The shape of purpose

For over two years at least, a passion has been growing somewhere deep inside me. It has begun to shape my own relationship with Jesus in ways I had never previously experienced, driving me to seek Him, spend time with Him, get to know Him more. These experiences have been incredible, and I have found so much peace, I can't even describe it. But I am often left with a holy dissatisfaction...a feeling that there's more than my own experience with God - that it's meant to go beyond me. Somehow, it's not enough for me to know God and love God if I don't live my life as a testament to all that He is. If He, through me, cannot reach out and impact the lives of others for His awesome plan and purpose, then my life is not being lived to its fullest potential - it's true purpose. I know, because His Word says so, that He has a specific purpose for my life, as He does with everyone's. In the last week, I have experienced some awesome things with God, and I can sense my purpose begin to align with the passion in me, beginning to take shape. I still don't really know what it will look like, but I know that there are various stages to what I am intended to walk out, starting with my own personal relationship with Him.

One week ago today, in my prayer time, my train of thought was interrupted by a simple statement, 'understand the power of submission.' I thought I had made it up or misunderstood or something, but a moment later I heard it again. 'There is power in submission that you need to understand'.

And within a few hours, I came across a writing (by Beth Moore) that gave clarity to that very statement. My purpose, my call from God, is not to be an administrator, or a speaker, or a teacher, or a whatever else. The call on my life is not task-driven. It is not centered around what I do that others can see and recognize. My main call in living this life is simply this: to surrender to Him. Simply surrender and do whatever He asks of me, whether it is to teach a class of 50 students or care for one child in the nursery. My calling is to be abandoned to Him, trusting Him to shape my life for the purpose He has for me.