What On Earth Am I Here For

Have any of you ever asked yourself the question "What on earth am I here for? " or What is my purpose for living?" Some of us are still trying to find answers to those questions. When I read Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life, I began to have some answers jump out at me. I was also jolted into reality when I learned that life is a very large plan, and I am part of that plan.

Let's close our mind's eye, and picture ourselves in my Serene Haven where peace and serenity is freely given and freely felt. Take a deep breath in and blow it out slowly.. Another breath in, and blow it out slowly and smoothly. There, don't you feel more calm and relaxed now? Good. Let's see what we can learn from Day 1 in this book. Come along on the Journey to find your life's purpose.

First of all, it all starts with God.

"For everything, absolutely everything above and below, visible and invisible...everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16

I loved the first four words on this page. IT"S NOT ABOUT YOU. What does that mean? I thought life was about me, and you and you and you. Guess I was wrong.
There must be a bigger picture. Let's see, as I read along here it says that my life is far greater than such things as my wildest dream, career, ambitions, peace of mind, or even my happiness. Now wait a minute, even my happiness? What's going on here? I thought God wanted me to be happy. Hmmmm...

Such questions as what shall I do with MY life? What are MY goals, MY ambitions, MY dreams for the future are all self-centered questions. I am learning as I read that I was created by God's purpose and for His purpose. Life won't make sense until I understand and believe that. I exist only because God wills that I exist.In other words,I was created by God and for Him. Job 12:10 says, "It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone's life is in His power."

Romans 8:6 says, " Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life." I am not supposed to use God for my purpose. He will use me for His purpose.

How do I find what I am living for? Where do I find the answer? I found some of how in Ephesians 1:11
"It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long after we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and every one." Now what? What is that verse saying to me? I do know that I can find answers by reading the manual for living life which is the Bible, God's
word. Here are some thoughts I really need to remember.

1.How do I discover my identity and purpose?

Through developing a relationship with Jesus.

2.God thought about me long before I ever thought about Him. My purpose for my life
was planned even before I existed. Only God chooses my purpose..my reason for being here on this earth. There is something he wants me to do that is special to me.

3.The purpose of my life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.

What amazes me is that God designed me for His purpose. He loves me so much He wants me for His Purpose. That is so hard for me to even comprehend.

Now I can ask myself a question after reading about what I am here for. In spite of all the advertising all around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?

By remembering why I was created and by whom. All the advertising and things here on earth are not going to last. Only I am. I was born for eternity. All the 'things' here are only temporary. I will not find inner peace by stuff. Without God life makes no sense. I want to get beyond the unimportant things here on earth and learn more about why God made me, and to constantly remember that I was created for God's purpose, not my own. My life is not mt own. It belongs to God, mt strength and my redeemer.
Selah