How Do I Find My Passion, Purpose and Destiny? – For Such A Time As This By Michael Williams, M.Div. How do I find my destiny, How do I find my purpose Watch the video here:  http://theproductivechristian.org/free-access/ Have you ever wondered, “How do I find my passion, purpose and destiny?” Who hasn’t at one time or another? This is one of the most important questions we can ever ask ourselves. Why? Because the process we go through in discovering the answers can strengthen our relationship with God and help us live more productive lives. In this reflection I’d like us to think about how critically important we really are in the lives of others.

For who knows if you weren’t born for such a time as this? Do you realize that your personality, experiences, style of communicating, passions, interests, abilities, gifts, skills, talents, education and upbringing have all come together thus far to create the person you are today? Do you also realize that because of all of those things you and only you are able to touch and impact the lives of certain people? In addition, there are services, presentations, poems, songs, plays, projects, businesses, inventions, books, videos and audio programs that will never come to being unless you create them.

Sure you may have had some set backs in the past or not had the same advantages as others may have had, but because of your past, you are the perfect person to do what only you can do. A tough childhood, abuse, addictions, a police record, failure in school or business, those can’t hold you back. Disabilities, fears, doubts, laziness, lack of knowledge, motivation, or experience can’t hold you back either, IF you are willing to accept right now that you are truly destined to accomplish important things during your lifetime.

In the book of Esther (an Old Testament book in the Bible) chapter 4 verse 14 there is a beautiful little verse that says, “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” The speaker here is a guy by the name of Mordecai. Now Mordecai had raised Esther as his own daughter since her birth father and mother had died. Eventually, Esther gained such favor with King Ahasuerus that she was chosen above all the other women to become Queen. Now Mordecai had instructed Esther to keep her identity, that of being a Jew, a secret fearing what might happen. But eventually something happened within the kingdom that mortally threatened the lives of every Jew. Mordecai got word to Esther about a plan to destroy the Jews and requested that she intercede on behalf of them.

Well, Esther was afraid. She told Mordecai that it would be too risky to just approach the King without having been summoned by him. In fact, people had been killed for doing so. When Mordecai heard Esther’s response he sent back his response which is what you read above, but I’ll repeat here, ”For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” In this story there are several things I’d like to point out that are very relevant to your life and mine.

1. Background

2. Opportunity

3. Hard Work

4. Fear and Doubt

5. Confidence and Faith

6. Prayer and Fasting

7. Action

Now these are not in any order of priority or importance. They do, however, represent several important factors that you and I may want to remember as we attempt to understand and accept our responsibility as key players in the lives of those around us.

One of the things that you will notice about Esther was her background. Her background was not unlike many of ours; she grew up without a father and a mother and was raised by an in law. Certainly this was not easy for her. Later in life she was presented or more accurately her uncle sought out an opportunity for her to live out her life in a better situation than she had lived previously. For her to take advantage of this opportunity she had to work extremely hard for a sustained period. This all eventually paid off when she became queen. Later she was presented with another opportunity to save her entire race. However, she was afraid and unsure if she was the right one to take on this responsibility. Eventually she was persuaded that this was in fact her responsibility and that perhaps she was in her current position for just such a time as this. To strengthen her confidence and faith she asked those around her to fast and she did the same. Once she spent time fasting she took action. If you read the story further you’ll find that this was not blind action but was very well thought out and a very wise course of action that she took. Undoubtably this wise course of action came about as a result of her fasting and even though the Bible doesn’t say, her time in prayer and meditation, thinking and planning.

You and I are placed on this earth and given opportunities in which we have a responsibility to act. These opportunities will not only impact us but will impact the lives of those around us. In many cases we will be tempted to not take advantage of those opportunities because of our background, or because it may require a lot of hard work, or we’re afraid or we doubt that we will be able to accomplish it. Nevertheless those opportunities are the exact reasons that we’ve been placed here at this time and this place. The people’s lives that will be affected by what we do and what we say is a part of our purpose. That is, the potential effect we could have on them is the reason we’re here.

So here are my questions to you: 1. Are there opportunities or potential opportunities that you could be taking advantage of or should be taking advantage of right now?

2. Are there people waiting to hear what you have to say?

3. Are there products, services, creative works or new inventions that are waiting for you to bring to market?

Remember, for who knows, perhaps you have been placed here for such a time as this!