My purpose in life

I have been working on this post for a long time, but each time I go to post it, I have to revise it.

I have been contemplating my purpose in life. What are my goals, what is God's will for me? How can I serve God the best? For years I thought I would work as a nurse in a hospital or work as a charge nurse somewhere. But in the last year and especially the last semester I have realized that God may have bigger plans in store for me. But with this realization also has come a huge sense of urgency to be totally submitted to God in all areas of my life. Before God can truly bless us, we need to wrestle with God and surrender all to Him.

All my life I have been one who has tried to "plan" things. I had a whole outline of how my life would occur and when each event would occur. On my last birthday I realized that every single one of the events I had planned had not occurred on my timetable. Instead, they had occurred (or will occur) on God's timetable. Looking back in hindsight I have realized that God has planned my life perfectly. I would not go back and re-order any of the events in my life. Each life experience has prepared me for the next one. As long as I keep submitting to God, He will continue to lead and guide me in the future on His timetable. Recently I was struggling with God over something and God reminded me that His timetables and His plans far surpass mine. God reassured me with promises such as Jeremiah 29:11 and others that He is guiding me. While I do not see what God has in store for me in the next year or so, I have learned that His plans for me will be far beyond my imagination and I can rest in peace knowing that I can trust Him.

I have been reading through the book of Acts and before God poured out His Holy Spirit on the apostles they came together and were of one accord. To be totally Spirit filled we need to be of one accord not only with each other, but also with God. I have also noticed that in the book of Acts thousands were added to the church in one day once everyone was in one accord. What does that mean for us today? I know that many church statisticians will boast at how fast the SDA church is growing and la-de-dah, but God added thousands of members to one church in one geographic area in one day. How can churches (especially in the United States) be more effective and add thousands daily to the church? What is limiting God in working upon people's hearts like He did during the time of the early church as described in Acts? Can it possibly be that it is us, those in the church, that is hindering God? Are we guilty of causing others to be lost because we ourselves are not ready to minister for God? Mrs White says somewhere (can't remember) that the church is not ready to receive those who are seeking salvation. Have we lost the sense of urgency to save souls? Have little trivial matters broken unity in our church? Am I guilty of causing others to be lost because of my actions (or lack of action)? As a Christian my life is a living, walking testimony of God. What is my testimony? How am I portraying it? What do the people I interact with at the store, the post office, etc see? Do they see me, or do they see Christ through me? How do I represent His church?

These are some of the thoughts I have been pondering. I have not come to any brilliant answers or solutions to all the problems in the world or even the church for that matter. But I have submitted my life to God, and as long as I have a living, vibrant connection with Him, God will continue to lead and guide me and refine my character. I hope that all of you who read this will also keep that living connection with God. It is totally the best way to live life!