“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Luke 18:1 (NLT)
Several years ago, a friend of mine didn’t understand the desire in his own heart. It was buried deep within him. He didn’t really know who he was and what he was born for. Though he was a pastor, and did a great job at it, he lacked the fire in belly, the reason to get up out of bed every day with an excitement to see what God would do through him. But we began praying, constantly praying that God would ignite his heart and reveal the things that He had planted there. Years later, after asking, seeking and knocking (Matthew 7:7-8), pretty intensely, his purpose exudes from him! Everything he does reflects this. There is a sparkle in his eye, and a skip to his step. I could almost say that he stands taller!? When poked, his passion bursts forth. Now when we pray together, which is quite regularly, this passion in his heart oozes out. He knows exactly why God put him here, though he is still trying to figure out how to flesh it out in his life and ministry. My friend not only prayed, but he didn’t give up! And now he is bearing the fruit of his persistence.
Do you know who you are and why God has put you here? Not just your name and the job you fill, but the sense of destiny of doing what God put you here for. I believe if you seek the Lord, and not just a little, but passionately, consistently, for as long as it takes, you will find it!
Thank the Lord for making you exactly the way you are, for putting in you the gifts, the wisdom, the talents and the calling to fulfill everything you were born for. Ask God to grant you a grace to seek until you find, and then some more to understand how to apply. Ask Him to help you begin journaling deep things that He has put in your heart. Usually these need quite a bit to digging, removing trash, rocks and whatever might be covering them. Ask Him to show you places of disappointment, where you gave up pressing in because it didn’t look or happen the way you had expected. Ask Him to forgive you for any place you put Him in a box expecting a predefined outcome. Ask Him to grant you the grace to begin the quest once again, telling Him you will seek Him until you find Him. Btw, if you call upon Him He will answer and reveal to you great and unsearchable things that you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). If possible, ask a friend to be your prayer partner and together seek Him for your identity and destiny! We are told that if we delight ourselves in the LORD He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). So why not start today seeking His heart, because in the process He will reveal and give you the desires of your heart! After all, He put them there!!!
