“Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21

There’s a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, yet “distract” the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, “Hank, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” Aaron didn’t say one word, but when the next pitch came he hit the ball into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, “I didn’t come up here to read.”

My friends, you have to know and realize why you were created and put on this earth. For if you don’t, the enemy, people, circumstances, even your own mind will try and “distract” you or hold you back from your God called mission or calling here on earth. From the very moment of your creation, God had a purpose for your life. Our purpose in life, as God originally created man, is 1) glorify God and enjoy fellowship with Him, 2) have good relationships with others, 3) work, and 4) have dominion over the earth. But with man’s fall into sin, fellowship with God is broken, relationships with others are strained, work seems to always be frustrating, and man struggles to maintain any semblance of dominion over nature. Only by restoring fellowship with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, can purpose in life be rediscovered.

A couple weeks ago, I was out spraying some trees that had become infested with some bugs, worms or such that had been feeding on the new foliage on the trees. Karen and I began noticing very quickly how the leaves were disappearing almost overnight. One day as I was outside spraying them, Karen came out of the house and was also holding Roxy (our daughter’s Yorshire Terrier.) As I began spraying, we both noticed in the fork of one of the trees, a little mice who was quickly trying to stay hid and move away form the spray. I quickly ran to my shop and picked up my grabber and proceeded to pick him up and put the little guy on the ground to free him. Well, when Roxy seen him on the ground, it was all Karen could do to hold her back from chasing the little rodent. Immediately, I thought about what I had read a few years back about Yorkshires. The Yorkie was created by working men of north England, who developed the breed for catching the terrible rats and mice that infested clothing mills and mine shafts. By holding her back, Karen was actually keeping her from fulfilling her purpose and what she was created to do!

Did you know that just as God has a purpose and plan for your life that Satan does to. Jesus said in John 10:10 that “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.”…but He continues with “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.“ So many men and woman waste so much time trying to fulfill some man-made plan or scheme to be successful in their own way while neglecting to allow God to show them what real success is all about. They spend a good portion of their lives climbing the so called “ladder of success” only to realize when they reach its top that it was leaning against the wrong wall. Success in God’s eyes is not comparing what you’ve done to others lives but what you’ve done compared to what you were created and called to do. Also, people who know their purpose and call in life can be happy in an unhappy situation whether it be in an unhappy job situation, a limited financial situation, unhappy relationship, etc. When you know that where you are is where God has placed you, you can persevere in knowing each and every day that God is continuing to work each and every situation out for good. Romans 8:28 reads “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“ Did you notice it reads “who have been called according to HIS purpose.” Like Joseph, when his brothers sold him into slavery and forgot all about him, God was working all that wrongdoing done to him by his brothers for good in his life. Ultimately, God raised him up to be second in command in Egypt with his brothers eventually bowing down before Joseph in the end. And I love Joseph’s response to his brothers in the end. He says in Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Basically, God allowed Joseph to be unfairly treated and allowed him to go through each and every one of those bad situations so that He could ultimately raise him up and use his gifts and talents to bring glory to God’s name and for the salvation of many. God will always use your past, present and future happenings of your life to work out His purpose for your life.

So my friend, if you are currently questioning whether or not you are where God wants you to be, just openly pray and ask God to fulfill His purpose for you from this day forth and trust Him that each day He is bringing you closer to fulfilling His call for your life. As a child of God, the purpose and calling for your life is to bring glory, honor, and praise to Jesus so that whatever you do will bring Him greatest glory for the expanse of His kingdom here on earth. Furthermore, God always provides whatever it is in your life He has called you to do in regards to finances, gifts and talents, etc. Proverbs 3:5,6 reads, Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.“

“Father God, I thank You for creating me. I thank You that Your Word says that You created me for a purpose. Please help me to fulfill what that purpose is and help me to trust You as you go before me and guide me each and every day in every circumstance you allow into my life. I choose to live for Your purpose from this day forth and not my own. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.”

For His Kingdom,