Purpose Archives - Page 6 of 6

Practice, Practice, Practice.

July 19, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

So I feel like I’ve definitely been on a ‘finding your purpose’ theme lately. It’s strange, but as I read my Bible each day, those are always the verses that pop out to me. I imagine this is because God is trying to teach me something, and I am hoping that this is a topic you all are feeling the same way about…because that’s what I’m going to be talking about. Again. It’s funny how God will highlight certain verses in certain seasons of our lives. I guess this season for me (and hopefully for many of you as well) is about finding purpose in life.

That being said, one of the verses that stuck out to me in Proverbs today was this…

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”

Proverbs 21:31

It took me a little bit to figure this one out. At first I almost skimmed over it, thinking that it just had to do with war or preparing for a literal battle. I don’t think this is what the verse is implying though. You see, God has a unique plan and purpose for each one of our lives. Now, we can plan all we want on our own, but our efforts are useless without God. That being said, we are not completely off the hook. We can’t just sit around and wait for God to do something miraculous in our lives. It just won’t happen that way.

Think of it like this. Say you are a really amazing basketball player, and it is your ultimate dream to be in the NBA. You can sit around a dream about it all you want, but that’s not what is going to help you obtain your goals. Practice, and a LOT of preparation is what’s going to get you there. It’s the same thing with God and following his plan for our lives. He has a specific plan and purpose for us, but we have to do our part in preparing for that plan in order for it to be completed. God may have called you to be a powerful worship leader, but you’re going to have to learn how to sing and probably play the piano first. If you don’t, you won’t end up fulfilling God’s call in your life. It’s that simple. God will accomplish his purposes through us if we are willing to do our part and become well prepared for doing his work.

Is there something that you feel God calling you to do? If so, what sort of things can you do to become well prepared for the task? Or maybe you don’t feel called to anything in particular. It’s okay. Seek God in prayer and ask him. He will show you want you need to do.

Guard Your Heart.

July 15, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

If you’re anything like me, you sometimes get easily distracted. And when I say sometimes, I mean quite often. Not in the sense where I’m unable to focus on what someone is saying, but more so that I struggle staying on task. Let me explain. When I was younger, I wanted to try everything. I dabbled in pretty much every sport possible in middle school, tried downhill ski racing, rode horses competitively, and was a slight band nerd throughout high school. In college I got into sailing, running, and changed my major four times. I was always the kid who was “sort of good” at lots of things, but was “really good” at very little.

You see, I am quite indecisive when it comes to making life choices and deciding what I want to do with my life—hence changing my major four times. Actually, I am indecisive about everything. What I wear, what I eat, what I choose to do with my day…I could go on and on. I guess you could say it was tough for me to really figure out who I was and what my strengths were—especially as a younger person. It seemed to me that I tried everything, and nothing really seemed to fit. I remember feeling discouraged, even lost sometimes in college as I desperately tried to figure out what I wanted to be “when I grew up”. I ended up getting a degree in communications and business, which I enjoy, but it still just doesn’t quite seem to fit.

The way I see it, God has a special plan for my life—one that doesn’t really involve a traditional career. I’m not saying that I regret getting a degree. I use the skills I learned in college pretty much everyday. But sometimes I get too hung up on the things that I could have done, or the careers I could have pursued. Know what I mean? I think about what my life would be like if I were a teacher, a doctor or a nurse, and I forget to live the life that God has called me to live. I forget that he has directed me along this path for a reason, and that this is the road he has chosen for me. Those other options? They are there to distract me, and keep me from fulfilling my true purpose in life. I won’t be able to do the things God has planned for MY life if I am constantly trying to be someone else. It’s time that I accept the path God has chosen for me, embrace it, and stay focused on the task at hand.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, especially as James and I are in a season on transition. It’s funny how God will place verses right in front of you exactly when you need them. Example. This is one of the passages I read in my daily Bible reading yesterday…

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:23-27

Umm…yeah. Pretty crazy huh? “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” Definitely something an indecisive person like myself needs to work on. You see, God has a specific plan and purpose for my life, just as he does for yours. But, this plan can be sidetracked and sent on detours by our own selfish desires, which will eventually lead to sin. Proverbs is pretty clear here. Keep your eyes fixed on the task ahead of you while staying focused on God’s plan for your life, and you will be on a firm (right) path. We need to focus on guarding our hearts against the things that would distract us, and keep us from becoming the people God has called us to be.

What about you? Is there anything in your life that is keeping you from the path God has called you to walk? Or maybe there is something you know you need to be doing, but aren’t. Either way, put it before the Lord in prayer, and he will guide your steps.

Hope you are all having a great weekend! God Bless J

Decisions.

July 13, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Happy Friday! Nothing all that exciting going on around here…except for more HOT weather. Praying for rain! Anyways, yesterday I started reading in Proverbs. I was a little scared to start—Proverbs can be a bit daunting, and you have to read rather slow in order to take everything in—but now that I’ve begun, it’s not so badJ My reading yesterday included one of my favorite verses of all time…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

I seriously still remember learning this verse in my fourth grade AWANA class back in the day. I must have been paying attention, because it has stuck with me through the years. This verse has been a verse that I fall back on when ever I was faced with a tough decision, or felt overwhelmed by a situation or just life in general.

Here’s how I see it. When making important decisions, it’s CURTIAL that we include God in the process. Actually, more than include. He should come first—before any of our own ideas. Why? Because our ideas can become partial to the things that we personally desire. Then of course, there’s our pride. We think we can make our own decisions and we want to be independent—we don’t want any outside help. However, if we were to fully rely on ourselves (rather than on God) before an important decision, it would most likely be made out of our own selfish desire—not necessarily the decision God would have is choose.

On the flip side, involve God in your decisions, and you are pretty much guaranteed a right answer. I’m not saying it will be the easiest or most convenient answer, but it will be the right one. And that’s what is most important.

Acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

The decisions he has you make may not always seem to make sense at the time. In fact, they may seem downright silly. Especially to those who care about you and want the best for you (ie family and close friends.) If you’ve ever had to make a tough decision and chose to follow God’s prompting instead of the prompting of those around you, then you know what I mean by this. But in the end those decisions will be the best decisions you have ever made, because when you “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” you can’t go wrong.

What about you? Do you have a tough decision that needs making today? Pray about it. Ask God for direction ad guidance. And then listen. Pay attention to his promptings—because they may come in ways that you least expect them.

To plan…or not to plan.

July 12, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

So…still praying, and seeking God’s guidance. I guess this is something I should always be doing, but lately it’s been more hit and miss. I’ve decided that I need to be more intentional about this. Not just when I need something, but always seeking his guidance and perfect will for my life. It’s going to be extra important in the next couple of months here though, as James and I are trying to make some plans for the near future. More on that later.

Ironically, as I was reading today in my last reading from the book of Psalms (think that means I’m about half way through reading the Bible in a year), I again was drawn to a verse about planning and purpose. Seems like a common theme lately for me…maybe God is trying to tell me something? Probably. I guess I’ll get it eventually. I can be kind of stubborn sometimes.

Anyways, the verse I read was this…

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me, your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.” Psalms 138:8

And me, being the studious nerd that I am, of course read the footnotes for said verse…

“…to make the most out of life, we must include God’s plan in our plans. He alone knows what is best for us; he alone can fulfill his purpose for us…”

Umm….yeah. This verse couldn’t have been directed more at me if it tried. It’s almost like someone threw a bucket of cold water over my head in the middle of the night saying, “pay attention, this one’s for you!”

You see, I am a planner. Pretty sure I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. I plan, and if I’m not careful I end up planning my life away—I always like to know what is coming next. That is partly why I am seeking God’s direction and guidance so adamantly and diligently—I don’t know what’s next. And it frustrates me. But, I am slowly learning that I need to let go of the reins, and let God be in control. He alone knows what is best for me, and he alone can fulfill his purposes and plans in me. BUT he can only do this if I let him in and allow him to become the planner instead of me. It’s not easy, but I believe it will be worth it in the end. I need to trust that he can see what I cannot. That his plans are perfect, and mine are only half-baked.

So for now I am trying to let go. I’m asking God to come in and take over the planning. He does a much better job at it anyways.

What about you? Are you an excessive planner like me? Imagine what could be if you allowed God to come in and take control for a while. For always.

Hope you are having a great week so far! God Bless 🙂

Success?

July 8, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Hello Friends! It’s been a few days since my last post. I was enjoying a week at Lake Michigan with my family, and it was definitely wonderful. A much needed chance to relax and unwind. Granted there isn’t Internet there, so I haven’t been able to post. But now I am back and ready to share more of what is on my heart with you allJHere are a few pics from the beach…

Pig. Enjoying the beach….he LOVES the beach.

The water was SO warm! It was almost like bath water warm.

My FAVORITE place in the entire world.

Anyways, this morning I was reading again in Psalms and there were a few verses that stuck out to me. James and I have been praying a lot lately about what God has for us in this coming year. We have had many trials over the past few months, and have been diligently seeking God’s face concerning the next step in his plan for our lives. As I was about to read, I asked God to show me something. Something that would give me peace about his perfect plan and purpose in our lives. Here are a few verses that stuck out to me…

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”

Psalms 118:8

“Turn my heart towards your statutes and not towards selfish gain.”

Psalms 119:36

And it hit me.

I think I want to do what God wants me to do, and I think I want to follow his plan for my life, but deep down I am selfish. Yes, I am. You see, I don’t really want to do whatever God has for me, only if it matches up with what I personally want. I haven’t put my total and complete faith and trust in him like I should be doing. I’m sorta like half way there. I say I have faith in him and that I trust his plan, but do I? Do I really? It’s not easy to completely let go of our own plans and desires. Not at all. But it is totally necessary. If we truly desire to be used by God in big in powerful ways, then we need to let go and let God be in control of our lives. Only then can we truly be used by him.

I struggle with this. I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m kind of a control freak, and I like to know exactly what I am going to be doing all the time. I like structure and I like to plan. It’s just in my nature. All the more reason for me to let it go. If I want to get anywhere of importance in life, I need to let God in and let him lead. Author and pastor Francis Chan recently said, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things that don’t really matter.” How interesting…yet how true. I can be overwhelmingly successful at something, but if it doesn’t really matter in the bigger picture of God’s plan for my life, then it is worse than failing altogether.

My prayer is that I become successful in the things God has planned for me, regardless of what those things may be. Even if it’s not my number one choice, I want to do what God has planned for me. I have a unique purpose, as do all of you, and I plan on fulfilling that purpose no matter where it may take me.

What about you? Is there something that you feel God calling you to do? Or maybe you are doing something that you don’t feel God has planned for your life. Whatever it may be, don’t wait. Ask God to carry out his unique and special plan in your life today. What are you waiting for?

Finding Your Passions.

June 28, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

What a beautiful day! I know it’s supposed to be REALLY hot later on, but right now it’s not so bad. I’m enjoying a few restful days at my parents’ house in Michigan this week. I always love coming up here…especially since they built an awesome new deck…and put a hammock on it. THE best. Needless to say, I did my daily devotions from said hammock this morningJ

I even had some visitors!

It’s a little hard to see…I didn’t want to move too much for fear of disturbing them. Mama and two babies!

Anyways, I read another all too familiar verse this morning. And, per usual, I received fresh revelation from what I read. Crazy how you can read the same thing over and over again, but yet get something totally new out of it every time. Love it.

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalms 84:10-11

Okay. If you’re anything like me, the common worship song, “Better is one day in you courts, better is one day in your house” was probably going through your head as you read those words. Like I said, a very familiar verse. But, it was the second verse that really stuck out to me this time through. Sometimes when I read a familiar verse I tend to ignore the other verses surrounding it, even though they are probably just as important. I don’t really know if I had ever even read verse eleven before. I know I refer to the footnotes in my Bible a lot, but the notes for this verse were what really intrigued me, so I am going to share them…

“God does not promise to give us everything we think is good but he will not withhold what is permanently good. He will give us the means to walk along his paths, but we must do the walking. When we obey him, he will not hold anything back that will help us serve him.”

Interesting, huh? Just because we think something is good, doesn’t mean we are going to get it. Even if we were able to be completely perfect people, we still wouldn’t receive everything we deemed to be necessary and good. God is the ultimate judge of what is “good” for us, and what is not. He has a specific plan for each one of our lives, and if there is something we need in order to carry out that plan, he is more than willing to give it to us. He will provide us the means to do what we are called to do, but we are the ones that actually have to do it. It’s like hiking. You can have all the best gear and be totally prepared, but if you never plan a trip or get out into the wilderness, you’ll never get the chance to use your gear. God equips us with certain gifts and talents. He puts passions in our hearts, and fills us with a sense of purpose and fulfillment when we participate in certain activities. But if we don’t get out there and do it, we’ll never get the chance to use those gifts and passions. “He will give us the means to walk along his paths, but we must do the walking.”

For me it’s writing. And helping people. Especially young women who are struggling to find their purpose in life. Trust me, I’ve been there. I have a passion for writing, and when I write I feel purposeful and fulfilled. I know God gave me this talent for a reason, and it would be silly not to use it. I don’t know where writing will take me, or what God will have me do in the future, but that is not what matters. What matters is that I am doing the walking, and using the gifts God gave me to do so.

What about you? What gifts and talents do you have? What are some things that you are passionate about? I guarantee God gave you these gifts and passions for a reason. Seek his face, and ask how you should use them…I promise you won’t be sorry.

Are you living a maybe life?

June 21, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Have you ever heard those commercials for some migraine medication, which states that if you are living with chronic migraines, then you are living a “maybe life”? For the life of me I can’t think what the specific medication being advertised was, but the brand name isn’t what’s important here. When you really think about it, what does living a “maybe life” really mean? Not being fully involved in your own life? Or maybe, not feeling fulfilled by what you are currently doing? I’m sure in the case of this advertisement a “maybe life” refers to living in pain brought on my migraines, which in turn keeps you from being fully involved in your own life.

Yesterday as I was reading my daily portion of scripture something occurred to me. I am living a “maybe life”. Not because I have chronic migraines, but because I am not living a life of true faith. I like to think that I am, but deep down inside I know that I am not. Deep down I secretly like to be in control. To have a plan. To know what is going to happen all the time, and to live my life according to this ”plan”. When I am unable to make a plan, or don’t have a good idea about what I will be doing in the future, I feel uneasy and frustrated. I wish I could honestly say that I am spontaneous, because the idea of truly “going with the flow” and not having a set plan is very appealing to me, but that is just not who I am. Unfortunately. Don’t get me wrong—sometimes having a plan is very important, and necessary to get things accomplished in life and to stay on track. However, God requires us to live by faith, and not by sight. He doesn’t really care about my little plan, because in the end His is much bigger and better then anything I could have come up with on my own.

Thank goodness—because my plans usually aren’t that great in the grander scheme of things.

He wants us to put our faith in Him and trust that He has a plan and a purpose for everything that happens in life, even if sometimes it doesn’t seem like it. Those times where it is hard for us to see what He could possibly be planning for the circumstances in which we are living are the times when we need to trust Him the most. I know, I know it’s really hard. Trust me. It’s hard to let go and let God do His thing, especially coming from a person who likes to be in control and have a plan at all times. I need to get better at learning how to relinquish that control, and give it all to God. Only then will I be able to live a full and complete life; not a “maybe” life.

If we don’t let go, then we will never reach our full potential, or realize our true calling, We will be stuck living a “maybe life” for the rest of our lives—knowing that something is missing, but not being able to figure out what it is no matter how hard we try. We can’t do it on our own—we need to let go and let God lead our lives instead of ourselves.

Back to yesterday’s daily portion of scripture—I was reading about Sarah and Abraham, and how God promised them a child, even though they were both old and Sarah was well passed her childbearing years (she was nearly 100!). They didn’t think that God could fulfill His promise through Sarah, so she told Abraham to have a child with her maidservant Hagar, who was much younger. They made their OWN plan because they didn’t trust that God’s plan was going to work in their situation. Being the planner that I am, I can just imagine what Sarah must have been thinking. She was probably feeling discouraged because she knew how impossible it was for her to bear her own child. I’m sure she felt scared, and I’m sure she felt how impossible the situation was for her. So impossible that she decided she needed to form her own plan in order to accomplish what God had promised. However, God had promised them a child through Sarah, and as we know nothing is impossible for God and His plan. Eventually, Sarah and Abraham had a child together just as God had promised them. Go figure. Through this process, Sarah went from living a “maybe” life to a life of faith and trust.

Can you imagine how you would feel after going through such an impossible situation as Sarah went through? One word I can think of would be overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with gratitude, but also with faith and trust in God and His perfect plan. When Sarah let go, and let God work His plan in her life, she was blessed with a child, just as He had promised. See what happens when we have enough faith to let go of our own plans? Imagine what could happen in your own life.

What do you need to let go of today, so that God’s plan can be manifested in your life tomorrow?

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