WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU HERE FOR? (RECAP)

For the past three weeks, three amazing individuals have graciously granted us access into their world of Purpose. Together, we have journeyed into the realms of their understanding about what is purpose is and how it may be discovered. I should thank you for your feedbacks and comments throughout this series on #WhatOnEarthAmIHereFor? I trust it has been worth your time and attention.

In the first week, Ayomide Fatoki shared with us the idea that purpose can only be found in God. She shared with us, the story of how she discovered her purpose by responding a gentle nudging of the Spirit to gather some ladies to pray. She hinted that our assignments may be similar in scope but different in dimensions. On how to discover purpose, she suggested that first, we should discover that which we love to do and then that singular thing for which we can deny ourselves sleep, and comfort. Second, she said we should pay attention to those who consciously and unconsciously influence our actions. Third, she said we should discover the set of people for whom our hearts burn, and the reason(s) for which our hearts burn for them.

Then, we had Noah Bello share with us the idea that everyone in history who has been called great had a very unique ability to focus on one thing as the major preoccupation of their lives. He opined that purpose is not the same as passion, neither do our gifts and abilities equal our callings. However, these things can be pointer to our purpose. Purpose discovery ought to be a by-product of our relationship with God who is our Creator. In his conclusion, he urged us make our relationship with God.

Lastly, Oluwatoyin Ajilore advanced the discussion by helping us to see the tragedy of purposeless living. She used the fearful image of a man who on his death-bed realizes he has spent his life in pursuit of nothing. Then, she went on to reflect on how she came to understand that purpose isn’t primarily about something a man must do or become but about glorifying God and demonstrating the manifold wisdom of God to all men. She said, we are here simply to show God’s glory, and that could be achieved through any path God has chosen for us. We can know what our paths are by simply walking with God on a daily basis. We cannot be complacent in our walk with God and expect to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

I have been tremendously blessed by the thoughts these very amazing individuals have shared in the course of this series. I believe you have too. I have learnt and gleaned a lot too. As I end this series, I want to share my gleanings and invite you to do the same.

1. I learnt that the kind of people who influence and inspire me the most can be a pointer to why I am here.
2. My purpose is too important to be left to guesswork. I must connect and stay connected with God since he is my manufacturer and the authorised source of my purpose.
3. All that I do must be to glorify God. I am here to show forth God’s glory and manifest his manifold wisdom to the world. As I help people find their purpose and rid the society of Crime, God’s glory must be my intention and motivation.

These are my gleanings. I’ll like to read yours. What have you learnt from the thoughts our guests have shared with us? In what ways have you been blessed by this series? Please spare some time to share by leaving a comment below.

Next week, I’ll be here again to speak of the beauty of God in You. I hope to have you around.

You matter to me always.

I call you blessed.

Oluwatoyin Ajilore on Purpose

Hello!

I want to ask you a question. If I paint a picture of someone who, in retrospect, discovered that he/she wasted his life, what happens in your mind?  Would that give you a sense of concern?  Would it “disturb” your mind? Or would you just continue what you were doing unfazed?

The matter of purpose has been one that has been important to me from my early university days, after I really came to know and follow after Jesus. The mention of the word “purpose” was capable of throwing me into a state of anxiety in times past. You wouldn’t blame me. The kind of training I was exposed to in my early Christian life is such that takes the matter of purpose very seriously, and I would forever be grateful for that.

There has been the misunderstanding of purpose to be a “thing” someone is to become, which has robbed us of the depths of God’s glory. In my short walk with God, I have found that everything and anything a man becomes: say a renowned preacher, an astute businessman who conducts business with biblical principles, a footballer who shows forth God’s glory (I believe I am writing to Christians, right?) etc. isn’t the man’s purpose. They are only the means of achieving the purpose. Let us see what Apostle Paul says:

“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this race was given, that I SHOULD PREACH among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; TO THE INTENT THAT now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,” (Ephesians 3:8-10, NKJV)

Did you see that? Paul was to preach TO THE INTENT THAT… That means his preaching ministry wasn’t the intent in itself. So also whatever aspect of life you are going to get involved in isn’t your purpose. Your purpose is simply to show God’s glory, the manifold wisdom of God (you can also check Isaiah 43:7). And that could be achieved through any path God has chosen for you.

And how do we know our own paths? We simply walk with God (and yes, I mean your simple day to day devotion to Christ; in prayer, bible studies, godly activities etc.), because:

“…The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18)

It simply gets clearer as we go; there is no magic to this.

Having said all of that, I must strongly emphasize that a man that would walk in fulfillment of purpose must be a man who is consistently not satisfied with an empty, complacent life. This may look like a “small matter”, but it isn’t. The principle of the Kingdom remains:

“You will seek me and find me WHEN you seek me with ALL OF YOUR HEART” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)

“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed’ God’s Decree” (Jeremiah 29: 13-14, The Message)

A man who will find the fulfillment of his purpose in God must be a man who truly wants that, wholeheartedly. So, like I like to tell myself, my first prayer point is not about understanding and fulfilling purpose, it is rather about getting serious about understanding and fulfilling purpose wholeheartedly. Because you would agree with me that we are a generation who is sandwiched between plethoric distractions. And the Scripture makes it clear that:

“For everyone who asks receives; THE ONE WHO SEEKS FINDS, and to the one who knocks, the door will be open” (Matthew 7:8, NIV)

So if we are not finding, it has to be because we are not seeking with the whole of our hearts.

We are also a generation upon which prophecies are hanging over (you could start with Joel 2 if you are unfamiliar with what I am saying). And our confidence is in the fact that God is able to make us all He desires of us, because it is Him who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

I will end with the lyrics of this common song, which I love so much:

Almighty God (2ce)

Our generation shall praise your name (4ce)

Yes, we would rise and praise His name

Bless you!

 

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Oluwatoyin is a Christian, who loves to write. She believes the Word of God is central to every form of growth the human being needs.

She is currently a Graduate Student of Pan African University, where she is looking forward to obtaining a Master’s degree in Mineral Exploration.

She also loves to combine various comestibles in producing long-lasting memories of gustatory delights.

Oluwatoyin lives in Ibadan, Nigeria, with her family. You can connect with her via her Mobile: 07064259524; Email: olutoyinajilore@gmail.com; Facebook: Oluwatoyin Ajilore and Twitter: @oluwa_to_yin

Noah Bello on Purpose

Earlier this year, I convened a conference tagged CREATIVITY AND IMPACT: LAYING LASTING LEGACY via WhatsApp group chat. There were 8 facilitators and more than 200 people in attendance. The feedback was massively impressive.

There was one concept common in all the teachings: being intentional. “Intentional” has a synonym that is relevant to this discourse and that is “purposeful”. If you check out the synonyms of “purposeful”, you’ll discover the significance of the need to channel one’s energy in achieving a desired result. Determined, resolute, resolved, firm, steadfast, single-minded, enthusiastic, ambitious, enterprising, motivated, driven, committed, dedicated, persistent, persevering, tenacious, dogged, unfaltering, unwavering and unshakeable all show the need to be focused on ONE THING.

Paul of Tarsus, a Christian scholar and missionary, while talking about his massive success, has this to say: “…one thing I do…I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling”. (Phil. 3:14)

Every great man who has ever lived in history had this disposition/mindset – the ability to focus on just ‘one thing’. It was Vince Lombardi who said, “Success determines singleness of purpose”. Benjamin Disraeli, former prime minister of Great Britain (1804-1881) said “the secret to success is constancy to purpose”.

The problem a lot of people seem to have is how to “find their purpose”. Where/who/what does purpose come from? Most people often confuse the purpose of the person with the purpose of their passion/talents/features whereas the purpose of a thing is determined by its producer and its owner.

Who determines the purpose of the cup? The producer created it to hold drinks. The user may decide to use it for another purpose especially when he is the owner.

God is the creator (producer) and He is supposed to be our master (owner). But God gave man freewill unlike other creatures. So man has the responsibility to choose whose purpose he wants to serve. Unfortunately, most people choose to run after a “purpose” outside what they were created for.

Even though, the purpose of a thing or a person can be guessed from their features, guesses are fallible.  Your temperament, talents and passions are not enough to determine your purpose. Your purpose is too important to be left to guesswork.

Another error is to try to pursue the purpose of God without accepting the God of purpose. God is more interested in your person than everything you have to do. He is more interested in your relationship with Him. Discovering purpose is supposed to be a by-product of this relationship.

In conclusion, “make your relationship with God your passion.”

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Noah Bello is the founder of The Creative Impact Family (TCIF). He is passionate about helping young people contact their creative essence and profit from their S.H.A.P.E., an acronymn for Skill, Heart (i.e passion), Aptitude, Personality and Experiences. He helps them gain clarity about life, build their confidence and develop necessary competence and character to thrive in the 21st Century.

Noah is a pastor, teacher, edupreneur and graphics designer. You can reah him via his mobile, 08173099383 and on Twitter @_noahbello and Facebook @ Noah A Bello.