Filled Full For Purpose

We were at a hotel some time ago, and after checking in I grabbed a luggage cart and rolled it out to the car.  It rolled just fine.  I loaded our bags on the cart and then started to roll it into the hotel to our room.  It didn’t roll nearly as well.  In fact, it was a struggle to get it up to the room.  Why?  Because one of the tires wasn’t fully inflated.

When it had no load on it, the lack of air wasn’t evident.  Once I put the weight of our luggage on the cart, without the proper amount of air in all four tires, it was hard to push, and difficult to steer.  The cart wasn’t able to easily fulfill the task for which it was designed. 

Underinflated

God has designed each of us for a purpose.  However, to be effective we must be fully inflated.  A wheelbarrow, hand truck or luggage cart are designed to carry loads.  When the air in the tire is not at the correct pressure, it is unable to carry the load for which it was designed.  Without a load on it, you will likely be able to roll it around okay.  However, as soon as you place weight on it, either it doesn’t go anywhere at all or is difficult to move.

Have you ever had a hand truck that didn’t have the correct amount of air in the tire?  More than once I’ve gone to use a hand truck and blown out the tire because the amount of air was too low.  Once I started to roll it with weight, the tire would separate from the rim.  Once separated, it would require more than just air to be back to functioning properly. 

Much like the tires on a hand truck, we require the correct amount of air in our life.  Once the tire blows out on the hand truck, it isn’t good for moving anything.  In Hebrew, “spirit” is breath, wind or air.  We must be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Without the Holy Spirit, we aren’t going to be able to accomplish our God given purpose.

Filled Full

If we have some amount of the Holy Spirit in our life, we might be able to accomplish some of our purpose, but it will be difficult, and we are likely to “blow out”.  The pressures of life will make it difficult for us to move around.  We won’t be able to roll with the punches so well.  Ministry will be a chore instead of a joy.  Things that shouldn’t be a big deal become overbearing.  And when the greater challenges of life come, they can completely take us out of service.

When we are fully filled with the Holy Spirit, we will be fully functional and able to fulfill our God designed purposes.  The heavy loads will be manageable, because we aren’t carrying them in our strength but in God’s.  When life happens, which it will, we are able to not only face it, we are able to conquer.  Romans 8:37 says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  It is only through the love of God that we are able to conquer all things.  And what greater love is there than a man will lay down his life as Christ did when He died for us?

What is My Purpose

So how do we know our God ordained purpose?  We ask Him.  Okay, maybe I just oversimplified matters.

When seeking the Lord’s purpose for our life, we need to first seek Him.  That requires surrendering our will to find His.  (See my last post for more about surrendering so that we can walk in relationship with God.)

God will reveal our purpose through various means.  He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.  It is important that we are reading His Word (the Holy Bible).  In fact, if you “hear from God,” and it doesn’t agree with Scripture, then it wasn’t the Holy Spirit speaking.  We can also be sure that anything the Lord tells us will be in agreement with His Word and His character (for a brief list of characteristics check out Galatians 5:22-23).

What is God’s purpose for my life?  To honor Him.  I’m not sure exactly what that will look like through the seasons of life, but I do relate to David when he wrote in Psalm 57:2 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”  

You see, when you walk in God’s purpose for your life, your entire focus becomes Him.  No longer do you focus on your circumstances.  David was hiding in a cave being chased by Saul when he wrote that Psalm.  Twice he proclaims “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!” (verses 5 and 11).  

Tools in the Toolbox

God will fulfill His purpose when we allow Him to work in and through us.  We are a tool in His hands much like the tools in a carpenter or mechanic’s hands.  The tool is available for use, but it does not tell the tradesman how to use it.  He knows exactly how best to use each and every tool in his toolbox for the purposes they were designed to be used.  Not every tool gets to be used on every job.  Some tools are general use, like a hammer or screwdriver, other tools are used only for special purposes.

This is where I often struggle.  I look at other people and how God is using them, sometimes with jealousy, instead of looking to the Father for how He wants to use me.  We need to not be comparing our ministry to that of others.  When we do, we will either become proud, or we’ll be disappointed.  

You may feel like I often do, that we’re just sitting in the toolbox ready and willing but not being used, or at least not to the full potential that we think we should be accomplishing.  Those seasons are hard but instead of pouting, we should be looking at getting closer to the Father.  I’ve found that He often uses me when I don’t even know that I’m being used.

Walking in Purpose

Once we know the Lord’s purpose for our life, how do we walk in it?  The answer lies in God.  Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.  Do not forsake the work of your hands.”  

I need to walk in the purpose that the Lord has designed for me to walk.  So do you.  We need to become fully surrendered and reliant upon the Lord to fulfill our purpose.  If you are not sure what your purpose is, focus on getting closer to Him.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  When we are fully filled with the Lord’s power, He is able to do much through us.