Purpose Prevails

"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails."---Proverbs 19:21 (Message)

"Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."---Helen Keller

Purpose: the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.; an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal; determination; resoluteness; to resolve; by design; intentionally; relevant; to the point; a result or effect that is intended or desired; the matter at hand; an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions; what something is used for.

A wise man by the name of James Thurber once said that all men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why. Hold on to that because we're gonna go somewhere with it in just a few sentences.

After graduating from high school, I had NO IDEA what I wanted to do with my life. After not really having much of a choice (because my mother wasn't hearing it), I went to college. (Exodus 20:12) When people ask me what I got my degree in, I often laugh and say, "Life" because I was hardly in class; as a matter of fact, I flunked out twice.

Even now, when my mother and I discuss those years, I sense that she gets a little irritated because she spent a lot of money for her to have "technically" nothing to show for it. That's understandable, but in my defense, I mentioned a few times, on the front end, that I had no clue what I wanted to do and the truth (John 8:32) is that it can be very hard to live a focused life, in any area, without any goals...plans...purpose.

I wonder how many people in the spiritual realm go day by day, year in and year out with an "undeclared major". Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans that he has for our lives and they're good ones, but how many people ask God just what that plan is? (James 1:5) In both the natural and spiritual sense, I personally know what it's like to have all of the tools for excelling, but what good are they if you don't know how to use them...if you don't know the purpose for them? So many people pray for money, fame, promotion, family, favor, homes and cars, resources, etc., but for what?

What do you want a husband for?

What do you want a child for?

What do you want a new house for?

What do you want that promotion for?

What do you need that favor for?

I think I've mentioned on a few occasions that these days, whenever someone tells me that they are getting married, my first response is usually "Why?" I'm sure some might assume that it's because I'm being a hater, but the reality (Ecclesiastes 7:18-Message) is that there is more to marriage than a wedding. Marriage is supposed to serve a PURPOSE. I think the main reason why Christ said that many people were not mature enough for it (Matthew 19-Message) is because it takes real spiritual insight (I Corinthians 2:14) to even begin to understand why God put submission in place (Ephesians 5:22; I Peter 3:1), what an undefiled bed really is (Hebrews 13:4) and how a man can love a woman like Christ loved the Church (which is why a Christ follower shouldn't even begin to consider someone who has no knowledge of Christ and his character...a man can't understand the comparison any other way. Loving you is one thing...loving you like Christ loved the Church is something entirely different!---Ephesians 5:25)

As someone who is constantly pursuing the knowledge of what it means to be a true follower of Christ (John 8:31), one thing that I have come to appreciate is just how much knowing one's purpose can help in life---in the good times, but especially in the bad. Luke (4:42-44) tells the story of Christ preaching and the people around him trying to keep him in that same space because they wanted him there (bookmark that), to which he replied, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." When he knew that death was upon him, what was his response? "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." (John 12:27)

The Pharisees were condescending jerks. (Matthew 12:2-4) The disciples were a handful of drama (at times). (Matthew 14:32-40, Mark 14:72, John 18:2) The Enemy was relentless. (Luke 4:13) Can you imagine what Christ's journey would have been like had he not kept his PURPOSE for being here in the forefront of his mind---at all times?

Just today, I was researching the synonyms for the word "purpose". We are so quick to quote that God will grant us the desires of our hearts (you do know that is contingent upon if we delight ourselves in him, right?---Psalm 37:4), but did you know that "desire" is actually a synonym for purpose? So is "dream"...so is "hope"...so is "mission", "plan", "project", "ambition" and "idea". You have no idea how many times I have prayed for something that, in hindsight (a word not used in the scriptures by the way...I'm pretty sure it's because we are called to walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT---2 Corinthians 5:7), wasn't anyway linked up to my purpose? Could Christ have had children and it be a good thing? Sure. But it appears that it wasn't linked up to his purpose. Could Christ have remained a carpenter rather than our Savior and it be cool. Perhaps. But it obviously wasn't apart of his purpose.

How many times have you "prophesied" something over your life? Now be honest (Proverbs 12:19): how many times have you asked God on the front end if in obtaining it, it would benefit the reason for which you exist...it would assist in bringing about the desired end result (which for all of us should be eternal life---John 3:14-16)...it would manifest itself as intentionally relevant? The New Century Version of Luke 11:9-13 states:

"So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. If your children ask fora fish, which of you would give them a snake instead? Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spiritto those who ask him!"

Once again, it is a HUGE revelation within itself when I realized that this says that God will give to the Holy Spirit (our helper [John 14:26] and in many ways our filterer) what we ask of him. But just tonight, I also saw that God gives to us what we need as it relates to what we are called to do. To give us anything that contradicts and/or competes with our purpose being fulfilled is just like the father who gives his child a scorpion rather than an egg. Some of us want a child so badly that to have one, at least in this season, it would replace God. (Exodus 20:3) Some of us want money so badly that to get it, we would lose our minds...and quite possibly our souls. (Matthew 16:26) After all, I Timothy 6:10 states that money is A (not THE) root to all evil because it tends to cause many people to stray away from their faith.

When it comes to our reason for being here, Jeremiah 1:5 (NCV) says:

"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work."

Family, this didn't just apply to the prophet Jeremiah. God also made us in our mothers' wombs and set us a part for a special (appropriate, choice, definite, extraordinary, individual, particular, peculiar) work. If you want to see a greater manifestation in your prayer requests, start asking God to grant you things according to your purpose...because that is what is in his will. (Psalm 84:11)

As for me, as I was praying about my own "purpose blessings", I found myself asking God to reveal something to me about someone that, for years, I have simply not been able to shake (from my spirit). This is not scriptural, but I firmly believe that if you keep referencing someone or if they keep coming to mind, whether it is/was a good or "bad" relationship, there is a PURPOSE attached to it. It may not be the purpose we want, or even the purpose that we expect, but it can be purposeful nonetheless.

So anyway, as I found myself asking God (instead of telling him), "OK, what is the reason behind why he is always in my emotional space?", God took me to the story of Jonah. Family, if you don't retain anything else from these devotionals (or as some of my friends affectionately call "manuscripts") this year, please get this: READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF. There have been so many revelations that I've received all because I went to a story and read it on my own. As I read the tale of Jonah, a story I've heard ever since I was a little girl, I saw some things that I never really noticed before:

Sometimes the person running from their purpose can appear to be more "at peace" than the people around him-at least for a season. The first chapter of Jonah talks about a prophet who was given a specific instruction from God, didn't want to do it, and ran. While on a boat on its way to Tarshish, a great wind disrupted the sea...so great that the ship was in danger of breaking apart. What's a trip though, is that it wasn't the called and appointed prophet who was disturbed by the storm, but the seamen---the non-believing seamen---on board.

"The sailors were afraid, and each man cried to his own god. They began throwing the cargo from the ship into the sea to make the ship lighter. But Jonah had gone down far inside the ship to lie down, and he fell fast asleep. The captain of the ship came and said, 'Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray to your god! Maybe your god will pay attention to us, and we won't die!'"---Jonah 1:5-7 (NCV)

When someone is not "on purpose" it has a detrimental domino effect on those around them---friend and foe, familiar and stranger. Sometimes they can be so focused on what they want that their hearts are hardened (Mark 8:17) which affects all of their senses...and sensitivities. A son is always in and out of jail while his mother is having constant nervous breakdowns. A wife is always crying while her husband is kicking it in the streets. A family member is struggling to pay rent while their drug dealing cousin appears to be living the high life. Family, if you find yourself always in the midst of a storm, and a little prayer and discernment (Proverbs 2:2-6) have revealed to you that it is directly connected to someone in your space, one of the best things that you can do for that person is pray that their hearts will be softened so that they can be molded. They may seem fine, but anyone who is living less than what God called them to is suffering from a (spiritual) identity crisis, and that is never a good (or lasting) thing.

Sometimes you have to let the person go---at least for a season. I love how the story goes on to share that complete strangers were concerned about how God would react towards them after Jonah instructed them to throw him overboard (a lot of times people can recognize your purpose even when you choose to not "see" it).

"So the men cried to the Lord, 'Lord, please don't let us die because of this man's life; please don't think we are guilty of killing an innocent person. Lord, you have caused all this to happen; you wanted it this way.' So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea became calm."---Jonah 1:14-15 (NCV)

I can personally attest to the fact that there have been several times when once I stopped trying to be God in someone's life so that God could do it, a lot of what stressed me out as it related to them ceased. Isaiah 26:3 tells us, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts you."

You have no idea how many people will tell me that they are holding on to someone because they love them; meanwhile their finances, health, mental and emotional stability are suffering. Loving someone is one thing, but saving them? God never called us to do that. Everyone gives their own account for their lives. (Ezekiel 19) For some of you, it's time to self-evaluate and admit that "they" are not stressing you out, YOU ARE by keeping them "on board" the ship that's trying to take you where youare called to go. As long as you're continuously making provisions, as long as you are enabling their choice to not live in purpose, what real reason do they have to redirect and go to God? For Jonah, it was a big fish (Jonah 1:17) that God used to minister to him---alone. For others, it may be a prison cell, a halfway house, a hospital room.

Sometimes, we can be so focused on how "unpleasant" something may appear to be in the physical sense, that we don't see what God is trying to do in the spirit realm. The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, right? (I Corinthians 3:19) The thing is, the seamen went to God about what they should do about Jonah, but once they received a peace about it...they did it. As "crazy" as it seemed to throw a man into the ocean, they obeyed. Don't you go trying to figure out what makes the most sense when it comes to dealing with a rebellious spirit. More importantly, don't let ANYONE hinder you from fulfilling your own calling...from going the direction that you need to go. In the end time, each person will have to give an account for how they lived their lives---individually. (I Peter 4:5)

Fulfilling purpose isn't always "fun", but it's always life-altering. I was just talking to someone this week about where they are right now in their lives. He said he didn't like it, but knew it was a part of his purpose...however, he didn't believe he would be where he is long. He said he would be doing something "greater".

"How do you know? This could be your daily cross (Luke 9:23)...your thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7)," I said.

"You are always the devil's advocate," he replied.

I guess, but I'm not (usually) trying to be. Christ knew his purpose, but the process was a pretty grueling one, wouldn't you say? (Matthew 27) Jonah knew his purpose, but if you read Jonah 3, you will see that he wasn't all that thrilled in fulfilling it. However, as a result of Christ's death, we have the hope of eternal life. As the result of Jonah going to Ninevah, God's initial decision to destroy the city was changed...an entire city of people were saved. Marianne Williamson once said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." Family, no matter what you are called to do, in the kingdom, it is great. As a matter of fact, a lot of the purposes that are less popular in the world, will be celebrated as mighty in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4), which is why none of us should use the world as our measuring stick of success.

Sometimes people struggle with their purpose because deep down, they know that it is so opposite of what they want to do. (Galatians 5:16-17) They would rather work a corporate job than be in ministry because church work doesn't pay the big bucks. They would rather live in New York than Brownsville, TN because the city is so slow. They would rather stay in their stronghold than get free so that they can help others (I Timothy 4:14-16) because there is such a responsibility that comes with being a teacher. (Romans 2:21-24) Yes, the Bible does state that to whom much is given, much is required. (Luke 12:48) But the truth is that if you are a child of God, automatically much has been given to you. As long as you continue to live outside of what he made you to do/be, you will be discontent. He wired you that way. NONE OF US are here to honor ourselves. We are to bring glory to God. (2 Corinthians 4:7) Even after Jonah did what God told him to, interestingly enough, he still had an attitude about it. But the thing is, it wasn't his show and I believe that deep down, he knew that. God gives us to freedom to do what we want, but he created us to do what pleases him; and because he knows the beginning from the end (Revelation 1:8), he ALWAYS knows what's best.

I remember when I was writing my book, a friend of mine was trying to tell me how to pen it. It was kind of humorous because she obviously doesn't know the story like I do. How she saw it was limited, altered, fractionated...and on some levels, dead wrong. Sure, she had the right to her perspective and as my friend, I opened my ears to hearing it, but she would never be able to tell my story like I can.

Family, we can never tell God's story like he can. (I Corinthians 10:26-28) We are all characters in it, and while time and again he has shown where he is open to our "suggestions" (Isaiah 1:18), it's presumptuous, rude and a bit obnoxious to assume that our way is the best way; that our "editing tips" will create a better end result. I know for me, this year, when I finally opened up (Psalm 119:17) to receive what I was created to do rather than creating what I wanted to be, things started moving in powerful, plentiful and miraculous ways. It also helped me understand the "burden" that I carried as it related to certain people.

John 15:17 (NKJV) says, "These things I command you, that you love one another."

Romans 12:9-11 (NKJV) tells us, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord..."

Romans 13:8 (NKJV) states, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."

Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV) instructs, "...with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

And, Hebrews 10:23-25 (NKJV) says,"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

In the New King James Version of Matthew 7:7, the verse is intro'd with "Keep Asking...Keep Seeking...Keep Knocking"; not man, but God. Romans 8:28 says that ALL THINGS work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his PURPOSE. What a better world it would be if we saw everyone we came into contact with as being "purposeful". How much more unity we would have if we were open to doing whatever we could to help others in achieving their purpose; not their comfort, not their provision, not even their opinion (of happiness and success), but their PURPOSE.

That's what I love so much about Hebrews 10:23-25. We should consider stirring up love in one another...not just love but good works. What better work could there be than to operate in one's purpose? At the same time, if you really want to show your love for someone else, get your agenda out of the way and purpose in your mind to assist them, however God leads, towards getting them to the next level of what they, through God, desire...hope...dream...plan.

Thank you, God. I GET IT NOW. Christ's yoke is easy and his burden is light. (Matthew 11:30) When I stopped putting my thoughts and ways into the picture as it related to my "friend" (Isaiah 55:8-9), I began to see that God wants me to use my purpose to influence his; not my agenda, but my PURPOSE. Loving him is not about anything I think or desire. It's simply about encouraging him to be the best that he can be...which is what God called, willed and created him to be way before the foundations of the Earth. He keeps coming to my mind, I believe, because he is yet on task. God entrusted me enough to care about that fact...to intercede...to stand in the gap...to support in any way that I can in the way that God directs...in a way that will not take me off purpose in the process. (That's key!)

As this week comes to an end, I encourage you to be more purpose driven; not just as it relates to you, but those around you. In the wise words of William James, "The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it."

For a Christ follower, that would be fulfilling one's God-appointed, God-ordained, God-desired purpose.

After all, it's our purpose, and nothing else, that prevails.

©Shellie R. Warren/2008