How Can We Discover God's Special Purpose for One's Life as an Individual?

by Richard Brown, (last revised on 6 January 2008)

God has a plan for each of his people.

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

(Eph. 2:10 NLT)

"... lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God....he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ."

(Ephesians 4:17 NLT)

God calls each of us to seek his plan for our lives.

"Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do."

(Ephesians 5:17 NLT)

God gives his people guidance and wisdom through his Holy Spirit, who lives in them, moving their hearts and illuminating their thoughts.

[Jesus said,] "I will send you the Counselor--the Spirit of truth....he will guide you into all truth."

(John 15:26; 16:13 NLT)

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."

(Romans 8:9 NIV)

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God."

(Romans8:14 NLT)

To hear God’s individual call, we first need to be willing leave our selfish ambitions and follow Jesus.

"God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him."

(Ecclesiastes 2:26 NLT)

"Then [Jesus] said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.'"

(Luke 9:23-24 NLT)

We can ask God to call us and lead us.

"If you need wisdom-- if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking."

(James 1:5 NLT)

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened."

(Matt. 7:7 NLT)

We can pray using verses like these.

"What shall I do, Lord?"

(Acts 22:10 NIV)

"Here am I. Send me!"

(Isa. 6:8 NIV)

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me."

(Psalm 43:3NIV)

"May it be done to me according to your word."

(Luke 1:38 NASB)

We can read the Bible meditatively and ask God to speak to us through his word.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

(Psalm119:105 NIV)

"I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways."

(Psalm 119:15 NIV)

"I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night."

(Psalm 63:6 NLT)

We can do our thinking “before God,” silently requesting his guidance and illumination.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is."

(Romans 12:2 NLT)

We can get enough sleep to be alert, and we can ask God to illuminate our thoughts and dreams during the night.

"He grants sleep to those he loves."

(Psalm 127:2 NIV)

"But God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in bed."

(Job 33:14-15 NLT)

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me."

(Psalm 16:7 NIV)

We can submit our leadings and aspirations to friends and leaders who are spiritually mature and seek their advice.

"For want of leadership a people perishes, safety lies in many advisers."

(Proverbs 11:14 NJB)

"Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God.

(Hebrews 13:17 NLT)

We can test our calling by trying to follow it and noting whether God gives us peace in our hearts and success in our work.

"Wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it."

(Matthew 11:19 NLT)

"And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will."

(1 John 5:14 NLT)

"And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him."

(1 John 3:22 NLT)

We can discover the gifts that God has given us and make use of them to benefit God’s people and others.

"God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

(Romans 12:6-8 NLT)

The Bible models a prayer we can use.

"And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip [us] with all [we] need for doing his will. May he produce in [us], through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him."

(Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT,
with ‘you’ changed to ‘us’)