Every decision we make leads us in a new direction. Let’s pause to consider the path we’re on so we can intentionally walk in our God-given purpose. Let’s “ponder the path of our feet …” as it says in Proverbs 4:26 that “all our ways may be established.
Discussed in this episode:
- Episode 10. Simplify Your Life with One Word
- Are You Asking How Enough Times? | David Horsager
- Calendar
- Close to His Heart Community Library
- Mere Christianity (affiliate link) by C. S. Lewis (affiliate link)
Find links to subscribe to The Heart Rest Podcast with Crystal Storms at HeartRestPodcast.com.
7 Steps to Walk in Your God-Given Purpose
Every decision we make leads us in a new direction. Let’s pause to consider the path we’re on so we can intentionally walk in our God-given purpose. Let’s “ponder the path of our feet …” as it says in Proverbs 4:26 that “all our ways may be established.
According to Answer.com, if you are off course by just one degree, then for every mile that you travel you get 92 feet farther away from your intended destination.
That stat reminds me of those word problems in math class that made me want to slam my math book shut. But it demonstrates the importance of evaluating the path marked out because being a little bit off course can make a big difference.
We can walk in our God-given purpose by taking the steps to clarify that purpose.
7 Steps to Walk in Your God-Given Purpose
1. Seek God for a vision 5-10 years down the road.
Bill Gates “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”
Where do you want to be in three years? five years? ten years?
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV): Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Spend time with God dreaming and creating a vision for your future.
2. Determine your values.
Determining your values will help you choose how to progress toward your goal, what to say “yes” to, and what to say “no” to.
For example, simplicity of heart is one of my values. So that means my pursuit of Christ will always be my highest goal.
I want my life to be Christ-centered, recognizing that everything I do flows from an abiding relationship with Him.
Another value of mine is connection. This value comes from my word of the year that I talked about in Episode 10. I want to live connected to God, my husband, family, friends, and my purpose.
3. Break down your vision to where you want to be in one year or 90 days.
A dream of mine is to write and illustrate children’s books. As I break that vision down, a smaller goal would be to be published in a children’s magazine.
Look at your big vision and consider a stepping stone that would help you reach that bigger goal.
4. Ask yourself how are you going to get there and keep asking.
I heard David Horsager talk about this on a YouTube video. His advice: Keep asking how until you come up with something you can do today or tomorrow.
For example, I might read x number of books on writing for children and submit to x number of children’s magazines.
5. Determine the habits or routines you need to create to get you to your goal.
Consider what you can do on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis that will move you toward your bigger vision. Be specific.
For example, I will write for an hour a day between the hours of 9:30-10:30 am and submit to a publication every Friday.
6. Create a stop-doing or pause list.
We know we may be able to do all the things, but we can’t do them all at the same time. So what will you let go of so you can add something new?
I specify pause because some things you may only release for a season. But in order to live out our values while pursuing our goals, we may need to release some things.
One thing I did was to limit the social media apps that I would engage with and post on in this season. Creating a schedule for each one.
7. Seek God with each step of the way.
We start with God and seek Him along the way. In order to walk in God’s purpose for our lives, we need His guidance. Then when setbacks and detours happen because—well, life—we have the assurance of knowing He is with us and leading us.
That was quite a few steps to walking in your God-given purpose, so let me do a quick recap. 1. Seek God for a vision 5-10 years down the road. 2. Determine your values. 3. Break down the vision to where you want to be in one year or ninety days. 4. Ask how you are going to get there and keep asking. 5. Determine the routines you need to create to get to your goal. 6. Create a stop-doing or pause list. 7. Seek God with each step of the way.
There you have it the seven steps to walking in your God-given purpose.
Ponder the path of your feet that all your ways may be established.
Proverbs 4:26
Question to journal about or simply contemplate:
Each episode I want to offer you a question to journal about or simply contemplate: Now since I offered quite a few questions in this episode. Let me highlight the first two. Where do you want to be in 35-10 years? What are the values that determine your decisions?
I hope this simple encouragement of seven steps to walk in your God-given purpose can help you cultivate a rhythm of rest. Because while it’s true that life is complicated, our hearts find rest when we keep first things first and release the rest.
To help you move forward in your God-given purpose, I want to offer you the calendar I created. You can find this resource and more in the Close to His Heart Community Library. Sign up for any of these freebies to get your free printable wall calendar and more as gifts from my heart to yours.
As we close, I want to leave you with a quote from C. S. Lewis from his book Mere Christianity: “But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”
Thank you for listening, sweet friend. Until next time rest in Christ.
