Purpose

By Lisa Tchividjian

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”—Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV)

Thank you so much for taking this three-day journey with us. We pray that through this devotional, the Lord will speak to you and 1) show you that He has more for you than you could ever imagine, 2) guide you toward walking in the awesome purposes and plans He has for you, 3) and ignite a new or renewed passion in you for seeing His will accomplished in and through your life!

Speaking of God's will . . . for the most part, we tend to view God’s will as a great mystery. We want to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, but we feel as though we’re running against the flow of an escalator and we can never quite make it to the top. We constantly ask ourselves, “Am I in God’s will?” We think the answer is somehow based in our behavior. We think if we’re good enough, then maybe we’re in His will. 

Yet this Scripture so beautifully states that only God can equip us with what we need to do His will. Seeking God’s will simply means to seek God. God prepares us from within to be all He’s called us to be. We need to know God in order to serve Him. Spending time in His Word and in worship is the first place to start. The more we understand the heart of God, the better equipped we’ll be to experience the life He has for us. Once we begin to know the ways of God, we have to apply them to our lives every day. 

So many Christians get caught up in the routines of life. We change our world by changing our routine—by saying “yes” even when it makes us a bit uncomfortable. We have to learn to hear God’s voice as we go about our day. The Spirit of God lives within us, and He will speak to our thoughts with ideas or encouragement when we give Him the opportunity. God’s will for our lives is a daily occurrence. As soon as we wake up each day, we should ask God to show us what He has for us to do that day. 

I used to have a postal box I went to a couple of times a week. Each time, as I walked into the post office, I would see an elderly woman sitting beside the door with a pile of goods in a cart beside her. I would smile, hand her a dollar, and continue on with my day. One day as I walked by her, the Lord whispered into my heart to speak with her. I stopped and sat beside her and asked her how she was and if there was anything I could do to help her. She asked for a ride to the bus stop—and from that day on a relationship began that I will forever cherish, one filled with daily phone calls, grocery shopping, fixing up her home, bringing her to church, and being a part of her life. Her story was beautiful and unique, yet filled with heartache. I’m so glad I heard and obeyed the Lord’s voice that day. 

God will give us everything we need to fulfill our purpose. Let’s change our world, one life at a time.

Pause: Are you in the will of God?

Practice: Read Ephesians 6:10–20 today, which tells us all about what God equips us with to walk in His will and purposes for us. Sit with your journal and write out how you have seen or how you desire to see to these tools working in your life, and the steps you can take in your walk with the Lord to see that happen.

Pray: Lord, show me your purpose for my life today and equip my by Your Spirit to walk in it and accomplish all You have for me. Amen.