“… 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 12:2b AMP)
I believe that knowing we have a purpose, and knowing what that purpose is, is a vital foundational principle to achieving optimum wholistic health and balance in our lives. And the true place that purpose comes from is from God. And the purpose I’m talking about is specifically ordered from Him – not from ourselves, not from our family, not from our employer or bank account, or even from our pastor – but from Him. It’s not necessarily fulfilled in the career or work we do – although it can be. On the flip side, just because you are not standing behind a pulpit in a church every Sunday morning doesn’t mean you don’t have a purpose or that you are not fulfilling it. This most likely is not your purpose – only a few are called to that purpose. But your purpose still matters just as much. In fact, it’s vital to not only God, but to the rest of the body of Christ. Think of yourself and your purpose as just one cell, out of all the trillions of cells in our body at any given time. While it might seem small and insignificant, if just that one cell in our body is not functioning, the body is out of balance. It matters, as do you.
Do Not Be Conformed to This World
Let’s pick up where we left off last week in the series on “What the Bible Says About Time” and how it affects our wholistic health, and how it comes into play with our purpose.
Romans 12:2 says “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].”
The first part of this verse encourages us to not be conformed to the things of the world – another words, don’t look to the world to determine what your purpose is. We will find our purpose rooted in godly values and morals. If we think we are walking out our purpose in life, but it doesn’t align with the Biblical morals and values, then most likely you are walking in a self-appointed purpose, not one from God.
But let’s say you are living a moral and ethical life, yet you are out of balance with where you are spending your time. Here is an example. I was having a conversation with a friend around Christmas time. I had not seen him for quite some time – he is part of a weekly self-growth group we are in together, but he had been MIA for months. I asked him what he had been up to. With a slight tone of excitement and “listen to all the good I have been doing” in his voice, he proceeded to list off all of the ministries, and church leadership positions, and mission trips that he had been involved in. This was in addition to his 40+ hour a week job. I had a sense he was looking for his identity and approval from God regarding his worth, through all of his works for the Kingdom. While all of these things were worthy parts of the Kingdom, my question for him was: is God calling you to all of these things? Or were they “self-assigned?”
Now this man was not boasting by any means, in fact on the contrary, I believe he was actually seeking man’s approval. My own quick assessment, and perhaps even a little bit of discernment, was telling me that most of these areas of self-assignment were not from God. He most likely was out of balance with his mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. Too top heavy on the mental – fulfilling a self-assigned purpose thinking he was being “spiritual” when in reality he was out of balance there too. This leads me into the next verse in this 12th chapter of Romans.
Is your plate so over-loaded with “good works” that you are actually doing more harm than good as it applies to your purpose for the Kingdom? Are you spending time on things that simply look like they are from God, but in reality you have stepped out of your lane and calling?
Don’t Think Too Highly of Yourself!
Romans 12:3 says “For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].”
If you’ve ever stubbed your little toe, you find out pretty quickly how much you depend on that otherwise seemingly insignificant, fairly small part of your body! You realize just how much you depend on that 5th digit of your foot!
Regardless of our calling and purpose, we should each think of ourselves no greater than the little toe, while at the same time be reminded that each and every one of us is highly significant to the body of Christ when we are walking out our purpose, no matter how small we may feel.
If you are honest with yourself, do you feel like you are supposed to be “super woman or super man?” Do you feel like you are the only one who can do all of the many things you find yourself doing on any given day? At least do it right and to your satisfaction. Do you feel like you can’t get everything done you feel needs to be done in a 40-hour work week, therefore you, and you alone have to work all those extra hours? Perhaps to prove yourself to your boss, or your family? Do you feel even a slight sense of pride when someone asks you to add one more commitment to your plan, after all they asked YOU! Therefore you can’t let them down by saying “no” – so you say “yes” – even though you are already double, and triple booked on your calendar? Do you even keep a calendar – some kind of visual to show you where your lane is, and where your time guardrails are? Are you afraid to say “no” because if you were truly honest with yourself, you are the “queen of people pleasers?” If you said “no” and kept your boundaries, surely they will think less highly of you. But the deepest, greatest, biggest question is: “What is God calling you to do?”
Do you realize that when you over-commit, time and time again, and actually let people down – because contrary to your super woman belief, you can’t be in two places at the same time – you lose a Kingdom value of being trustworthy. Read that again and let that truly soak in.
A Measure of Faith
Once we are confident in what our purpose in life is – and this truly can change in any season of life – we then need to exercise our faith in God, that what He has called us to do, through Him we can do it. But apart from Him we can do nothing. Are you perhaps sub-consciously filling your commitment plate with anything and everything except what God has called you to do, so that you can’t possibly have time to do what He has truly called you to? Perhaps for fear of failure?
If we are walking out what He has called us to do, it’s never us doing any of it. We are just the willing and surrendered vessel that He uses to fulfill His purpose here on this earth through us. So take a deep breath, step back, remove the unnecessary things from your plate, put your “faith vest” on and jump in to what He has called you to do!
In Summary
When we surrender our time to Him – daily – He can do amazing things through us! But apart from Him we are simply walking in the flesh, and will most likely find ourselves walking on a path the world has called us to, rather than the one God as assigned us to.
Did You Miss These Most Recent Blog Posts?
“Don’t Walk in Fear”
“Is Pride Blocking Your Healing?”
“Should Christians Take Care of Their Health?”
“Does How We Spend Our Time Matter?”
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