Purpose?

 What is my purpose? This is undoubtedly a good question to ask oneself at the beginning of a new year.   Probably better than making a New Year's resolution. Some people often choose a word for their year which will motivate them to grow in personal development.   For example someone I follow found her words for this year ....'love well'.  

'What is my purpose', is a question that can broken down into a few parts, many more than I will list.....

    * Do I feel I have lived purposefully this past year?  

    * What has given me a reason to get up in the morning?

    * What has given me joy? 

    * What is to be my purpose this year?

Research has shown that people who know their purpose in life do better in many ways.  This is a quote from an article I read on a blog called Psychology Today....."According to Time Magazine, purposeful living has been linked to a lower risk of disease, better sleep, and other healthy behaviours. And, according to a study in JAMA Psychiatry, having a purpose in life helps ageing people maintain their function and independence. People in the study, who reported having a sense of purpose, were less likely to have weak grip strength and slow walking speeds, both of which are signs of declining physical ability and risk factors for disability. They also noted that people with purpose are more proactive in taking care of their health. Additional studies reported that purpose-driven people have lower levels of inflammation." Wow!  There are quite a few good reasons for having a purpose in life.

I often find myself asking young people "What do you want to do in life?"  That was not a very complicated question in my day.  The opportunities were much more limited......nurse, secretary, teacher, scientist, inventor, pilot, train driver.....you get my drift.  Today the possibilities for career are almost limitless, and probably quite confusing.  It takes much longer to decide and I find many just cannot really answer that question at all.  A better question might be "What are you passionate about?"

We have been created for purpose (and passion).  The Westminster Catechism says "Man's (read mankind's) chief end (purpose) is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."  God created us for the purpose of worshiping Him and enjoying fellowship with Him.  His plan went quite wrong early in the Garden of Eden but it doesn't have to stay wrong for us.  Having faith in a loving and faithful God who wants the best for us, just as a good father wants the best for his children, gives us a good reason to worship Him and find enjoyment in having a relationship with Him. Having purpose in your life will enrich your days, improve your health and bring you joy.

Knowing God has a purpose for us, should encourage us to find out what it is, because it will improve and enrich our lives, and the lives of others.  But in the 'doing' or working out of your purpose, don't forget the chief purpose you were created for.....to worship God and enjoy Him forever.

If you find yourself not enjoying life then perhaps now is a good time to ask yourself 'why?'  Then find a reason to get up each day.  Make a plan to meet with others, take a walk, bake a cake for someone, write a letter or make a call.  Do something for someone else that will ease their burden, make them feel they matter or make them smile.

Jesus stated his purpose for us....."my purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." John 10:10b.  I have believed that for many years, and walking in that knowledge enriches my life.

Prayer:  Father God who created me for purpose, please help me to find and to fulfil my purpose in life.  Amen

To Pray is to Love

 On our recent trip to Australia some dear friends gave us these little wooden praying hands.  These friends have prayed with us, and for us, and for many others over many years, so it was a very fitting gift. The first thing I noticed about these little hands was the natural heart in the woodgrain, and as I look at this each morning during my time with God, it has occurred to me that to pray is to love.  How so?

Firstly, to pray is to acknowledge and turn one's heart and mind towards God. Jesus was our example as he often went off alone to pray - to talk with his Father.  He prayed for God's will to be done in his life, and in his death (Luke 22:41-42)  He prayed for his followers (John 17:9-26). He prayed for the sick on many occasions.  He prayed because he loved. He cared about his world and its people. Prayer formed the foundation of his life on earth, and he continues to pray for us as he intercedes for believers at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25).

My own growth in prayer has been quite strange to me.  I have never considered myself to be much of a pray-er but God has put in my heart a desire to pray.  I have been a reluctant pray-er but God seems to have nudged me on.  I've loved to read about people of prayer and books on intercession but those people have always seemed to be on a different plane from me.  However, in quite a few churches I've found myself, usually reluctantly,  thrust into heading up prayer ministry.

Prayer is not a spiritual gift, it is a spiritual discipline, an act of love towards God and our fellow humanity. It is a confession of our reliance upon God, an act of humility, it is a gift of love, as we worship God and pray for others.

Feeling anxious about what 2023 will hold?  God's word encourages us......Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. This is practical advice from the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6.  Practical because, as Jesus said, "Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?"  The answer is, of course, NO.  So let's not waste our energy on a fruitless act, but rather turn our anxious thoughts into trusting prayers.

May this year find us growing in, and giving ourselves more, to prayer.  Our world needs it and we need it.  Enjoy the fellowship and learn the discipline of praying with others.  The more you do it, the more you will want to do it.  It will be time well spent.

Jesus, thank you that you demonstrated prayer in your own life and taught your disciples to pray when they asked you. They recognised its, value but confessed their need of learning how to pray. Please increase in me this year, the desire to pray and the discipline to do it. Amen