What’s My Purpose? By Babatunde Olugboji
What exactly is my purpose? You may have asked yourself this question more than once. A preacher provides a good clue: the place where God wants you to be, as opposed to where you are at the moment. It’s often a spiritual location but could also be a physical one.
Prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 17 went through several situations and locations, including the Brook of Cherith, one of the many ravines that emptied its waters into the Jordan from the mountains to the east. God commanded Elijah to depart from Samaria, to turn eastward across the Jordan, and to hide there.
However, locating the place of your purpose requires discipline. Getting there could be rough and tough; you may have to go through stress and pain, like Elijah did. Isn’t it a matter of irony that Elijah’s routine was disrupted by the drought he (Elijah) prophesied? (1 Kings 17:1). But he stood firm in the face of adversity to get to where God would take care of him, as the drought raged.
Discipline marks out a worthy disciple from a pretend disciple. The Bible says know in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord disciplines you (Deuteronomy 8:5); and that blessed is the one whom God corrects; so, do not despise the discipline of the Almighty (Job 5:17).
Whatever situation you may find yourself in this week, you need to be asking God: what lesson should I learn from that situation? That situation is serving to prepare you for what is ahead, the place of your destiny. When your life appears to be spinning out of control, when the wheels seem to be wobbly and about to come off, when the bills are mounting up, when your pockets are empty and all hell appears to be breaking loose, when you are stuck between the rock and the hard place, it may be a sign that you are about to turn the corner and arrive at the place of your destiny.
Have you considered the fact that Elijah’s home would be far more comfortable for him than the brook? He had to endure the hardship of the brook to survive the drought, where God directed ravens to feed him. How about Abraham whom the Lord told to leave his native country and proceed to the land that he would show him (Genesis 12:1). He obeyed like Elijah did (1 Kings 17:5a).
Sometimes, making that move may be more than just changing your zip code or your wardrobe, it may involve making some real changes, including changing your attitude. Are you ready to be disciplined as a good soldier of the Lord? Are you prepared to make that change that will move you closer to the place of your destiny?
Will you pray thus this week; Lord, you are the one that brought Elijah to the brook and later took him to Zarephath, the place of provision. I know you are still on the throne. Let your Holy Spirit strengthen, guide and direct me to the place of purpose, my place of destiny. When things are dry, please nourish me, make the needy set aside their needs to help me and my family. Help me stay disciplined, even in the face of challenges.
Have a great week.
Kingdom Dynamics, a weekly column is written by Dr. Babatunde Olugboji, the President, Kingdom House, a non-profit organization in New Jersey, USA.
