Why did God allow me to walk alone through such a frustrating time trying to find my purpose-in-life? In hindsight, I believe...

1) He was growing me in character and relationships.
2) He was waiting for me to stop playing the game I was playing. It's called My Fellow God, and its goal was to try to get God to buy into my action plan.
3) He wanted me on the lookout for a viable process. He knew I would go about shouting, "Eureka, I have found it. This is it." So, perhaps my search will save your students some tears and some legwork.

This Mamma's 26 Teen Lessons about Discovering and Fulfilling Your Life Purpose

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ABILITIES. God created you with special talents, skills, and gifts. Don't hide them.

God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other. (1 Peter 4:10)

We are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. (Romans 12:6)

BE WILLING TO FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS. Forgiveness is the first step toward fruitful service to others. It can take a ton of weight off your shoulders.

Jesus said, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
(John 8:7)

CONCENTRATE ON YOUR CHARACTER. You must be willing to work on developing your character, not just on godly tasks or saintly assignments. Is there something that is slowing you down or holding you back? (For example: temper, impatience, judging others, gossip, pride, bitterness, addiction to television, shopping, alcohol or drugs, depression, jealousy, greed, low self-confidence)

Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back and run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. (Romans 12:1-2)

DEVELOP A SERVANT'S HEART. This is, of course, easier said than done, but once you've tasted humble, servant-leadership, you will crave more opportunities.

I am the Lord's servant. I am willing to do whatever He wants. (Luke 1:38)

It is like a man going away: He leaves his house in charge of his servants, each with his assigned task. (Mark 13:34)

EMBRACE GOD'S DREAM FOR YOUR LIFE. Your life's purpose is a gift from God, given by Him alone. He can't wait for you to unwrap this gift.

You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book. (Psalm 139:16)

FACE YOUR FEARS. You will need courage to accept God's plan for your life. The two biggest fears in life are fear of failure and fear of ridicule. Give those to the Lord today.

"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16)

GIVE GOD THE GLORY. Our purpose is to know God and bring Him glory. Congratulations on whatever basic steps you have taken to get to know God and magnify him with your life.

Jesus said, I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (John 17:4)

HOLD ONTO HOPE. God gives us specific work to do on earth, a mission to accomplish, an assignment to handle for Him, a purpose-in-life during each season to keep us from losing heart and becoming discouraged.

"I give you this work to do so you do not become discouraged." (2 Corinthians 4:1)

INVITE HUMILITY INTO YOUR LIFE. Being chosen to fulfill God's purpose is a humbling experience.

Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. (Job 8:7)

JUST OFFER YOUR WEAKNESSES TO GOD. Give God your weaknesses, because he loves to use our weaknesses in a powerful way. You'll be truly humbled the first time you witness Him working through you, in spite of you.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

KEEP GOING BACK TO YOUR BIBLE AS THE ULTIMATE, UNCHANGING TRUTH. God constantly persuades us, if we take time to reflect on his Word and pray about the road we are traveling.

He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice." (Luke 8:21)

LOVE GOD AND YOUR NEIGHBOR. Falling in love with people and understanding why we love can be a difficult season of life. Of one thing I am sure, though: God most often chooses to reveal a grand kingdom-building purpose to those who establish loving roots with others.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39)

MOTATE TOWARD YOUR LIFE MISSION. God will assign you a specific evangelism or discipleship mission that He expects you to complete while you are on earth. That role makes you an official mission-ary for Christ; that is, "one who is sent to do religious or charitable work in a particular territory." (American Heritage Dictionary) Your work, as a missionary in a specific location such as your home, church, office, school or town, becomes your day-to-day offering to the Lord.

The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work the Lord Jesus gave me. (Acts 20:24)

NOT ABOUT YOU. As Pastor Rick Warren says: Your purpose is not about you. It is about God's plan to save lost and dying souls.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:10)

OBEY. Purpose requires obedient submission to God's will.

Master because you say so. (Luke 5:5)

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. (Ecclesiastes 8:5)

PRAY ALL DAY LONG. In order to discover the life God meant you to live, it is important that you pray often and listen to God throughout the entire day. God wants us to discern his will through prayer, discussion, observation, and silence.

Show me the way I should go. (Psalm 143:8)

QUIT BEING SO SERIOUS. Laugh more! Today!

[God speaking of bringing his people back from captivitiy] Thanksgiving will pour out of the windows; laughter will spill through the doors. Things will get better and better. (Jeremiah 30:19)

REACH OUT FOR HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. Purpose is not done in isolation as a one-person show. No matter how difficult that may sound to you right now, it is a critical prerequisite to being used by God.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
(Romans 12:10)

SERVE WHERE YOU ARE CALLED TO SERVE TODAY. Test the waters of your giftedness in a wide variety of service areas. As Blackaby and King said in Experiencing God, we all need to learn to show up where God is at work. In other words, Pitch in and serve where God is busy.

Then they answered Joshua, Whatever you have commanded us - we will do, and wherever you send us - we will go. (Joshua 1:16)

TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE NUMEROUS, GRACIOUS MIRACLES GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU! Wow them with his goodness and power.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
(Job 5:9)

UNDERSTAND YOUR UNIQUENESS. God has a unique plan for your life. Go for it!

Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out whatever the Lord wants you to do.
(Ephesians 5:17)

INVITE VISION. Visionary purpose is a unique, individual calling from God to ask you to help out with kingdom-building in a big way. Vision is seeing the multi-dimensional, colorful picture of God's life strategy for you. It is a declaration of the type of person God wants you to become and what He wants you to do with your life. A vision reflects your values and gives you an inspirational touchstone to keep you focused.

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled." (Habakkuk 2:3)

WALK WITH AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. Don't ever be without someone who helps you stay accountable to God.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
(Romans 3:19)

EXPECT AN EXTRA ORDINARY PURPOSE. God gives extraordinary purposes to ordinary people.

But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:11-12)

YEARN TO PLEASE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE: JESUS CHRIST. Although we don't attempt to please God for the rewards, the rewards will be eternally rich!

and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11)

UNZIP YOUR ZEAL. Discover what you are passionate about. Identify what inspires you.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4)

"Your mission, should you decide to accept it" is the often-quoted line from the old television- and now movie-series, Mission Impossible. People love watching how smart those scientists and secret agents are as they tackle new adventures to save the world. What if God sent you a message on a tape recorder or called to you in an audible voice, This is your mission for this one season of your life, and you will bring me glory should you choose to accept it. Would you accept it? Are you already accepting it?

Blessings,

Katie Brazelton
www.pathwaytopurposeministry.com

For more information on Katie's book Pathway to Purpose for Woman click here.

Katie's bio:
Dr. Katie Brazelton, Ph.D., M.Div., M.A., is not only Andy's mom, but she is the author of the Pathway to Purpose for Women series, with her recent, bestselling anchor book being translated into seven languages. She is the founder of Pathway to Purpose Ministry, www.pathwaytopurposeministry.com, which trains Christian women internationally as Life Purpose Telephone Coaches and Intensive, 2-Day, Life Purpose Facilitators. For years prior to her book launch in 2005, she was Director of Women's Bible Studies, Director of Golden Gate Theological Seminary, and a Licensed Minister, all at the purpose driven Saddleback Church. She can be reached at support@pathwaytopurposeministry.com.

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