Often, I feel that I am in a battle with my destiny. I seem to be in a continual wrestling match with my calling in life. It is a heart-to-heart confrontation with the purpose for which I have been created.
Can you relate? You, like me, might know that you are "called" to something... but perhaps you are not sure what that "calling" looks like.
You may be well aware of the fact that God has made you for something extraordinary, but your extraordinary seems lost in a gray haze of ordinary.
In those moments when disappointing facts seem to go to battle with my faith, I always revert to the basics.
These are the six things that it always boils down to for me:
1. I am called to make hell smaller and heaven bigger.
2. I have a God-given mandate to bring the joy of His presence to women who are snared in the inky blackness of depression.
3. I have been anointed to pray for women dealing with issues of infertility.
4. God has given me permission to share my addiction with the Word of God with other girls who are dealing with the troublesome and relentless issues of life.
5. God has called me to raise up an army of women who are willing to pray even though all hell is breaking loose, to worship while in the heat of the most ferocious battles of life and to live by the principles found only in the Word of God.
6. God has charged me with the directive to teach the next generation of young women how to mother well.
Can you boil your life down to some basics? Can you verbalize, in about six sentences, why you are on the earth today?
If you are unable to do so, then life might rush by in a meaningless calendar of days that drain the very life out of you.
You were made on purpose, for purpose and with purpose.
You are not a mistake or a number. I take that back; you ARE a number. You are one in a million.
No one has your genetic structure, your fingerprint or your calling. No one.
I don't care whether you are the young and inexperienced 20-year-old, wet-behind-the-ears, innocent and raw puddle of intimidated humanity, or whether you are the 80-year-old, washed up, wrinkled, overcooked and curmudgeonly grandmother.
I dare you to write it down. Write down your purpose—six sentences will do.
Don't waste another day in the frustration of not knowing who you are or why you are.
If words fail you and you are unable to boil it down to six simple sentences, then simply love somebody.
Pay for somebody's coffee. Write a note to a childhood friend. Make your husband's favorite meal. Read a story to a child. Invite a single mom and her kids over to dinner. Take a widow out to dinner. Call your mom.
Don't make "purpose" harder than it actually is. You are here to make a difference in somebody's life every day of your life.
Heartfelt and active love is able to turn an ordinary life into a glorious masterpiece.
Simply caring for and about others has the miraculous power of changing a meaningless existence into a symphony.
Don't get lost in the chatter of life but enthusiastically love those you have been given without reserve and without regret.
Make a difference today. Make a difference every day.
It is why you are here. It is what will make your life meaningful and rife with significance.
If you want to live with passion, then forget about yourself and look around you.
Who needs a helping hand? Who needs an encouraging word? Who needs a bouquet of love?
You got the job! You were created to fill up someone else's empty tank.
And while you are filling up others, you will find that you are being filled.
You will discover that giving, caring, loving and filling others are what it takes to build a life that is overflowing with joy.
The wonder of life is found when a simple human being decides to be a generous and extravagant giver.
Now get to work!
And remember, you are one in a million in the heart of God.
Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written five books, including No More Ordinary, Holy Estrogen!, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart and Defiant Joy! Her most recent book, Refined: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Fire, was released last August. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman's Heart won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming. You can also listen to Carol's "A Jolt of Joy" program daily on the Charisma Podcast Network. Connect with Carol at justjoyministries.com.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.