One of the biggest struggles plaguing Christian women is trying to figure out their purpose. What does God want them to do… specifically.

If you find yourself asking that very question, keep reading.

“Good morning! Good morning!! Good morning!!!”

This is how I greeted my high school English students for 11 years--once they were seated and before we started the day’s lesson. 

With each good morning, I said it a little louder. And most times they said it back to me the same way.

The intention was that I would wake them up, get their attention, and fire them up for learning. 

Today I want to fire YOU up!

I want to light a fire under your purpose, your spiritual calling, your gifts, your usefulness… FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.

You see, your purpose, your calling, your talent, your usefulness is not really about you. It’s about Him. It’s building the kingdom, furthering the kingdom, pointing people to Jesus. 

Let me clarify using a phrase from Mary A. Kassian’s book The Right Kind of Strong:

Every human being is created to hear and obey God’s word, and so, indeed, women, men, boys, and girls must all be learning and living the Scriptures together. Among all his people, God generously distributed gifts and abilities, wisdom and knowledge, and intelligence and skill, all for his glory and for the good of the body of Christ. 

As believers we want so badly to know that what we do matters, makes a difference.  We all have a desire to impact the world. Including me!

But I have a feeling we need to refine what it means as believers to impact the world. 

Your God-given purpose is to Impact the world FOR Christ WITH Christ. 

Impacting the world FOR Christ indicates our desire to deliver his message of the saving knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Impacting the world WITH Christ indicates clothing ourselves in his garb, different and set apart.  

I hear these words so often:

I wish I knew what my purpose was?

When will I figure out what God wants from me?

Am I really making a difference?

What is my calling?

Be assured you have purpose, my friend. Your life matters. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has given each of us a gift to be used according to his will, for his glory, to build up the church, and to promote the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 12:11 reminds us,

believers that it is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

 

You see, God himself has equipped you. You are prepared. 

It just may be that your tools need sharpening. 

That’s right. Tools. Equipment. Utensils. That’s what our gifts are.   

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work (2 Timothy 2:20-21).  

There is always occasion for God to use you. There is always work to be done. 

To walk out your calling, I encourage you to sharpen:

• Your knowledge of the Word

• Your prayer life

• Your time in fellowship

• Your forgiveness

• Your kindness

• Your compassion

• Your joy

• Your discernment

• Your repentance

• Your love for others

• Your hospitality

• Your worship

• Your service

I bet you could confidently circle one of these, thinking, “Yep, that’s my gift!” (Go ahead and do it. You know you want to 😊)

I’m also willing to gamble there’s one you’d like to black out with a super fat Sharpie, the one the Holy Spirit has been bringing to your attention.  The one that is hard. The one that is going to stretch you, grow you spiritually. (Instead of blotting it out, star it and whisper, “God have your way in this area. I submit.”)

Remember these tools—gifts—make a difference for Christ. They make a difference for your neighbors, your friends, your children, your family. They make a difference for those watching how you live and work. And trust me; someone is noticing.

So, if you’ve tucked your gifts away somewhere, pull them out. Dust them off. Put them to good use. 

If you need a friendly elbow to the side to exercise your gifts, I’m happy to be that elbow!

Practical Ways To Live Out Your Calling

Here are some tips (and scripture reference) for putting 2 Timothy 2:20-21 into practice:

Increase Your Knowledge of the Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

• select a book of the Bible to read 

• opt for the audio version and listen 

• choose a short book to start

• record this commitment on a calendar to keep you on track

• join a Bible reading group

• invite 2 or 3 women to read along with you

Renew Your Prayer Life (2 Chronicles 7:14)

• acknowledge God for His greatness

• confess your sins

• thank him

• present your needs, wants, concerns

Spend Time in Fellowship With Other Believers (Matthew 18:20)

• coffee with the girls

• puzzle parties

• holiday baking

• game night

Ask God to Help You Practice Biblical Forgiveness (Colossians 3:13)

• write a letter forgiving someone who hurt you

• apologize to the one you hurt

• choose to let go, release the person who hurt you

• stop reliving the situation

Practice Biblical Kindness (Colossians 3:12)

• consider others before yourself

• offer to help

• send a card just to say hi

• check on friends and neighbors

Show Compassion (Leviticus 19:33-34)

• listen

• be available

• seek to understand or know

• pause before responding

Extend Authentic Joy (1 Peter 1:6)

• smile

• be thankful

• extend gratitude

• give…and give more

Seek Discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10)

• pursue knowledge/truth

• pray for wisdom

• be quick to listen and slow to speak

• measure everything by the word

Repent Regularly (Luke 5:32)

• acknowledge your sin

• choose to turn away from the sin

• consider an accountability partner

• pray for the work of the Holy Spirit to change your desires

Love Others (Romans 12:9)

• choose to see them as a child of God

• bear one another’s burdens

• make allowance for faults and weaknesses

Extend Hospitality (Romans 12:13-20)

• start a supper club

• host prayer meetings

• house teens for student conferences

• be the breakfast stop for a mission group

Worship (Psalm 100:2)

• sing loud in your car

• dance in your living room

• raise your arms in surrender

• verbalize your desire to be near the Lord

• declare his goodness

Serve (Matthew 25:42-46)

• cook and deliver a meal

• clean house for elderly/disabled/new mom

• babysit

• be someone’s ride to church or the grocery

• greet at church

• participate in neighborhood clean up

While this is not at all a complete list of the gifts, the tools, that make a difference for Christ, they are biblical and practical. 

So march out to your tool shed and sharpen those tools! It will transform you into the image of Christ and bless others—a win-win.