Week 1: Who God Says You Are
Today’s truth: I am full of purpose.
It’s true. YOU were created full of purpose. The only problem is, culture tells us a lot of ideas to find our purpose that sound incredible, but actually, lead to dead ends and unfulfilled lives. Gabe Lyons, co-author of Good Faith and founder of Q Ideas, combines research and the Bible to explain where our true purpose comes from and how it can radically change your life for the better!
Gabe says, “One of the things we found in research is 9 out of 10 Americans… feel like they can find their purpose by just pursuing the things that can bring them pleasure… that’s so antithetical to the Christian faith. And the discouraging thing was to realize that 76% of practicing Christians believe that same idea. So it was a bit of a crisis to go, “Wow, we’ve really bought into this kind of Western idea that our purpose, our identity comes from just pursuing the things that we desire most…”
For Christians, I think, part of understanding our purpose is… how has He gifted me uniquely to contribute to His purposes in this place? It’s not really about me. It’s not about me just doing the things I enjoy. He’s given me desires of my heart. I know He wants me to enjoy those, but only if they really align with His purposes. And we can’t get those things mixed up.
So, I think we as Christians can find deeper identity by understanding God’s purpose in the world, His mission in the world, and then figuring out how has He made me, designed me, positioned me, and placed me, so that I can be a part of what He’s up to. I think then we find the deepest purpose.”
In week 1 of the World’s Biggest Small Group: Identity, we’re exploring and solidifying the truths about who God says we are. Here’s a verse to think on this week as we learn:
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!(Psalm 139:13-17)
Don’t miss out! This is just one day in a 15 day series on Identity. You can subscribe and get each day in your inbox below.
This is spot on. At 40 years old, I only recently found what God wanted me to do. And that’s foster care. It’s not what I planned, it’s not what I started out to do, it’s not what I wanted to do. We became licensed so we could adopt from the foster care system, but we didn’t want to do typical foster care. Every adoption interview we went to, the same lady told us “you really should foster first”. So, we agreed, if nothing else but to say ok, we did it. Here we are almost a year and a… Read more »
Good for you and your husband!!! I was lost in a system where nobody wanted me, loved me or paid attention when it was all I truly needed at the time. I would spend lots of time lost in a world that long ago rejected me. No one realized or took the time to notice that I was one of millions who needed a home, love and care. How beautiful to know some are finally answering the long calls to give to the less fortunate, broken and often forgotten. They may not see it now but in time these children… Read more »
Thank you. I’m sorry you felt unwanted and unloved. How old are you now, and are you doing ok?
I am now 40 years old, highly favored & blessed so all in all despite the painful past I’m doing awesome. It took a lot of time and hard work to get where I am now yet GOD deemed me worthy of said time and work. I am truly blessed and ever thankful to be fully and completely known and ultimately loved by H.I.M. I know from experience the hardships your own children endured and I know from those same experiences that they will test everything you say/do because they need proof (not because of you but because of what… Read more »
Amen! I remember fighting against what I now see as God’s purpose for me. As I look back and I Can identify and see transformation that God used in me to be used of HIM. I was stubborn and hindered Kingdom work for quite awhile. It surely didn’t “look” like what I thought it should. Lol. The place and work that God has placed me, is precious and I am grateful.
Well said and encouraging to hear. 🙂
Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy not sacrifice and the knowledge of God …
Loving kindness toward Him and His children and reading to understand His word will put a smile on the face of God .
This is so true in people today, you see it all around and it’s disheartening. We were made in His image, not the image we try to make for ourselves.
You’re going to like Day 4! We’re digging deep into what it means to be “made in the Image of God.” So much good stuff! Thanks for being part of the series. 🙂
Hosea 6:6 I desire mercy not sacrifice and the knowledge of God…
Loving kindness and studying His word is the basis of what God wants from all of us
This study is so timely because for several years now I have struggled with finding my purpose & place in this life. It really hit after we had our second child almost 4 years ago. I still struggle every day with why am I where I am in my life, why has God put me here. I have read several Scriptures but still my spirit longs for more understanding. This video today really helped simply a few things and put what I feel into better words & a new perspective.
Erin – I’m really glad we’re in this series together. 🙂 Stick to it. There’s so much more wisdom and understanding coming up in the next couple weeks of videos. Did you see Betty Rock and John Osburn talk about being made in the “Image of God” in Day 4? I think you’ll find that one super interesting and hopefully helpful!
I thought I had a handle on this one. I’ve tried to find my place so many times. I felt I had a place briefly and then it was gone.
I didn’t get lesson #2 of Learning My Identity.
At 52, i am just now realizing that God’s will is my pursuit of happiness. Why do we make things so difficult? When it is simple… I just have to figure out what makes me happy so I can do His work… LOVE MY NEIGHBOR!
I am very much looking forward to reading been this. I am a 48 year old female who battles severe depression and anxiety. I just recently came to know God and doin so so much has been lifted off my shoulders. But at 48 I still have no idea about who I am and what my purpose is. I now know it will include God and I am very happy about that. Anyways…I just though I would share that…
Im 52 yrs old and I wake up every morning so looking forward to finding the worlds biggest small group in my email, truly a blessing that is feeding my spirit