gifts to walk in your purpose. The Scripture above talks of focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what the will of God is, that which is good …. It’s your responsibility to prove for yourself …. to discover. The first step is finding ways of doing good to serve others. How best can you add value to others using the resources, time and energy that you have or the skills, talents and abilities that you have. As you do this you will begin to discover what you are more inclined to or the values that are stronger in you or what you love to do most.

The starting point in the first stage is what is mentioned in the opening verse, “presenting your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God…”. This means that the purpose driven walk begins by setting yourself apart that God would do all the good works that he wants done through your life. One person once asked what the general purpose for everyone was. It is simply availing ourselves to doing good to others. Using all that we have to do what adds value to the lives of others.

God wants to save, heal, deliver, encourage, feed, educate, teach, provide water, reduce poverty, save someone from hunger, design policies, lead communities, provide good parenting, create transport systems, entertain and meet all the needs of the people. He is looking for lives that are dedicated to him to work through. He wants people who are availing themselves to be vessels through which good works can be done to the needy. This is the general purpose for everyone.

Someone might argue and say people were not created just to do good works, but to worship God. That is true, but the opening scripture shows us what the highest form of worship is. It talks about presenting your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, setting apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God as your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. The New International Version calls this, “your spiritual act of worship.” Availing ourselves to do the good works that God wants done is a great form of worshipping God if not the greatest.

The first century Kingdom Revolutionary reveals our purposes and posits, "For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]." — Ephesians 2:10
Your purpose is about doing good in your uniqueness. To do the good works everyone has different gifts as attested by Peter.

 "Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God's multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God's unmerited favor]." [1Pet 4:10]. The good works will be a way that will position us to share the good news and bring everyone into the Kingdom of doing good to one another.

 Jesus talking about purpose said we were saved to be the lights of the world and the salt of the earth and charged us saying, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 5:16]

The good works prepares a platform for the people to receive the good news when we share it and many will be born again. A life lived to the fullest is greatness which I have defined in my book The Wisdom Garden (Volume 1).

Greatness is fully developing and applying our uniqueness to take the responsibility of serving man and the whole universe for their advancement and well-being - Coach Tarie: The Wisdom Garden Volume (1).

Acts captures this subject of good works in the life of Jesus and why he was anointed saying, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” [Acts 10:38]

What does all this tell you? Where do you start in your pursuit of The Purpose Driven Life (PDL)? The starting point is choosing to intentionally do good to others all the time. Use your time, finances, resources at your disposal, gifts, skills, abilities, job or talents to serve others and do good. In your church find somewhere to serve. Do not see your job as just your avenue of getting income but your opportunity to serve others as long as your job is not after destroying lives.

As you continue investing your time to do good, you will begin to discover that some acts of service give you more fulfillment than others. You will begin to get desires to serve others in certain ways. Some desires will be stronger than others. You will begin to discover inner convictions that you would rather sacrifice your life in. You will begin to see yourself letting go of some good works that you have been doing so that you begin to focus on what you feel more passionate about.

You will begin to discover that you are good at some things more than others. You will begin to discover that you enjoy doing certain things than others. You will begin to discover work that consumes all of you, work that you lose track of time when doing and work that makes you forget even to eat. You will find areas that you would want to develop yourself more in. You will discover gifts that you would desire to sharpen without anyone’s instruction.

The clarity of God’s leadership and voice is realized when you are doing something. You are not supposed to sit of spend all of your life praying that God will show you his will and purpose. Pray and seek God whilst you are doing something. In all of scripture you will see that God never used or called anyone that was lazy and doing nothing. Everyone whom God used was found doing something. It is easier to turn and direct a vehicle that is in motion than one that is not moving.

Some will get to know their purposes (the good will of God) by revelation, through prophecy, visions, dreams, audible voices or other supernatural ways, but all these come because you will be doing something or on a journey to do something with your life. If you have had these supernatural means of discovering your purpose Glory be to God. If you have not, it does not mean you are not special or you do not have a divine assignment. It means that you are part of the adventure game that God sometimes plays with his dear sons and daughters which the wisest person in the ancient world spoke about saying,
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing. [Proverbs 25:2]

The first stage of discovering and stepping into the PDL is in you intentionally finding creative ways of doing good and serving others. As you persist and continue you will begin to discover your values, your passions and intense desires and also your gifts, skills and talents until you get to the role that captures all the three, expressing your inner values, doing what you love to do and what you are good at and maximising on your creativity.

Life gets its meaning when you begin to serve; you begin to serve when you begin to exist for a good cause to someone. - Coach Tarie: The Wisdom Garden Volume (1).
The best way to prepare for tomorrow is not to be anxious about it but to do all that you can do today and do it to the best of your ability considering all the resources at your disposal. - Coach Tarie: The Wisdom Garden Volume (1).

Let's walk together in the journey towards PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE (PDL). Don’t forget to look for Stage  2 of the PDL journey.

If you are interested in Joining the *PURPOSE  DRIVEN LIVING (PDL)* Whatsapp group inbox any of the following numbers. +263773301267, +263783573784, +263784456314, +263779924607
For personal coaching in PURPOSE DRIVEN LIVING PDL or anything related to

Personal Development
Strategic Planning
Team Building
Business Strategy Consultancy
Leadership Development
Organisational Development Consultancy
Family and Relationship Coaching

Contact Coach Tarie Coaching and Consultancy (COTACC)
on www.coachtarie.com| coachtarie@ gmail.com | facebook/twitter/linkedin @ Coach Tarie | +263773 301 267/ +263 772 106 415