There's a Higher Calling for Your Life

We’re looking for purpose in all the wrong places.

Many of us waste years of our life trying to quench our thirst for meaning by “doing things” for God.

But where does the Bible teach that God needs us to do anything for Him?

Many of us are so ashamed of our past that we double down on our bad behavior and write ourselves off as damaged goods.

But where does the Bible teach that the sum of our sins can outweigh God’s forgiveness?

Many of us get so lost in comparison and conformity that we stop believing that God has given us anything of value.

But where does the Bible teach that God doesn’t have a plan for our life?

The truth is, God has a calling for your life and He’s uniquely equipped and positioned you for something only you can do!

Understanding Your Identity

There’s a few things to understand before God's plans for your life will start to make sense. 

First, your identity is not found in what you do or what you’ve done. As a Christian, your identity is rooted in who God is and what He’s done for you. The Bible teaches that once we’ve accepted God’s invitation to  walk with Him, we’re adopted into His family. In God’s eyes, we’re forever accepted, secure, and significant. Check out Neil Anderson’s book, “Your Identity in Christ.”

Think about that, we’ve been adopted by God.

When we adopted our daughter at the age of twelve, she left her old life behind, accepted a new identity, and joined our family forever. There’s nothing she could ever do to lose our love or jeopardize her place with us.

If you want this kind of security with God, you simply need to accept the invitation to join His family.

Here’s how you do that.

Acknowledge God‘s authority over your life by kneeling your heart before Him as King and seek forgiveness for your offenses by accepting the work of Jesus.

If you’re not sure what that means, and you want to know, then I’m guessing God has already put someone in your life who can tell you about it. Go talk to them!

If not, fill out our Contact Us form and select “Find a Mentor.” We’ll introduce you to someone.

Next, get to know God’s story by reading the Bible.

John Stott says it’s called the living Bible because “God continues to speak through what He has spoken.”

So get a Bible and see how God speaks to you.

Finally, get to know your God-given S.H.A.P.E., create vision for your life, and develop habits that honor God. You’re not meant to do this alone. Use the Honors Journal and Honors Co app (coming soon) with a mentor or small group.

Purpose is an Outcome, Not a Pursuit

Here’s the big idea and it may be counterintuitive for you.

That fire inside of you for meaning and purpose isn’t about you.

It’s a reminder of your need for a relationship with God.

You’re not craving purpose because you have so much to offer God.

You’re craving purpose because God has so much to offer you. 

When you live in relationship with Jesus and pursue His character, you’ll begin to honor Him with your time, talents, and treasure.

Pretty soon, you’ll start to realize that purpose, calling, meaning, mission, and impact are not objectives or pursuits; instead, they’re outcomes, or fruit, as the Bible calls it, of the Kingdom Mindset that Matthew calls us to when he says “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)

Developing a Kingdom Mindset

So how do you develop a Kingdom Mindset? 

Pay attention to the Ability, Passion, and People God put in your life. 

Picture three overlapping circles. 

Page 9 of the Honors Journal - A Higher Calling

It honors God when you live from that sweet spot in the middle, using your Ability and Passion to serve the People around you for God’s glory. 

This is what it means to have a Kingdom Mindset. When you live from this place, you realize that you’re no longer looking for purpose, because you’re living with purpose.

In the Bible, Matthew says this another way: be salt and light, so that others will glorify God. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Simply put, salt makes things better and light makes things brighter.

Using the Honors Journal

To be the salt, you’ve got to understand your God-given S.H.A.P.E., as Rick Warren calls it.

You’ll tackle this in the Discovery section of the Honors Journal by taking inventory of your strengths, spiritual gifts, personality, and experiences.

Write these down in your Ability circle.

Next, be a light that shines brightly for Jesus!  

Use that fire that God has placed inside of you to make things brighter for the people around you, so that they’ll glorify your father in Heaven. 

Your passion areas are the things in life you’d gladly do for others for free.

Write these down in the Passion circle. 

You’ll notice that intersecting your Ability and Passion circles creates a hobby. These are fun for you, but don’t really impact anyone else.

Intersecting the Ability and People circles creates work, something transactional you do for others but doesn’t display God’s light within you.

Intersecting Passion with People creates a service. These are the things in life you do for others with a joyful heart, but your gifts and skills don't overlap enough to make people say, “Wow, God made you for this.”

Now, take a moment to use your Kingdom Mindset to start brainstorming how you can overlap all three of your circles; using your Ability & Passion for the People around you.

Don't Settle for Less than God's Best

This isn’t something you’ll finish in a single sitting, or even a week or two. 

It’s something you’ll continuously work on and refine throughout your life as you devote your work to the Lord.  And don’t be surprised if it changes over time.

In my experience, when you’re looking for God’s purposes, you don’t need to look any further than the people in front of you. 

Now, if you’re like me, limiting your vision to only include the people in front of you feels too small.

If you’re more introverted than me, then this might bring you a sigh of relief.

Focusing on the people in front of me, with a Kingdom Mindset, has always led me to the greatest blessings in my life. 

It's delivered lifelong friendships, an amazing marriage, a business that reached millions of users, and mostly recently, it took me across the world to share my love for Jesus and music with a small community in Rwanda.

You’ll never experience anything more rewarding than the plans God has for you. 

So why settle for anything less?

Yes, it will take time to build momentum. 

Yes, it will likely take you outside of your comfort zone. 

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Yes, you’ll have to let go of things you’ve prioritizing over your relationship with God.

God’s Word calls you to “examine yourself,” “work out your salvation,” “use your gifts,” and “train yourself for godliness.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, Philippians 2:12, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Timothy 4:8)

The Honors Journal is an excellent place to do that!

Now’s the time for you to pursue A Higher Calling for your life.