The Bible teaches us that God has a purpose and a plan for each of our lives. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus taught us that fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives starts with “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and then everything else that we need will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). But how do we go about understanding and finding God’s purpose and will for our lives?
The most important decision we make in life is accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, as it determines our eternal standing in relationship to God and His kingdom (John 3:16–18). When we give our life to Christ, we begin a new life with a whole new purpose, worldview and priorities. We receive a new identity as a son or daughter of God (John 1:12). And we are faced with numerous decisions on a daily basis as we seek to live out our faith and pattern our lives after the precepts in His Word (Ephesians 4:20–24).
Jesus mapped out the two most important commandments that should guide our lives and decisions: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39). Our lives and our actions are meant to exemplify His love: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
As Christians who are striving to please the Lord, we are called to center our lives around God and His Word, to walk in His will, and to share His love and truth with others. Jesus said, “Whoever abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). If we have given our heart and life to Jesus, we will seek His help and guidance, and we will worship and thank Him for His presence and His good gifts in our lives.
Our goal in all our decision-making should be to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives and to bring glory to Him. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). He is the One we are living for, and He is the One who helps us accomplish His good will and purpose for our lives. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). So, when we commit our ways to the Lord, we can trust that He will work in and through us to fulfill His purpose for us. He has promised to guide us in our decisions and act on our behalf (Psalm 37:5).
As you are faithful to seek first the kingdom of God and to align your will with His will for your life, you will find that He will not fail to direct your path and bless you (Matthew 6:33). And as you acknowledge Him in all your ways, you will be glorifying Him with your life and through the good things that He accomplishes through you (Proverbs 3:6). Even when things don’t turn out the way we had hoped, or we face times of disappointment, loss, tragedy or challenges, we can trust that God is at work. He will never fail to fulfill His promise to work all things together for good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
But to truly accomplish God’s will and purpose, we must first acknowledge where true strength comes from—our dependence on the Lord, who said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s Word says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23–24 NKJV).
As Christ followers, we are called to share His love with others and proclaim our faith in Jesus as the only hope of salvation, and the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We can testify of our faith and share God’s love with others even when we feel incapable, knowing that as the apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).
If you truly believe in something, you’ll talk about it, you’ll want to share it with others, you’ll glory in it! If you believe in your favorite athletic team or political party, you’ll talk about them. If you enjoy and believe in your work, you’ll talk about it. If you love and believe in Jesus, you’re going to talk about Him. As Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be” (Matthew 6:21).
But if you feel somewhat unsure of yourself or incapable of sharing His love and truth with others, take heart from the disciples of the early church. After the religious authorities commanded them to stop proclaiming Jesus, they desperately prayed, “Lord, grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.” They confessed their weakness and fears and cried out to the Lord for help, and He answered: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:29–31).
You may not be called to be a theologian, pastor, or Christian leader, but each one of us can glorify the Lord by sharing His love and truth with others and being a living example of our faith in every aspect of our lives. Every time we share our faith or a gospel tract with others, we are fulfilling our calling to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Even if we only say “God bless you” to others, we are reminding people that God exists and is sovereign. Every time we offer a word of encouragement, help a person in need, show sympathy when someone is stressed or worried, offer a prayer and give of ourself to others, we are fulfilling His command to love our neighbor and to serve others in love (Galatians 5:13–14).
We have each been called to run a race that has been marked out for us by the Lord, and we’re to run with perseverance the race that is set before us, being faithful to follow the Lord however and wherever He has called us. The only way we can have the endurance we need to run and finish this race is by “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” We have to keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Lord and consider all that He endured for our salvation so that we don’t “become weary and discouraged in our souls” (Hebrews 12:2–3 NKJV).
Be faithful to strive to walk according to God’s will and purpose for your life now, and one day you will hear Him say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord!” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). May God bless you as you continue to keep the faith, run the race, and fight the good fight of faith, with your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).