Discipleship Devotional

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11

Today is the last day for our Q Series. We've explored one question each day for the past four weekdays. The four questions we've explored serve as answers to three critical questions posed at the beginning of the series. Today, we will empower you with the words and wisdom needed to move you from feeling like you're just existing, lacking purpose, and living with many unresolved conflicts. 

The three core questions, along with the answer to those questions, are: 

1. Do you sometimes feel like you are just existing/going through the moments?

Answer: When people feel like they have no control over their lives, those feelings can often be interpreted as a lack of self-identification/branding. In other words, instead of knowing who you are, where you stand, and to whom you belong, you've relinquished your identity/brand to someone or something else. As stated during Q2, if you don't control your identity/brand, someone else will. If you're chronically questioning your existence, I encourage you to take a good look at yourself to determine, by God's direction, whether you are in control of your life or whether you've relinquished that control to someone other than God. 

2. Are there times when you don't feel like you have a purpose?

The Q1 question I explored and answered is directly related to the above question. I asked, "Whose feet do you sit at when it comes to holistic growth and productivity?" The disciples sat at the feet of Jesus. Whose feet do you sit at for knowledge and growth? As stated during Q1, "be very careful when it comes to who you allow access to and influence upon your thinking." To help you be careful when it comes to allowing others access and influence, practicing the following principles will help you spiritually define your purpose: 

1. Be a serious student of God's Word.

2. Learn from trusted teachers and commentators.

3. Listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

4. Be extremely cautious about any "new" teaching or "new" revelation.

5. We don't need a new revelation. We're having a hard enough time being obedient to the revelation we already have.

One of the best ways to define your purpose is by first clarifying your relationship with God. What can bring more clarity than practicing the above principles?  

3. Are there unresolved conflicts in your life that make you feel like you are just existing instead of enjoying life?

I will summarize the answer to this question by sharing information from Q3 and Q4. During Q3, I asked if your working and/or living environment fills you with joy and fulfillment or pain and regret? When it comes to experiencing more joy and fulfillment and less pain and regret, don't forget to practice the following: