I remember playing pin the tail on the donkey at birthday parties as a child. After being blindfolded and spun around I had to navigate around chairs and other kids to pin the tail on a paper donkey. And I had to do this without peeking.
I usually pinned everything and everybody but the paper donkey.
Discovering Your Calling, Your Purpose
This party game is a fitting metaphor for meeting challenges we face when we try to discover and live our God-given calling and purpose.
We often have trouble following the path God called us to follow when we allow the spinning whirlpool of life events and distractions to blind and confuse us, misdirecting us as we pin our hopes and dreams to meaningless paper life donkeys.
A tale created by the greatest author of all time.
Each one of us is living a tale created by the greatest author who ever lived, God. Our tale is the story created by all the influences and experiences affecting our lives from birth. Some of the most significant influences creating our story line are our passions, the internal drives that energize us.
Using Our God-Given Abilities
Our passions are a product of how our God-given abilities and gifts mold our experiences, and how our experiences in turn fashion the use of our abilities and gifts. The more we use our abilities and gifts in a useful and successful way, the more passionate we become about them.
We experience the satisfaction of doing something well. We are energized and emotionally bond to the experience.
Discover Your Passions
When you identify your core passions in life, you are one step closer to discovering your life purpose and following your story line written by God. An excellent way of identifying your passions is to sit down and review your life, searching for the experiences that brought you deep satisfaction and energized you, not just passing pleasures.
Once you identify activities and experiences about which you are passionate, those that motivate you and energize you throughout your day despite distractions, you will have a better idea of what the Lord wants you to do with your life.
Seek the Spirit's Guidance
In conclusion, prayerfully go before the Lord and be in his Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you take what you’ve learned from your past story line and pin it to your future story line, your tale yet to be told, to your passions as you discern your calling and God’s purpose for you in life.
Additional reading:
Listen to God’s Words
In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. (Proverbs 20:5)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (Colossians 3:23)
Also read: Deuteronomy 6:5, Proverbs 19:21, Philippians 4:13
In the Words of Others
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” Oprah Winfrey
“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” Bishop T.D. Jakes
Think About It
What have you been passionate about? What activities or accomplishments have energized you and given you true joy, not just passing pleasure?
If you had unlimited time, money and other resources, what are the three things you would do without hesitation?
If you were told you had three months to live, what three things would you make sure you experienced or accomplished?
Reflect on what your answers tell you about how God designed you and what he wants you to accomplish in your life.
