What is Your Purpose?

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… I press on…. Phil. 3:12-14

Your age doesn’t matter when it comes to having a sense of purpose. We all need it!

In my first book, “I’m too Young to be This Old,” I described studies that showed if the only purpose an elderly woman had was to water her plants or take her dog for a walk every day, it was enough to give her hope. Without purpose the days drag on, depression can plague you, and joy is just a memory!

Who wants to live like that? I certainly don’t and I don’t think you do either!

REJOICE

The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian church from a dark, dank, prison cell yet one of his key repeated words is “Rejoice!” And one of the primary sources of rejoicing is having a sense of purpose.

So let me ask you, “What is your purpose?” Can you name it?

He also talks of “straining toward what is ahead.” Instead of letting the failures of his past (which we all have!) dog his footsteps and plague his mind, he strained toward what God still had for him to do. He wouldn’t settle for the easy path—maybe get out of jail, go somewhere nice and warm with good food and a soft bed, and give up the idea of serving God. After all, hadn’t he put in enough years serving Him faithfully and sacrificially?

Depending on your age and circumstances, you might feel like that. But look again at what Paul said,

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

REFUSE TO QUIT

Paul refused to quit. He refused to let his circumstances stop him. WHY? Because within his being was the fire of the Holy Spirit stirring him to press on, to serve the living Christ with every breath and ounce of energy he had left.

I want that to be true of me—how about you? What is the Holy Spirit calling you to strain toward?

PRESS ON

To press on, to “strain toward” requires 4 things (and maybe you can come up with more):

1. DESIRE—and let’s be honest, maybe you’re depressed or feeling aimless. Sometimes we need to cry out, “O Lord Jesus, renew my desire for you and your purposes for my life.”
2. DETERMINATION—is another Spirit-given quality that enables us to reject the temptation to grow cold and indifferent to the love of God, filling our days with what has no eternal value.
3. DIRECTION—this is a fruit of prayerful thinking. How has God directed you in the past? What are you gifted to do and love to do? Where have you been affirmed and seen spiritual impact? (I’d love to help you work through these questions or try using my book: Go for It! Make Your Life Count for God as a guide.)
4. DISCIPLINE—unless you’re a super goal-oriented woman who achieves what she sets her mind to, this can be your big stumbling block! I can say that, because I need what the Holy Spirit gives: Passion, Motivation, and Self-control. When I pray for these, I surprise myself by what I get done! So can you when you know you’re walking in God’s joyful and joy-giving purpose for your life!

What are Paul’s words saying to you? What is the Holy Spirit stirring in your heart? What will you do with your life? Invest it? Or…?

I’m here to encourage, listen, and help you deepen your walk with Christ. If you’d like to get in touch, email me at: poppy@poppysmith.com

In Christ,

Poppy

Coaching Women to Grow in Christ