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7 Spiritual Keys to Fulfill Your God-Given Assignment

In today's culture of increasing identity confusion, there is a need for believers to understand and model a healthy identity and purpose that is Christ-centered and kingdom-focused. When we know who we are, why we're here and where we're going, we will offer to the world a picture of what a true son and daughter of the kingdom looks like. Here are seven keys that may help start the process in learning how to know your true identity in the kingdom of God in order to fulfill your call and assignment.

1. Determine to love Jesus more than anyone or anything . Simple? Yes. Easy? No. We become what we focus on—who we focus on. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and determine to please Him above all else, our hearts and affections will be rightly placed. In order to make wise choices and determine God's will, loving Jesus first and foremost is foundational to everything else. We will never know who we really are apart from learning who Jesus really is. We are to be a reflection of Him.

2. Walk in the fear of the Lord, not the fear of man. Once we have settled to love Jesus most, we can expect to be tested in it. The fear of the Lord keeps us faithful to His purposes even when others may misunderstand us, mock us or challenge us. Though I can walk with sensitivity towards people's needs and perspectives, I don't have to bow to them or change my beliefs for validation. Especially in the current atmosphere of hostility towards those who seek godly truth, we must guard ourselves from compromise at the altar of "acceptance." Walking in a healthy fear of the Lord provides wisdom, protection and confidence in all things eternal and right.

3. Seek a reputation in heaven more than on the earth. In today's social media, the more friends you have, the more tweets you post and the more "likes" you get, the more likely you are to draw a crowd. But getting attention is a lot different than having influence. Standing out in the crowd isn't hard to do in our shock-driven, entertainment-saturated culture. What's a lot more challenging is saying or doing something that will cause heaven to move on your behalf to change entire cities and even nations. Sometimes those in the secret place are changing history a lot more than those in the public eye. Seek to move heaven first and then watch the earth respond.

4. Know your spiritual gifts. You have been given a measure of spiritual gifts that have marked you from creation. The seven gifts listed in Romans 12:3-8 point to the motivations and passions your heavenly Father put within you from birth: prophesying, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading and showing mercy. When you can identify your primary "motivational gift," you can better know your strengths and weaknesses and where you best fit in the body of Christ. Though these gifts do not necessarily define who you are, they do point to what you're good at and what will bear the most fruit in your life.

5. Know your call. Where your spiritual gifts explain your primary motivation, your calling is what you were born for, or better yet, who you were born to reach. God's priority is always people, and our calling will be a reflection of His heart to reach someone. This may take a lifetime to fulfill, but you will know it is His call because it continues to burn in your heart, keep you up at night and never quite goes away regardless of challenges or setbacks. It will require faith and is bigger than you are, but your call is what draws your heart and inspires your journey.

6. Know your present assignment. If your life story was written as a book, your calling would be the title. Your spiritual gifts would shine in the unique writing style and illustrations. The individual chapters would highlight the various assignments throughout your journey. Specific assignments will come and go and serve to advance the kingdom, increasing the measure of grace on your life to ultimately fulfill your call. Some may seem like side roads to your destination, but all will lead to His purposes as you trust His heart in knowing how to prepare and equip you.

7. Measure your success by the fruit. Regardless of our call, gifts and assignments, the true measure of success will be in the fruit that follows us. If we are walking in the fullness of our identity, the people around us will recognize it, grow from it and encounter Christ through it. God's grace will flow out of us and will exponentially increase in those around us. Look for disciples, not just followers. Look for reproduction, not just reputation. Look for transformation that lasts, not just a fascination that quickly fades.

Wanda Alger is a field correspondent with Intercessors for America . She ministers with her husband in Winchester, Virginia. Follow her blog at wandaalger.me .

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Ten Essentials Needed to Fulfill Your Kingdom Assignment

As a person who has been preaching and attempting to implement strategies, I have come up with the following essentials necessary for effectiveness in Kingdom ministry.

1. High-Level Intercession

In Daniel chapters 10-12 and Ephesians 6 we find that there are high-level demonic entities, called principalities, that rule whole nations and/or empires. These are the highest-ranking demons under Satan that control the political, economic and social systems of the world through ideology and worldview.

Consequently, I found that when I started preaching the Kingdom with a goal of shifting culture towards biblical standards that I walked into the highest level of warfare! This is why God led me to spend much time in deep travail and illicit the prayers of high-level intercessors! If we do not combine Kingdom implementation with commensurate effective prayer we will get our butts kicked! When you preach the Kingdom of God you are dealing with demonic systems not just individual demons and sinners! Without a proper prayer plan in place our goals of Kingdom implementation will be doomed to fail!

2. Spouse on the Same Page

Before you make a public shift from preaching merely an individualistic gospel of salvation to the Gospel of the Kingdom make sure your spouse understands the spiritual and social implications it will have on your life! If your spouse is not on the same page with you theologically or teleologically (objective and goals), then the enemy can use this as a wedge that can divide your marriage!

3. Humility in the Marketplace

When leaders start making headway implementing successful strategies for the Kingdom in their communities, key marketplace leaders in politics and business will latch onto you. You will start moving in circles outside the religious walls of the church and will be in proximity to power, influence and celebrity like never before! Never forget your original vision and what got you there to begin with! Always walk in humility! I have seen countless Christian leaders fall into pride when they started hobnobbing with the rich, influential and famous, resulting in them being transformed by the world instead of vice versa!

4. Strong Connection to Local Church Leadership

The local church is the only entity on earth that the devil cannot destroy (Matthew 16:16-19)! Leaders and ministers that bypass the local church run the risk of not having long-term fruit! In some cases, high-level marketplace leaders will be connected more with individual apostolic-type pastors who will mentor them, even if they live too far to attend the local church the pastor oversees. In any case, if you want biblical results then connect your work to a biblical model of discipleship that involves the family of families called the church. Of course, if at all possible, high-level marketplace leaders should attend an apostolic-type church, which is a local church that equips and releases the saints for the work of the ministry by effectively engaging culture and influencing their region holistically.

5. Have a Strong Covenantal Team for Support

I have found that I need to have community with those who understand and partner with me in my Kingdom calling. I have been blessed to have several close friends who I work with, pray with, travel with and play with! Without this mutually beneficial support group I would have a difficult time persevering in the Kingdom marathon I am called to run in!

6. Avoid Mission Drift

It is inevitable that the more successful you become in your Kingdom assignment, the more opportunities will come both in the church and marketplace! Many people will want you on their boards, will pull upon you to aid them, and the demands on your time will increase. One of the most important things a leader has to do in order to remain successful is to avoid drifting from their original mission.

For example, I put every invitation and opportunity I get through the grid of my God-given assignment. If it doesn’t align I don’t even consider it! If it seems to connect to my mission, I pray and try to get a witness in my spirit before I make a commitment to minister somewhere.

Furthermore, with every new level a person obtains there will be adjustments they will have to make to ensure they are still on point with their mission. Having a team of folks that help you discern the will of God is also invaluable.

7. Be Motivated by the Message, Not Money

The more the demand upon you increases, the more opportunity will come to get involved in church ministry or business deals. God will allow both divine and demonic opportunities to come your way to reveal to you the motivations of your heart! If you are motivated primarily by money then you will only go after whatever pays the most instead of what will be the most fruitful for the Kingdom! This will lead to a watering down of your purpose resulting in the dissipating of your effectiveness and divine authority.

8. Center the Message/Ministry on Jesus, Not Societal Transformation

The word of God teaches us that all things were made by Jesus and for Jesus (Colossians 1:16)! In all things we do Jesus alone should have the supremacy (Colossians 1:19)! I have seen numerous leaders and ministries focus so much on societal influence and transformation they wound up in humanism (humanitarianism without Christ). If we seek first His Kingdom and focus on Jesus being the center of our lives and ministries then He will lead us to do things that will enable us to bless both God and humanity!

This does not mean that we have to do every good work overtly in the name of Jesus, but we have to look for every opportunity to let His love be known to our neighbors. Otherwise the focus is more on quality of life transformation than on Jesus! In my opinion, this violates Colossians 1:16,19.

9. Balance Your Life with Individual Renewal

When we start preaching and implementing the Kingdom message in our spheres of influence we will see more needs and opportunities than ever before, which can result in work overload! There is no end to societal and individual needs!

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that it is essential I consistently do things that build me up spiritually, emotionally and physically. I need to do things that not only strengthen me spiritually (prayer, Bible reading, church) but I need to do things that give me life emotionally (sports, music, art, cultivating a social life, etc.). Furthermore, I need to regularly exercise and be strategic in what I eat so I can remain physically functional. Missing it in any of these three areas can mean a premature death either in ministry, family, or even our lives!

10. Balance Work and Play

I have learned not to take myself too seriously! I have learned that I have to work hard but mix play in as well! I need to invest in mutually beneficial friendships that give me and my wife a healthy social life that will strengthen us (emotionally) and inevitably lengthen our lives and ministries.

I have also found that the leaders I have the most fun with are the ones God is bonding me with the most for Kingdom ventures! Jesus called His disciples His friends (John 15). He loved the Pharisees but liked His close associates! Jesus loved everyone but I am convinced He did not like everyone! (Look at how He spoke to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and compare it to how He spoke to His disciples in John 15.) Consequently, I believe God is going to lead us to work the closest with those we are compatible with emotionally and socially.

In the Kingdom, relationship precedes ministry. If you reverse that, your key ministry partnerships may not endure the test of time!

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The 3 Levels of Your God-Given Purpose

As believers and disciples of Christ, we have 3 levels of expressing God’s purposes for our life. The first two general purposes are the same for all Christians. The third is unique to each person. What they all have in common is that God is the source of knowledge and power to walk in all of His purposes for us.

Pursuing the two general purposes God calls you to live out in your life will draw you closer to God. As you are more intentional in Christian growth, your heart will desire what God does, your mind will reflect Christ, and your spirit will become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. A more intimate relationship with God will enable you to grow the fruit of the Spirit and other godly character traits in your life to reduce stress and enrich relationships with your spouse, young or adult children, other family members and friends.

As you no longer feel connected to your work outside the home or your children no longer need you to walk as closely with them day by day as they grow, your need to walk more closely with God day by day can be filled. And your journey with Him will fill you with hope and help you fulfill your specific purpose in life to live with more passion and impact. All that the world has to offer, can’t compare to the promises God has for you—“more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. ( Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

1. General Purpose in the World

All believers are called to the purpose to love God and love others. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus replied that the first and most important was “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” ( Mark 12:30-31 NIV) Prayerfully reflect on how your love for God as well as your love for others in your home or in the world can grow and be expressed more fully in words and actions.
All believers are called to the purpose of making disciples. Jesus told His disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ( Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) Consider how the attitudes, words and actions others see in you are a witness to the new life available to them through Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All believers also have the purpose to grow in Christlikeness and bear fruit to God’s glory. Jesus stated, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” ( John 15:5,8 NIV) Assess your heart and life for areas that are bearing little or no fruit, seeking God’s direction and power to begin to grow to become and act according to His will.

2. General Purpose Specific to Your Daily Life

We must intentionally focus on fulfilling God’s will in the different areas of our daily life. This is a general purpose for all believers, but the path you take to reach it will be specific to you, your family and your life situation.

We may not always consider how the choices we make, tasks we perform and interactions we have with others in our day to day life can either be to God’s glory, just our own glory, or maybe have no glory at all. The condition of our spirit, heart and mind can impact our influence on others as well as how they perceive God. The condition of different parts of our life can affect our ability and effectiveness to achieve our goals and God’s other purposes for us in various ways.

Though there are many parts of our life we can seek to align with God’s will, there are some listed below that impact us daily and in the present and future, thus require regular attention. You can learn more in my post about the 5 Areas to Seek God to Find Purpose as a Christian Woman or in any season of life.

Spiritual Life
Physical Wellbeing (body, mind, emotions)
Relationships (family, friends, peers, strangers)
Work (homemaking, career, vocation, ministry, volunteering)

We must ask God for wisdom and guidance to transform from the inside out to fulfill His desires for all areas of our life. If we don’t move toward God’s purpose in these areas, we will not reach our potential for impact or fulfillment. In which of the 5 areas of life do you feel the least amount of satisfaction, and perhaps find that your mindset, habits or lack of partnering with God in them are limiting your progress?

3. Specific Purpose to Your Design

In addition to the more general purposes God has for us in the world and in our daily life, each of us was created with a specific purpose to fulfill. This specific purpose is often referred to as our Christian calling, God-given calling or life’s work, but we will continue to refer to it as purpose in the context of this post. Even though your heart’s passion may be similar to someone else’s focus, because God didn’t create anyone else exactly like you, the way your God-given purpose shows up in the world will be unique to who you are as a person—one of a kind.

You may be asking yourself, “What is my purpose in life?” if you don’t know it yet. Or you could be wondering “How do I fulfill my purpose in life?” if you have some revelation and either may be ready to step out in faith or may feel unsure if you’re really equipped for it.

Your specific purpose may not be clear until God begins to reveal it to you. God usually doesn’t reveal everything all at one time. In the beginning, you may only have a God-given vision of what you feel called to do in the future, but not yet know the path to get there. And it can be made known to you in parts and even shift focus as you become more prepared for it over time. As God reveals your purpose for this new season of life, you’ll see how your unique design, passions and life experiences fit perfectly into His Kingdom purposes.

During your years centered around education or exploring careers or parenting and homemaking, you might not have had any idea of what God designed you to carry out in your future. Or you may now realize that you had parts of it revealed to you without you knowing it was God’s plan for your life. Perhaps you were aware of what you feel specially made to do, but you were still focused on starting to make a living or raising your family and didn’t feel led to or have time to begin to explore it.

In any situation, it can seem overwhelming to think about getting from where you are now to where you need to be to bring to reality His will for your life.God is the real source of the answers to your questions and of the preparation and confirmation you need, so you must seek His wisdom, direction and provision. What’s important is that you patiently and joyfully embrace the journey and don’t try to rush out ahead of Him . Trust me—I know from personal experience . His timing and His ways are best.

However, while you wait for clarity, there are some steps you can take to explore your design, find clues to your specific God-given purpose and move forward on your journey.

5 Reflections to Find Your God-Given Purpose

The first place to look for signs pointing to your specific purpose is at how God uniquely designed you. Some ways to explore your design are prayer, self-reflection, self-assessments, life purpose coaching and classes. As part of the process, below are 5 questions you can reflect on to start on the path to discovering your purpose:

1. What lights a fire inside of me?

passions and interests I could do all day
world issues that burden my heart
messages I feel led to share with others

2. What can I do very well without much effort?

natural strengths
natural abilities
special talents

3. What is unique about me?

personality traits
values or life principles
spiritual gifts

4. What are my significant life experiences?

prepared or inspired me to help others
found meaning in the experience
learned major life lessons

5. What dreams are in my heart that won’t fade?

types of people or situations I usually help
a role or activity I keep imagining myself in

Steps to Fulfill Your God-Given Purpose

When you have partial or full clarity on your specific purpose, you may ask, “What are the steps to fulfilling God’s purpose for me?” Of course there are steps that are very specific to who you are and your life situation that will be determined in time as you move forward. And there are some steps that only God can reveal and lead you in taking. However, there are steps you can take to further your understanding and progress on your path to purpose.

Seek Wisdom and Clarity

Finding your specific purpose is a process that often takes much reflection and revision over time. Below are some steps you can take to help you gain wisdom, clarity and progress in the purpose discovery and fulfillment process:

Ask God to help you discover how the unique things about you and your life reveal His purposes for you.
Examine more deeply how the unique parts of yourself and your life may relate to how God is at work in the world.
Gather input about what you seem to be naturally made for from those you can trust who know you the most.
Write out a purpose statement draft that describes what you think your God-given purpose may be. Include who you feel called to impact, what you feel called to do, how you feel called to do it, and what the outcome of your efforts would be.
Research how this issue is already being (or maybe not yet being) addressed in the world. Write down ideas of how you might approach the issue based on your unique perspective and experience.
Prayerfully reflect on your unique design and life experiences, as well as your purpose statement. Listen to your heart and spirit as you go through your days. Ask God to give you clarity and vision.
Write out a detailed future vision of what carrying out your purpose may look like. Include who, what, when, where and how aspects. What do you envision yourself doing? Who are you serving or is with you? When is this happening? Where is this occurring? How are you doing it? What scenery do you see? What words do you hear? What do you feel? What do those you serve feel? How are you changing lives? How does what you are doing serve God’s purposes in the world? Modify this vision over time as you feel led to do so.
As Spirit-led or appropriate opportunities arise, get involved in existing endeavors or start something on your own to seek further knowledge and clarity around your purpose. Be flexible to modify or stop the opportunities if they are not a true fit for who you are, your life situation or what God is actually calling you to do.

Take Action from the Inside Out

Whether you are working to find, prepare for or fulfill your purpose, be intentional to take action toward your Christian goals both inside and out. Below are some principles to follow in the goal-setting and action planning process:

Trust God and believe in yourself. Your confidence is based in knowing that He has designed you and called you to your purpose and He will help you in fulfilling it. Replace any limiting beliefs or negative thoughts with the truth of God’s word.
Seek to transform areas within yourself and your life where God is leading you to grow. The more you develop the heart of God and mind of Christ, the more you will sense and respond to the Spirit’s leading.
Keep focus of your vision instead of outside influences. Remember that you are moving toward God’s plan for your life rather than following the external influences.
Make choices that fit who you are and your life situation. Be authentic and realistic in making decisions about what you do, timing and strategies to avoid unnecessary stress.
Plan simple and clear action steps you are equipped to take. Setting goals that stretch you is beneficial, but make sure your actions are attainable and have a workable schedule so you can build confidence while progressing.
Make a plan to manage existing or potential obstacles . External obstacles (eg. overcrowded schedule) or internal obstacles (eg. unhealthy mindsets) must be addressed both before and throughout your action steps.
Set up accountability or support with a friend, group or system when needed. Letting others know what your goals are to help keep you on track can help you more effectively focus and move past doubts and procrastination. Also getting expert support to work on aspects of your path you are struggling with is wise to avoid pitfalls.
Be flexible to reverse or change course if something isn’t feeling right. If your feelings are based on self-doubts or fears, it may not be a true sign to rework your plan. But if something seems to be taking you farther away from your natural design, passions, vision or purpose foundations, then pray for God to give you guidance on making the right decision.

It may take days, weeks, months or longer to be completely certain of every aspect of your God-given purpose. And though you may start walking in your purpose in one way, it may shift over time to more closely match what God continues to reveal to you. However, these steps will lay the foundation, and as you keep intentionally and prayerfully exploring and experiencing, more details will be revealed in time. Be patient to move within God’s pace and timing.

Bible Verses About God’s Help to Fulfill Your God-Given Purpose

There will always be ups and downs, periods of progress and pauses. But you are never alone. God is always at work to fulfill His purposes for you on the inside and out. The following Bible verses give insight into the faithfulness of God:

The LORD will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Psalms 138:8 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV

Trust God to Fulfill His Purpose for You

The many types of work that women do from stay-at-home moms to working women inside or outside the home is not always easy. Many moms have only focused on the purpose of their role as a parent and homemaker. Often women only consider their purpose related to themselves as a business owner or employee. You may feel like you don’t have anything more of significance to offer beyond motherhood if you are a stay-at-home mom. You could feel like you have gone so far down the path of your career that it is too hard to change work focus now. As an empty nester, any mom may feel a loss of purpose when your children are grown up and your role in their life changes—even if they don’t leave home yet or need to return home for support after leaving. But purpose is not tied only to those things. Purpose is more than a role you do. It springs out of who you are and can bloom in many different ways in different seasons.

God has a purpose for you–in every season. You simply have to look up to God instead of looking around at your circumstances.

He has purpose for you with all believers, in all areas of your life and in relation to your unique design. And He will reveal your God-given purpose and help you to fulfill it every step of the way.

Do you feel like there’s no way you could have a unique God-given purpose? Are you struggling with the process of finding your specific purpose? Do you need help building confidence and a plan to step into your purpose?

If you need support in finding or fulfilling your God-given purpose, Christian Life Purpose Coaching can help you to close the gap between where you are and where God has a vision for you to be. I welcome you to contact me to request a complimentary ‘From Tired to Inspired’ Strategy Session if you may need someone to walk with you on your journey.

16 Comments

Awesome, this helped me sooo much!!!

I’m so glad that it was valuable to you. May you be blessed on your journey of purpose!

Thank you for this powerful teaching. Indeed looking up to God helps to find our purpose and Relying on Him helps fulfill it. Blessings.

You’re welcome! Yes indeed, our direction in life is found in God. Blessings to you as well!

thank you for this teaching, i got it at the right time, more grace in Jesus name

I’m glad it was of value. God definitely sees us and brings things to us right on time. Wishing you His blessings in all areas of your life.

thank you very much for this teaching. It brought revival to my spirit. May God continue to unleash more grace on you

I’m so glad it was an encouragement to you. May God use you for His glory.

Thanks for this inspiring message. I have learnt new things from the message. I wish you many more Grace for greater works

You’re welcome. May you be blessed as you pursue your purpose!

Thanks a lot I really need this . To God be the glory !

Yes! To God be the glory for He is good and we are fearfully and wonderfully made with purpose! So glad that the post was helpful to you. May you be blessed!

Was greatly ministered to by this post May the good God bless you real good for this.Amen

Thank you. May you be blessed as well. I’m glad the post ministered to you

Thanks, I can now take bold steps in my calling

I’m so glad this content was helpful. My heart is for women to get clarity and confidently step into their calling!

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Fulfilling God’s Assignment | Christian Leadership Insights

by Mark Dreistadt | Jun 8, 2012 | Leadership

God has given everyone an assignment! An assignment is a mission or position to which a person is assigned. We each have a position in the Body of Christ and a distinct mission to fulfill… and God has perfectly equipped us to succeed in His assignment. All visionary leaders have to some degree recognized and embraced this charge.

The Calling of Christian Leadership

God places a Word in your spirit … He gives you a revelation. Then as your life surrounds that revelation it comes to life within you. That revelation released into the world through your thoughts, words, and actions is your Godly assignment. This is a hallmark, a cornerstone of inspirational leadership .

First , you must discover your assignment? Look inside yourself. What do you know God has said to you? What is your passion? What makes you happy? What makes you angry? What excites you? The answers to these questions will help you know the assignment God has placed within you.
Secondly , to effectively fulfill your assignment you must learn to limit. You cannot read everything — know everything — do everything — and be everything — for everyone! Once you understand your assignment, you must focus wholeheartedly and complete the tasks God has entrusted to you. Church leaders often struggle here because they want to do everything and help everyone, but we need to focus on what our unique assignment is.
Thirdly , to fulfill God’s assignment, you need to be willing to self-assess. You need to take stock of how well you serve in the position God has placed you. Assess what is right and what is wrong — what works and what does not work.
Fourthly , you must be willing to change. If you discover something that does not work in your life, you have to change it. If you discover something needs to be done, you need to do it. You must listen to the Spirit of God, and make a change. Effective church leadership always looks to change things and make adjustments to stay focused on their assignment.
Lastly , you need to be willing to make critical choices. If you do not make the hard decisions, you will never successfully fulfill God’s assignment. The great news is once you make the tough decisions, God fills the void left behind with His grace and provision. His joy and blessing will follow you — when you walk in your Godly assignment. The most fulfilling place for Christian leadership to be is right in the middle of their God given purpose.

God has a spectacular plan for you. You will be amazed at what God will do through you! Discover his assignment, make the right choices and watch your life soar!

Infinity Concepts understands what you need as a Christian Leader. Let us help you deliver your message in the most effective way. Let’s talk today!

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With two decades of leadership experience at a multi-campus megachurch and a global broadcast ministry, Darrell brings a wealth of expertise to Infinity Concepts. His knack for leveraging limited resources to achieve maximum results has made him a pivotal figure in the realm of faith-based initiatives. Darrell’s diverse skill set includes developing effective fundraising strategies, crafting donor retention programs, initiating global humanitarian efforts, and driving growth in local churches through innovative marketing and assimilation strategies. His ultimate drive is to empower our clients to realize their visions and accomplish their missions.

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Finishing Strong: Fulfilling Your God-Given Assignment

The desire of God is that you finish the work He called you to do. You must be mindful of the need to complete your assignment. Everyone who completes their God-given assignment is an overcomer, and there is a throne of glory awaiting them. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21 KJV).

The Example of Jesus

Jesus completed His mission to earth. His last words on the cross were, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He left nothing undone that He was sent to do. The Father was so pleased with His performance that He gave Him a name that is above every name.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11 KJV).

The Legacy of Paul

Paul the apostle finished his assignment on earth despite the great challenges that he encountered. He said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV). No wonder he wrote most parts of the New Testament. Paul finished his mission despite the prison and chains he encountered. That is why I believe you and I have no excuse for failure. We must cultivate the sense of completion if we want to succeed.

Finishing Your Divine Assignment

You are not on earth to make an attempt or create an impression. You are here to finish whatever you have been sent to do. You are not meant to pass on your responsibility to generations after you. Generations after you may improve on what you have done, but they are not meant to do your part.

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Understanding the End from the Beginning

Whenever God is calling a man into an assignment, He often reveals the end, even when he has not started. The reason God always reveals the end from the beginning is to enable man to run his race to completion. The finish line for every man is different. That is the reason one cannot compare himself or herself with another. Your success will not be measured by another man’s standard; it will be measured by what you are created to finish.

Running the Race to Win

Jesus told them, “My food is doing the will of the one who sent me and completing his work” (John 4:34 ISV). Jesus had a consciousness of His finished line, and He moved towards it. In your journey, you are not merely attempting a race; you are running to win. If God has called you to create a business that will employ a thousand people and you end your life employing only five hundred, as far as God is concerned, you have fallen short of your assignment. The praise of men should not cloud the Creator’s perspective.

The apostle Paul wisely encouraged us with these words in 1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV): “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” Each one of us has a finish line that must be reached to receive commendation from God our creator. We must be conscious of this and run our race in order to finish it.

A Call to Action

You are in a race in which you are expected to win. You are not attempting a race; you are running to win. Whatever God has shown you about your future is attainable. Even if what you are seeing around you is discouraging, success is sure if you refuse to give up.

May this revelation stir your spirit to relentlessly pursue the fulfillment of your divine assignment. Remember, finishing strong is not an option but a divine mandate. As you press towards the mark, may God’s grace and strength be abundantly available to help you finish the work He has called you to do.

The Joyful Life News

Exploring who you are: a key to fulfilling god’s purpose for your life, carina alanson.

January 21, 2022

We all have an innate desire for our lives to matter. All of us yearn to find our God-given purpose, but we don’t always know where to start. In this article, Carina Alanson reminds us that finding and fulfilling God’s purpose for your life begins with exploring who we are—and shares 6 practical ways to help you get started today.

When I first realized God was calling me to leave my career as a professional counselor to become a full time writer, I was elated. I had dreamed of being a writer, but for years it was simply that—a dream. For some reason I didn’t think writing was either practical or possible for me. So when God helped me see that it was possible and that it was part of His plan for me, I felt like a little girl hoping for a rhinestone necklace for her birthday, only to find that her dad had given her a genuine diamond pendant. The call to write was a gift that exceeded my expectations.

As I embarked on my writing journey, I began exploring more about who God had created me to be. Part of this exploration included my decision to write a purpose statement.

Write a Purpose Statement

I started by making a list of my interests, gifts, values, and personality traits. Next, I wrote down comments friends and family had made about me, as well as anything I’d ever felt God speak to me about who I am. My goal was to identify what made me me on the deepest level and to articulate what I thought God had designed me to do.

As I attempted to distill what I knew about myself into a short paragraph, it occurred to me that what God was calling me to do was intimately connected to who I am. My call to write wasn’t a random assignment; rather, God called me to be a writer because love of writing is an intrinsic part of my personal DNA.

The realization that my purpose is rooted in who I am led to a second revelation. Because I can express who I am wherever I am, I can live with purpose no matter my life season.

Before, I had thought of purpose as something I was working toward or trying to find. It was something external, like serving as a counselor or writing a book. Certainly, fulfilling our purpose does involve accomplishing specific things God calls us to do.

But I came to see that living a purposeful life is largely about doing my best to share what God has put inside me with whomever is around me in whatever place or season I find myself. For example, I haven’t written a book yet (though it is something I feel God has called me to do). But I can express my purpose as a writer in other ways. I can write cards, blog posts, articles, devotions, social media posts, and even text messages. Yes, I have big goals, but I don’t have to wait until I accomplish those goals to walk in my purpose today. I can live intentionally right where I am, even as I work toward my God-given dreams.

MAKE A CAREFUL EXPLORATION OF WHO YOU ARE

We all have an innate desire for our lives to matter. And I think most of us believe we have a purpose and want to accomplish it. We know the Bible says God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and that He has called us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). But when it comes to actually understanding what our purpose is, many of us struggle. We do our best to help others and serve God, but we often feel unfulfilled and are left wondering if we’re really doing what we’re meant to do. The whole process of finding our purpose can feel confusing. This was certainly the case for me.

Thankfully, I’ve discovered that when we begin with simply exploring who we actually are, understanding and fulfilling our purpose becomes a lot less complicated.

I love how Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Galatians 6:4-5 reflects this truth. It says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that… Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life” (The Message Translation).

For so much of my life, I focused on figuring out what I was supposed to do. But it turns out, I was approaching my purpose backwards. Because, as Peterson’s paraphrase indicates, before we can do our creative best with our life, we first need to explore the unique person God created us to be.

I’ve discovered that when we begin with simply exploring who we actually are, understanding and fulfilling our purpose becomes a lot less complicated. Carina Alanson Tweet

Of course, there’s usually a bit more to understanding our purpose than simple self-awareness. But if you’re struggling to discern and fulfill your purpose, it’s a great place to start. Here are six things I’ve found helpful in developing a better self-understanding.

1. SPEND TIME WITH GOD

As you explore who you are, the best place to start is with the Person who created you. After all, being loved by God and loving Him in return is our ultimate purpose. And it’s only through our relationship with Him that we can discover who we truly are.

So be sure to spend quality time with God . As you do, ask Him to reveal the unique passions, gifts, dreams, and personality traits He’s woven into you. Don’t worry if you don’t hear something instantly. Jesus said that when we ask we will receive. So you can rest assured that in His perfect time He will speak to you.

2. ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS

Aside from spending time with God , one of the best ways to develop better self-understanding is to ask yourself questions, such as:

What brings me joy?
Which things have I always been good at or naturally inclined toward?
How did I spend my time as a child?
What do I care about so much that I’m willing to sacrifice for it?
Which are my deepest values?
What are my biggest dreams?
Which are my core personality traits?
If I could do anything, what would it be?

The goal of these questions is to get to the core of who you are. We’re trying to uncover the defining traits and characteristics that make you the most you. So as you respond to the questions, try to let go of any messages you’ve received from your peers or culture about who you should be. Instead hone in on what feels most authentic to you.

If you have trouble coming up with answers, don’t worry. Just start paying attention and collecting information as you go about your life. Start noticing what brings you joy, what makes you sad, and what you daydream about. We often learn about ourselves over time as we observe how we feel and respond to the world around us.

3. ASK FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR FEEDBACK

It can also be helpful to ask friends, family members, or trusted spiritual leaders what they see as your top gifts, skills, or personality traits . People who are well acquainted with us can offer insights into who we are. They can identify gifts we may have not recognized or providing validation for what we already know about ourselves.

4. TAKE A PERSONALITY TEST OR A SPIRITUAL GIFTS INVENTORY

Do you gain energy by being around other people or by spending time alone? Maybe you like to plan ahead or perhaps you love doing things spur of the moment? Do you have natural strengths as a leader or administrator? Are you more analytical or more emotional? A good personality test can help you answer some of these questions by providing information about your defining traits and your typical ways of interacting with the world.

For a more biblical approach, you can take a spiritual gifts inventory. These inventories can help reveal, for example, whether you are gifted at teaching, shepherding, evangelizing, or encouraging.

You can find a variety of free and paid personality tests and spiritual gifts inventories online. If you have the time, go ahead and take several tests. Different assessments are designed to highlight different things—some focus on character strengths, some determine which careers best suit your personality, and some assess how your personality impacts your relationships. Even spiritual gifts inventories categorize spiritual gifts in varying ways or emphasize one category of gifts over another. Keep in mind, no test or inventory is going to give you a complete picture of who you are or is going to be 100 percent accurate. These assessments are simply tools to help us learn more about ourselves. If you get results that don’t seem to fit, feel free to disregard them.

5. TRY NEW THINGS

Usually, we won’t know whether something is a good fit until we’ve given it a try. I know I enjoy writing and painting and speaking because I’ve spent time doing those things. I also know that working as a counselor or an administrative assistant doesn’t suit me because I’ve done those jobs.

Much of what we know about ourselves we learn through experience, so go ahead and take that cooking class or that ceramics workshop. Sign up for skiing lessons. Take a step of faith and lead a semester-long life group or Bible study. When you find something that makes you feel alive and full of joy, chances are you’re tapping into a deep part of who you are. But even if you try something and end up not liking it, it’s not a loss. Knowing what we don’t enjoy is just as important as knowing what we do.

6. WRITE A PURPOSE STATEMENT

There’s something about the process of putting our thoughts into words that brings clarity. When I wrote my personal purpose statement, I dug deep and spent a lot of time reflecting on what made me the most me. Doing so helped sharpen my understanding of myself.

Writing a purpose statement doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be just a few sentences or even a bullet-point list summarizing your core characteristics, values, gifts, and interests.

As an example, here’s one version of my purpose statement: My purpose is to spread Jesus’ beauty, truth, wisdom, hope, and love. I’m a writer, an encourager, and a shepherd. My top values and passions are purpose, rest, creativity, enjoying life, and spiritual growth . I engage, encourage, and equip others in these areas, particularly through teaching and writing.

SHARE WHAT YOU FIND

As you get to the heart of who you are, start thinking about simple ways you can share what you find. If you love to bake, think of someone you can bless with a tasty treat. If you love to play the guitar, get out your instrument and strum a bedtime lullaby for your toddler . Whatever you do, don’t keep your gifts to yourself, and don’t let the devil tell you that what you have to offer isn’t practical or important.

God carefully crafted you on purpose, for a purpose. The unique traits He’s given you reflect something about who He is, and because of that, you are walking in your purpose and bringing glory to God when you simply express your most authentic self. As you seek God and share your gifts, I pray you experience a sense of fulfillment beyond your expectations!

Do you have a purpose statement? Why not use the tips Carina shared and write out your purpose statement today? If you already have one, share it with us in the comments!

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Carina Alanson is a former professional counselor turned writer, editor, and course creator who is passionate about helping women live with purpose and grow in their relationship with God. She lives in the subarctic town of Fairbanks, Alaska, where she enjoys scenic drives with her husband, snowshoeing, and reading by the fire. To connect with Carina and find resources for purposeful living, visit carinaalanson.com or find her on Instagram

I just wanted to say that this is one of the most encouraging articles I’ve ever read on the subject of discerning and living one’s purpose, and want to thank you, Carina, for sharing your heart and experience on the topic.

Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words, Rachael! I’m so glad this was encouraging for you! Blessings!

Amazing truth! Thanks for giving me the insight to explore what makes me, me.

You are so welcome, Melanie! I’m so glad it resonated with you! Blessings!

I’ve been mulling this whole idea of purpose over for some time now. What a wonderful article with practical tips and it’s just the right time for me to read it. Thank you so much!

I’m so glad this resonated and came at just the right time for you, Glynis! You are so welcome, and thank you for reading and for your comment! Blessings!

As I have found out more about myself, I have found out more about God (and others) and marveled at the variety he gives to us all. I am nothing like my husband, complete opposites, and yet because we are gifted with different talents, together we are able to join forces and cover a lot of ground. Need to know the best thing-a-ma-jing to buy and why, he’s got you. Need to know how to break down a task into steps, I can help and also encourage you to start. When we start finding out about ourselves, we can then help our children find and identify their strengths and find their gifts.

I love how you say it, Theresa: “As I have found out more about myself, I have found out more about God (and others).” I’ve found this to be so true! And so true also that as we find out about ourselves we can better help others find their own gifts and strengths. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and for reading! Blessings!

YOUR GOD GIVEN ASSIGNMENT

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ – Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)

The brevity of life, described as a mist that appears for a little while, (James 4:14) demands us to understand our God given assignment as soon as we are born again.

God saved you to fulfill a particular assignment for Him, and that assignment is time bound. “ You must work the works of him that sent you, while it is day, a time will come when you can no longer work” (John 9:4 paraphrased)

Your divine assignment is a God given task that comes with an inherent burden and divinely given ability to solve problems that yield eternal value.

When you are sure of your calling or divine assignment you would take every opportunity you have to serve anytime, anywhere.

Ideas for your divine assignment come from the wisdom of God and not the philosophies and ideas of man, it is not copied or necessarily inherited or learned talent.

Have you discovered your God-given assignment? Have you asked about why God is allowing you to have a formal education? Why He allowed you to be in the family, room, dorm, or even the neighborhood and church where you currently serve?

Seek God and ask Him to show you your spiritual gifts. Study His word prayerfully.

Seek counsel from godly matured and genuine Christian mentors. Be sincere in asking God to reveal His assignment for you and be ready to walk in it even if it does not satisfy your personal ambition.

Walking in your God-given assignment is where you will find the ultimate spiritual satisfaction and fulfillment.

PRAYER: Lord show me your way, help me to redeem the time and serve you wherever, whenever and however. I want to occupy for you in my divine assignment. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

~ Devotional ~

A CRY FROM A HOPELESS SITUATION

Your Calling: 5 Keys to Fulfilling God’s Dream For Your Life

You are created on purpose, for a purpose—to love God and to have a destiny that impacts the lives of others. Here are 5 Biblical truths about your God-ordained calling, with some thoughts for personal reflection:

1. Your Calling is Where Your Dreams and God’s Intersect

Deep in your personal DNA is the blueprint of your Creator. There is a dream —a vision for your future— on the Father’s heart for your life. This is your prophetic calling. Personal prophecy often taps into this.

Because of this pre-ordained destiny, there are desires that God places within you. You dream because He dreamed first. Sometimes, those dreams are dormant and they need to be discovered and stirred up.

What dream (vision and desire for your future) is the Holy Spirit stirring in your life at this time?

2. Courage Arises when Your Desire is to Make the King’s Dreams Come True

‘David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David.’ (2 Sam 23:15-16a)

What distinguished King David’s ‘mighty men’ from all the others in his service? They lived for the King. Their dream was to serve him and make his dreams come true .

It was the warriors who were intimate with the King who heard the desire of his heart. These were the ones who rose up and performed great acts of bravery. The king’s dream and theirs were one and the same.

Be someone whose greatest desire is to make your Father’s dreams come true. Live for the King’s pleasure—and you will discover the greatest fulfilment of your prophetic calling possible.

3. Don’t let the Enemy Tempt you with a Counterfeit Calling

‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ (John 10:10)

A counterfeit prophetic vision appears real, but is a false and misleading picture of God’s purpose for our future.

For example, it can happen when we serve fear, selfish ambition, ease, or another person’s vision for our life. The distortion can be subtle and lead us unwittingly down the wrong path. We are serving something other than Jesus.

A counterfeit destiny satisfies the soul for a time, but there will always feel like there is something missing. You may be using your talents and gifts. You may be even be fulfilling some personal aspirations, but it’s not God’s highest call for your life. It’s not your prophetic calling.

Take time to check. Ask the Holy Spirit to align your heart and dreams with the dream God has for your life.

4. You Can’t Fulfil God’s Dream for Your Life in Your Own Strength

‘Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.’ (John 20:21-22)

The assignment God has for your life is always going to be greater than you can accomplish in your own strength. You cannot complete it alone. You need the empowering of the Holy Spirit—His Presence and enabling power.

God has provided His Spirit, and also everything that you need ahead of time by His command. (1 Kings 17:9)

So dream big. Don’t let fear and intimidation steal your prophetic calling and assignment for God. Let God enlarge your dreams. And instead of shrinking back, receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit for what is ahead.

5. Obedience is Costly, but the Reward is Priceless

‘…those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.’ (Rom 8:5b)

Pursuing God’s calling for your life will lead you to a series of intersections. You may be at one right now.

And at that intersection there is a price to pay. You can take the easy road, the road of comfort or indecision—and delay the fulfilment of God’s call on your life. Or you can take the high road of faithfulness and obedience.

Obedience is not about performing to a standard or following a set of rules. It is about aligning your life to the Person of the Holy Spirit.

This means dealing with issues of sin or attitudes that the Holy Spirit is bringing into the light. It means getting out of your comfort zone to follow God’s plan for your life and live for Him day by day. It means being available to God to help making the dreams of others come true.

Obedience may be costly, but the reward is priceless.

The prize is unity and intimacy with the Holy Spirit now. It is in the lives of people touched for eternity and a legacy to pass on to the next generation.

So go—live your dreams and in so doing, make the dreams of God for your life come true.

Related Posts: 9 Clues to Your God-Given Identity Your Identity and Destiny: 3 Keys from the Life of Gideon

10 thoughts on “Your Calling: 5 Keys to Fulfilling God’s Dream For Your Life”

Hi Helen, Your third point stirred something in me as I had a situation recently in relation to my job. I have been led in a particular direction in my job and an opportunity came up for me, but long term it would take me off the path God is leading me on and keep me stagnant. I had to decline, it was a great opportunity but not a God opportunity. I began to think about the temptation given to Jesus, Mtt 4:1-11. Jesus would often say I only do what my father is doing Jn 5:19. I believe it’s vital to remain on the path marked out for us. Blessings Helen.

Hi David, yes I believe that in situations like you have experienced it is like Isaiah 30v21 mentions: ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Holy Spirit is directing our paths and giving us the instinct as to which direction to go, cautioning when needed so we stay on God’s path for our lives. May you know God’s extraordinary grace on your work in this season.

Thank you Helen! Once again you’ve hit the nail on the head! Fantastic teaching! This is exactly where I am … He’s calling me forward but the ‘counterfeit’ is so appealing (and acceptable in the eyes of some). We CAN wholeheartedly trust Him with our lives 🙂 Thanks again.

Wow! This is so timely Helen, God bless you indeed. HHHHHhhhhhhhmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…I’ve been trusting God for a confirmation of what I feel he has been leading me towards, though that does not seem to be where my hearts yearns to go, but each time I want to do/act differently, he kind of brings me back to that. You nailed it here : ” And at that intersection there is a price to pay. You can take the easy road, the road of comfort or indecision—and delay the fulfillment of God’s call on your life. Or you can take the high road of faithfulness and obedience. ” Thanks so much Helen. Believing God for more clarity later in Church today. Thanks so much and God bless you.

That’s awesome, Abijah. May the fresh touch of God on your life continue to flow

please I want to know if I have God calling through my dreams always I see myself healing people and also raising death people this dreams comes repeatedly I start asking myself a question in my dreams I also discard peolpes heart digonise their disease and all so give them a solution to their problems a lot of different dreams has being coming pls I want know if am really in the right place with God please tell me Thanks and God blrss you ad you reply

Hello Onyebuchi, what powerful dreams! If healing is a desire of your heart, trust the work of God in you and continue to pray and take small steps as God leads you.

I hard an encounter with GOD since then I have being seeing myself performing so many miracles in my dreams and the more am asking question the stronger the dreams come off on and on i raise death people heal the sick and discern people and it happens in all my dream I see myself prophecies to people and God giving them a solutions to thire problems so please tell me what God me to do

Hie Oko, Your dreams are simply telling you God’s plan in your life. That you have been chosen to heal deliver and raise the dead. It might be not now but it shall come to pass.

In my dream three days ago, i saw nice looking gentleman with white neat dress making delivances or playing and the place is so confortable so i shout hmm here is prencess God when i look back i saw an offering bow and shells which are full of bible( those use by johoval witness)and istarted crying saying you have seen me God, you have pass by me, am big you have been heal for seeing me today you will do my work, you will, see what is hidding, heal multiples,your eyes shall see, ears have been opend, people shall hear you all over the area you will travell to many places to do my work to give my name grory because all this are given you free : hearing, sighting, hearing,and singing then it took me up and said i have finished and it took me up on my feet turing round and fall down heavy. so please any adivice

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What Is a God-given Assignment?

by Daniel Bacon

Moving toward fulfilling the good work God has for us includes wisdom and action. Bacon offers guidelines for finding our way in the myriad of options.

Over the years of my missionary career there have been numerous times when leadership has suggested that I take on a new ministry assignment that involves a change in role, and in some instances, even a change in location. That inevitably sets in motion a period of heart searching, asking difficult questions without always finding answers, coupled sometimes with uncertainty, frustration, and anxiety before coming to a final decision.

I suspect that most of us have gone through this process. How do we really know when a proposed assignment is something God is ordering or something else? How do we recognize a God-given assignment? Keep in mind that some might even challenge the notion that God truly has assignments for us that we must discover and fulfill. Regardless, we need to think carefully about the answers to this key question as it may have a profound impact on our daily spiritual life and how we approach our ministries.

From the perspective of Ephesians 2:10 it is clear that God has prepared a path which is characterized by “good works” in which we should walk. In Hebrews 12:1, the writer exhorts us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The idea is to run faithfully in the lane uniquely marked out for each of us. From our limited perspective, how then do we discern that path or identify the particular good works that God purposes for us? Let me suggest three approaches.

1. The “to-do list” approach. Some have argued that God’s call or assignments are very specific and can be determined through thoughtful prayer, scripture, and godly counsel. In other words, God reveals the where and the how through these time-honored means. Historically, Christians have been taught that God does indeed have good works or assignments for us individually as well as corporately. As a young believer, I was told that God had a specific plan for my life and I must discover it and then do it with all my heart if I were to fulfill my calling. My task was to find God’s “to-do list” for my life, and then at each junction pursue it.

2. The “godly wisdom” approach. Others see God as giving us freedom to make choices and believe that those very choices become the will of God for us as we seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. In other words, God has already revealed all that we need to know to live out the Christian life, and as long as we make decisions consistent with his revealed purposes and values in scripture, we are within God’s will.

Furthermore, this approach would add that God has given each of us a mix of natural abilities, acquired skills, and spiritual gifts, and that he expects us to live out our “gift mix” as good stewards. Thus, whatever task or “good work” we undertake doesn’t really matter in terms of being God’s will or call, but rather our main concern should be that it expresses his revealed purposes in scripture and is done in a way that brings glory to him. This is what is meant by exercising godly wisdom in choosing from among alternatives as we seek to glorify God in our lives. In effect, whenever I choose an assignment believing that it is a good and right thing to do, God, in his sovereign control and purposes, makes it my God-given assignment and ultimately works out his plan (Rom. 8:28).

I confess that I struggle to understand just how God guides. At times, doors open in a way that seems to shout, “Pay attention! This is your opportunity. Walk through it.” There are other times, however, when I feel as if I am totally on my own to make a decision and hear no voice whispering in my ear, “This is the way; walk in it.”

So how do we resolve the tension or polarity between these two views—between what seems a very personal and subjective approach (discover the list and do it) versus a very objective approach (exercise godly wisdom)? My own conviction is that resolution lies in a dynamic tension between the two. But just what do I mean by this?

3. The “partnership with God” approach. As I read scripture, and in particular passages that relate to God’s involvement with the believer in working out his sovereign purposes, I am persuaded that the process of guidance is more complex than we may think and grows out of a partnership with God rather than a simple “follow the directions” approach.

Passages such as 1 Corinthians 3:8 and 3:14-15 indicate that rewards will be given to a believer according to his or her own labor before the judgment seat of Christ. The expression “labor” seems to be referring to one’s unique contribution to the planting and building up of the Church. In other words, the focus is on one’s function and faithfulness in fulfilling that role rather than saying anything specific about where or in what setting we labor. We are rewarded then according to the quality of our contribution (gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, straw) as we operate within our general sphere of gifting or function. As the Apostle Paul puts it, “…as the Lord has assigned to each his task” (1 Cor. 3:5).

Furthermore, Paul describes us in 1 Corinthians 3:9 as God’s fellow workers—an amazing statement! He indicates that as workers we are privileged to serve in a partnership with God to accomplish his purposes. Again, in another setting, the Apostle Paul talks about this partnership in this way: “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, God does not treat us merely as robots at the end of a remote control. Rather, there is a divine synergy between the Lord of the Harvest and each of us individually in working out his plan for our lives.

This synergy is further emphasized in 2 Thessalonians 1:11: “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” What is interesting here is to see the initiative seemingly coming from us to undertake a purpose or act. Then, after taking the first step in faith, we see God working in power to fulfill that act or purpose through us. Here then is the mystery of partnership with God. What has happened is that God worked in us at first (“to will and do of his good purpose”). In responding, we in turn take ownership of that burden and it becomes “our purpose” as well as God’s, and thus we see this reciprocal dynamic taking place.

I am persuaded that God will guide us, but the defining of any so-called "God-given assignment" is a process that includes us as well as the Lord. I believe that it is important for us to pray about what we should do, read scripture carefully to make sure our motives and overall values are in alignment, and seek godly counsel. But I also believe that we need to take more responsibility for our part in decision-making and believe that in the process God will be at work.

What then is the role of the subjective and the objective in the equation of discerning a God-given assignment or in receiving a call? In addressing this question I would like to touch upon two important factors and then outline some general guidelines.

Important Factors in Defining a God-given Assignment 1. Culture and environment. Part of the complication in defining how God guides our lives or in determining what constitutes a “God-given assignment” is our own cultural conditioning. Western or Postmodern cultures that put more emphasis on individual choice and freedom tend to emphasize the subjective side of guidance. In other words, the key questions would start with how you feel about the task: Are you convinced in your heart that it is the right thing to do? Do you have personal peace about the decision? What would bring you the greatest sense of fulfillment and use of your potential?

By contrast, traditional cultures which are more family-oriented and communitarian in their values and practices would tend to stress the objective side of guidance: What is expected by others? What is required or what is your duty? What would please or benefit the group most? Seldom heard is the oft-mentioned phrase so common in the West: “I don’t feel like it!”

2. The call. Inevitably, any discussion about guidance will bring up the matter of the call. Few questions come up as frequently or creates as much confusion in Christian circles as the whole matter of the “call”—whether to a place, ministry, or task. However, what does it really mean and how does one really know if he or she is called by God? When am I “free to just choose” and when must I have a “call”?

The Greek word kaleo, usually translated “call,” occurs 148 times in the New Testament with an additional 70 times in related terms. The predominant use of the term is in reference to God’s calling of individuals to salvation and to a quality of life as a Christian. Thus, we could describe this as God’s general call to all believers.

At the same time there is another use of the term as found in Romans 1:1 and 1 Corinthians 1:1, which describes a call to a unique role or function. Paul saw himself as an apostle, called and appointed by the will of God (Eph. 3:7). Related to his function as an apostle, he then viewed his service as an outworking of that call or function (Acts 13:2; 16:9). Thus, we are all called to salvation and a Christian walk worthy of that calling (Eph. 4:1). Beyond that, however, some are called to a kind of ministry or task as Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:2. The focus of a call, then, is on the function more than the where and how.

It is important to note that the only time geography is used in relation to a call in the New Testament is in Acts 16:10. Beyond that there is no other reference to Paul being called out from Macedonia to some other location or ministry task similar to the way he was called to Macedonia. Why geographical direction was given here but apparently not elsewhere is not clear, but perhaps there was something special about the circumstances. Therefore, we need to exercise caution in demanding a geographic call before determining our direction. Furthermore, there is no record of any individual in the Book of Acts being accepted or rejected on Paul’s apostolic mission band because of a personal call. Also, the term is never referred to as a requirement in the list of qualifications for church leadership in 1 Timothy 3 or Titus 1.

What do we mean then by the call? For many, the traditional use relates to a feeling or conviction that someone should be in a particular country or in a certain kind of ministry and undertake a specific task. The call is frequently tied to God’s guidance for special service, usually in the cross-cultural sense or to the staff of a local church. One should never go out without one, nor accept a position without one, for that would be inviting trouble. Ignoring the call would be disobedient and result in serious consequences and loss. The call usually comes through the formula of the word, prayer, and circumstances.

On the other hand, a number of Bible teachers or mission leaders question the biblical validity of a special missionary call. They stress that scripture’s commands to go and make disciples are evident, and extraordinary guidance of a subjective nature is unnecessary. Rather, the emphasis should be on a person’s suitability and availability to respond to given needs or opportunities. If those are in tandem from an objective standpoint, the person should move ahead even without a “feeling” of being called.

Many, however, use the term “call” in a generic sense, synonymous with God’s guidance, including both subjective and objective factors. Although in this system an individual’s convictions are given consideration, responsibility for assessing suitability is not ignored. If the qualifications are lacking, the church or mission agency usually discourages candidacy, regardless of the person’s subjective feelings.

The following guidelines may help steer our thinking through this important decision-making process of discerning a God-given assignment.

Assignments that apply to all. Every believer has been called to a relationship with God and to a quality of life that honors him in every aspect of daily life. As Paul reminds us, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Eph. 4:1). This is the will of God for each of us, regardless of where we live or what our individual roles might be. Jerry Sittser adds this practical note:

The will of God concerns the present more than the future. It deals with our motives as well as our actions. It focuses on the little decisions we make about the future. The only time we really have to know and to do God’s will is the present moment. We are to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength, and we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. These are the basic responsibilities Jesus challenges us to pay attention to… (2000, 29)

Assignments that express our unique giftedness and basic function in the Body of Christ. Scripture makes clear that what God has equipped us with as believers (natural abilities, acquired skills, spiritual gifts) should give direction to our primary service and assignments. Peter states it simply when he exhorts, “Each one should use whatever spiritual gift he has received to serve others, faithfully ministering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10). There is a sense in which all of us are called to serve—to do the necessary things at times, regardless of whether or not we feel that it matches our training or giftedness. However, as a general rule, God expects us to take on tasks or accept assignments that enable us to best utilize our giftedness.

In Ephesians 4, Paul reminds us that God has given gifted people to serve within the body and to reach out to the world. These gifted people are called apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Each of these gifted people is called to fulfill a certain function. What is stressed is not the specific location or organization within which they might serve, but rather the nature of their unique roles. As one reads through Paul’s journeys in Acts, we see frequent changes in place, circumstances, and assignments. And yet the thread of continuity in all of Paul’s ministry settings was the unique role he fulfilled as a gifted apostle, teacher, and pastor.

Sittser clarifies the importance of distinguishing between our basic calling and our careers (2000, 63). Sometimes we confuse our God-given function with any specific job description, role, or career. We think that God calls us to a career (e.g., missionary, doctor, engineer), but fail to understand that within any vocation we are called to a basic function which flows out of what God has equipped and gifted us for (e.g., evangelist, pastor, teacher, encourager).

Assignments that respond to needs and opportunities. The New Testament is replete with exhortations for God’s people to engage in “good works” (e.g., 2 Cor. 9:8; Gal. 6:9-10; Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:7, 14). The theme running throughout these texts is that each of us is to respond to needs and opportunities for doing good; by doing so, we are fulfilling God’s redemptive purpose or calling for us.

Thus within these broad parameters of God’s clearly revealed will, each of us takes on various assignments that reflect God’s purposes. I really don’t need to pray about whether or not I should love my neighbor or seek to serve within the local church. God has already spoken about these duties. In my daily priorities and choices, any action or response that flows naturally from life’s circumstances or demands and looks like, smells like, and talks like a good work, becomes a God-given assignment to me at that point. Whatever best expresses the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) in a situation automatically qualifies as God’s assignment and thus God’s call or will for me.

There are innumerable potential good works that theoretically could be considered divine assignments. The key issue, however, is not to be unduly concerned over which should be mine or yours, but to start from the perspective of what are the needs or opportunities that I’m uniquely equipped to undertake or have the reasonable opportunity to meet.

Assignments that come from a God-given burden or concern. There is strong biblical evidence that God also works in our hearts so that a vision, burden, or concern to meet a need begins to emerge and gives us a conviction that there is something we need to do. Paul reminds us that “…it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil. 2:13).

Titus is an interesting case study. At one point, Paul asks Titus to go to Corinth to assist in the pastoral care and development of this important local church. Using his apostolic authority, Paul could have ordered Titus to go and likely he would have. Paul was not adverse to issuing orders to fellow workers such as Titus in other settings (see Titus 1:5). But instead we read, “I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative” (2 Cor. 8:16-17).

It is interesting that most ministry visions flow out of a desire to meet a need or solve a problem. Seldom does a vision come from a vacuum. History is filled with stories of God’s servants seeing a need, and feeling within a growing desire or burden to do something about it. Hudson Taylor saw one million souls a month perishing without Christ in China, and the burden to help is what drove him to start the China Inland Mission in 1865.

God has called us to partnership in his work in this world. It would seem that as we walk with God, from time to time he brings to our awareness a situation that cries for help. We are confronted and begin to feel in our heart of hearts that this should not be. It becomes a cry or protest against the status quo. That kind of a conviction would strongly indicate a God-given assignment.

Assignments that come from organizational requirements. When we are a part of an organization as an employee or volunteer, then scripture makes clear that work-related assignments are in reality God-given assignments. Paul reminds slaves in Ephesians 6:7, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is a slave or free.”

When we are serving under authority, we are told to see our tasks not just as menial or mundane jobs to be done, but rather as acts of service to God. How much more so when we are serving within a Christian organization or as part of a ministry team. Tasks then that come to us from the team need to be seen as God-given assignments and solicit from within us a wholehearted commitment to contribute as best we can.

Summary In the end, we are all called to walk by faith and not by sight. We desperately want to get things right and thus, at times, want “absolute proof” of what God is asking or calling us to do. However, each of us needs to take a final step of faith even after we have done all to discern God’s will with respect to a proposed assignment. Ultimately, we are to trust not in our guidance, but in the God who guides (Ps. 48:14).

Reference Sittser, Jerry. 2000. Discovering God’s Will: How to Make Every Decision with Peace and Confidence . Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan.

Having served in Japan and Singapore, and as U.S. national director for OMF International, Daniel Bacon has focused on leader development among OMF personnel and consulting with other ministries. Daniel has a DMiss from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

EMQ, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 60-66. Copyright © 2011 Evangelism and Missions Information Service (EMIS). All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMIS.

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The Importance of Discovering Your Assignment

You were born because something had to be done that required your existence. In this four-day plan, you will learn how to discover and activate your unique assignment from God. If you live by following God’s will and way, your alignment with Him offers you significant influence and affluence with others. This is a biblical principle, as will be evidenced by the life of Joseph in Genesis.

We would like to thank Kingdom Initiatives for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.kingdominitiatives.au/

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Introduction

Are you fully committed to God’s divine assignment for you?

(NOTE: You can scroll to the bottom to watch today’s sermon.)

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been taking a look at being a vessel of God . From those sermons, we know that as a vessel of the Lord, God will use us for His higher plans and His higher purposes. We have seen how in the Old Testament, God used man to teach and to prophecy to one another. We have also seen in the New Testament, that the Lord still desires to use every last one of His children for the purpose of ministering to those around them.

In His Great Commission, we see Jesus say to those that would choose to follow after Him, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you ( Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19-20 ).” So, again, it is very clear to us that God’s higher plans and purposes for us is to minister to and make believers of all people.

Now, how the Lord uses us to carry out His divine assignment is unique (meaning personalized) to each of His children. Again, some He uses to preach the word and some He uses to sing so that they may uplift the spirits of others. Some the Lord may use to testify of their journey, and others He may use in the work of charity. God uses us as He sees fit.

Yet, I tell you that there are times when some of us have reservations (concerns) as to how we are being used by the Lord. Some of us question how the Lord is using us. We question the Lord’s motive and so, therefore, we begin to question God’s divine assignment. I want to take a look at these reservations some of us, His ‘vessels’ have and ask again today, are we truly fully committed to God’s divine assignment?

Do We Have Reservations?

I ask this question today because I truly wonder whether or not we are fully committed to being a vessel of the Lord. Scripture is filled with people who had reservations about the divine assignment the Lord had for them. Last week, I briefly mentioned Peter in my sermon and I felt compelled to preach a sermon focusing on him this week.

Peter, as you know, was one of Jesus’ twelve closest followers. Of Peter, Jesus said that He was a rock and on him, He would build His church ( Matt. 16:18 ). So, the Lord had a special plan and purpose for Peter meaning Peter would be a vessel that God would use to minister to others.

Through studying scripture during the years Jesus ministered and even after His resurrection, we see that Peter had some serious flaws. I don’t know if there is a faithful man in scripture who’s flaws and failures are put on display as much as his! Which, honestly, is very interesting because scripture usually portrays mostly the good things of those who were righteous, especially when it comes to the apostles. So, like many of us, Peter must have had many failures. I want to take a look at a few examples of Peter’s flaws for just a moment.

Scripture shows us that Peter was a bold, brash, and very impulsive man. With little hesitation, Peter brashly and impulsively cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant in the garden prior to Jesus’ arrest ( John 18:10-11 ). At another occasion, at the transfiguration of Christ, Peter, without realizing what he was saying , impulsively asked to build three tabernacles to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah ( Luke 9:33 ). At the Feast of Passover, the disciples argued among themselves who was greater ( Luke 22:24 ) and I believe it was Peter who was boldly believing himself to be greatest among the disciples.

Peter’s rebuke

Actually, it was at this feast where we see another character flaw of Peter rear its ugly head, and this flaw is an extremely dangerous flaw that we must focus on today.

To teach the apostles a lesson on what those who consider themselves to be great should do for those around them, Jesus chose to wash the apostles’ feet. This was a lesson on humility but it was also a lesson on serving others. Scripture tells us that Peter, initially, did not understand what Jesus was doing in that moment. When seeing Jesus approach to wash his feet, Peter rebuked Jesus. He eventually relented from his rebuke when Jesus told him the purpose behind washing his feet ( John 13:6-9 ).

Now that was not the first time that Peter offered this sort of rebuke to Christ and to God. Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus had been predicting his death to the disciples which really frustrated Peter. So Peter took Jesus to the side and, again, we see him rebuke what Jesus had been saying to which Jesus responded, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men ( Matt. 16:21-23 ).”

Now, I want to direct your attention back to my scripture for today in the book of Acts. By this point in time, Jesus had ascended to heaven, so Peter has had some time to grow, yet this character flaw is shown to us again. We are told that while he was on the rooftop of Simon the tanner, he ended up in a deep trance ( Acts 10:9-10 ). While in a trance, Peter saw a great sheet descend from heaven to him, and on that sheet he saw all kinds of animals. He then heard the Lord’s voice say to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat ( Acts 10:11-12 ).”

This, I want you to understand, was a direct command from God. Yet, Peter, we see, rebukes the Lord and tells Him, “Not so, Lord ( Acts 10:14 ) !” In fact, scripture tells us that this played out three times ( Acts 10:16 )! So, what was the deal with Peter? Why do we keep seeing him rebuke the Lord?

13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” KEY VERSE – ACTS 10:13-14 NKJV

The Great Sin of Stubbornness

Peter could not move beyond his thoughts and feelings – he was very stubborn . This was a very great flaw that he had because as a vessel of the Lord, he was meant to be fully committed to God, yet He continued to have reservation as to what God was doing. In a way, Peter’s stubbornness was causing him to question the motives of the Lord. Where he should have been mindful of the things of God, as shown to us when he rebuked Jesus when He was predicting His death, Peter was too stuck on himself.

As a vessel of the Lord, the ideal response from Peter would have been to do as the Lord had commanded – no reservations, no hesitation, no delay. As a vessel of God, the ideal response from the believer when God has commanded us, is to do as He commands.

Something we must understand when it comes to His divine assignment, God is going to move us wherever He sees fit and use us how He pleases. We have to learn to trust in how the Lord is going to use and we must be obedient to His command without reservation, hesitation, and delay. We are certainly going to have time to do the things we desire, but when the Lord gives us a task, yes, we should drop what we are doing and put His divine assignment first! If we say we desire to be a vessel of the Lord, we should be fully committed to God’s divine assignment!

The Christian’s stubbornness

I feel like many of us actually share a lot in common with Peter in that we can be very bold, brash, and impulsive. God can direct us to wait while He works on our blessing and we will have times when we ignore His command and act on impulse. God can direct us to move as He desires and some of us are bold enough to question His direction. Some of us, in fact, will flat out rebuke the Lord’s direction because we know a better way of being in service to Him. When we do this, I want you to understand that we are saying our thoughts are better than the Lord’s thoughts.

Last week I said that there is a great sin that today’s Christian commits and that was the sin of laziness. This week, I tell you that there is another great sin that is present in today’s Christians – the sin of stubbornness . When we stay attached to our own thoughts and feelings, and are not mindful of the things of the Lord, we are showing ourselves not to be committed to Him. When God has a divine assignment for us, and we choose to rebuke it because it does not fit our thoughts and feelings, we are not being fully committed to the Lord’s plans as we have so professed.

In the first book of Samuel, when we read of King Saul’s great sin, Samuel said to Saul, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” This, Samuel said, indicates that spiritual stubbornness is indeed a sin.

Samuel continued, “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king ( 1 Sam. 15:22-23 ).” When we reject the Lord in our spirit, we certainly know that we cannot enter into His heavenly kingdom. Yet, I also tell you today that in our spiritual stubbornness, we find that it can not only be detrimental to us, but it can be detrimental to all of those around us.

Keep your vow to God

Again, I tell all of you that the Lord has a divine assignment for us and it is an assignment that is going to take us in directions that we could have never imagined. The Lord’s divine assignment may have us go through some things that we never could have imagined. God may have us speak to and minister to people that we may have never imagined speaking to and ministering to. We cannot be a detriment to the Lord and to those around us because of our own personal thoughts and feelings – this is a sin. We certainly should not do this if we have said that we desire to be a vessel of God for His special plans and purposes in our heart.

When we have said that we desire to be a vessel of the Lord, I want you to understand that we have made a commitment (a vow) to God in our heart! Making a vow to the Lord is very important.

I want to direct your attention to the book of Ecclesiastes for a moment. Solomon wrote, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God ( Eccl. 5:4-7 ).”

You see, when we have taken a vow to be a vessel of God, we ought to stand by this commitment. God expects us to stand by that vow! I want you to understand that God desires to use a vessel that is fully committed to His divine assignment! God is not going to use anybody who is going to half step when it comes to His divine assignment. If you have said that you want to be used for the Lord’s special plans and purposes, then you must be all in and not one foot in.

Commitment Check

I tell you today that it is commitment check time for all of those that desire to be a vessel of the Lord. I believe that all of God’s children desire to be a vessel of His so I tell you today that it is commitment check time for all of God’s children – all of those who are true worshipers and genuinely believe in Him.

Peter’s divine assignment

I want to quickly turn our attention back to Peter for just a moment because he underwent a commitment check in the book of Acts. While he contemplated the vision he saw in his trance, a commitment check came knocking on the door. Three men from Cornelius, a gentile man that served as a centurion in the Italian Regiment, arrived at Simon the tanner’s house ( Acts 10:1 ). We are told that they were there because an angel of God told Cornelius to reach out to Peter about his faith ( Acts 10:4-8, 30-33 ).

Cornelius is described in scripture as a devout man who feared the Lord ( Acts 10:2 ). He was the first of many gentiles who would become a genuine follower of Christ. I want you to understand that this was one of Peter’s divine assignments from God – to minister to Cornelius, therefore, to all other gentiles as well.

We know that this was a divine assignment because the Spirit said to Peter while he was still on the rooftop, “Go down and go with them, doubting nothing ; for I have sent them ( Acts 10:20 ).” So, now was not the time for Peter to have any reservations or rebuke about how the Lord was about to use him. Now was not the time for Peter to be stubborn in his ways!

When Peter arrived at Cornelius’ residence, he found not only was Cornelius present but that all of Cornelius’ relatives and close friends were also present ( Acts 10:24 ). Peter entered the residence and initially remarked, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean ( Acts 10:28 ).”

Peter continued, “But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me ( Acts 10:28-29 )?”

So, the check was to see if Peter had learned his lesson from the trance. A lesson, I believe, was more about being obedient and committed to following the Lord’s command than the food. Peter could have chosen to rebuke the Spirit and not have gone to Cornelius but we see Peter ultimately learned to put aside his stubbornness. We see that he committed himself to the task and was mindful that God was at work on His higher plans and purposes. Peter recognized that he was meant for something far higher than his own thoughts and plans!

Committed to the Lord

On that day, scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit fell upon all of those who Peter had ministered to. You see, we are meant for something far higher than our own feelings, thoughts, and plans. We are meant to help build, establish, and add to the kingdom of God. The thought never leaves my mind on what happens when we, in our stubbornness, become a detriment to those around us. The only thing stubbornness does is hold us back and keep us from growing.

As genuine believers, we have to be mindful and also be able to acknowledge when we are being a spiritual detriment to those around us because we do not want to hold them back from the heavenly gates. To be stubborn spiritually, is as detrimental as it is to be lazy spiritually with the same end results. If we have made our vow to be in service to the Lord, let us truly submit our will for God’s will and let us fully commit ourselves to God’s divine assignment.

Thought: The Obedient Sheep of God

By Rev. Leo H. McCrary II – July 25, 2021 Responsive Reading – Acts 10:13-29 Key Verse – Acts 10:13-14

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Are You Fulfilling Your Assignment?

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Let us talk about your assignments from the Lord. Are you faithfully fulfilling them?

What is your assignment for the Lord in this season of your life? If you don’t know what He is calling you to do, how then can you be fulfilling your assignment?

Some people call assignments a “call” or a “ministry” from the Lord. But that makes it sound ominous, huge, scary. And that also tends to make us rationalise away the need to be on assignment for the Lord.

Because we think, “Nah, I am not qualified to be called” . Or, “No way would the Lord give me a ministry to handle! I am not holy enough!”

Ephesians 2:10, NKJV states, … we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

These good works * are our assignments * that God prepared for each of us to do. Do you know what are the assignments God has given to you to do? How are you fulfilling your assignments?

*Please note: [We not talking about salvation here because we are saved by grace through faith. In other words, we are saved FOR good works, not by good works.]

Size Does Not Matter

Some of us have many assignments, some have few. Some have seemingly small assignments while others huge ones that attract a lot of attention.

The size of our assignment does not matter . What matters is that we do what He has tasked us to do and be faithful to fulfil it.

Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Matthew 24:46, ESV

What is Your Assignment in This Season of Your Life?

Is it to be a stay-at-home-mother, or is it to care for your elderly parents, or perhaps is it to invest in the community that you have been placed into?

All of us need to know our assignments from the Lord because if we don’t know what He is calling us to do, we cannot go and fulfil them.

Well, do not just rush and take on the first thing you are asked to do. Instead, let me encourage you to first align yourself with Him and let Him do the assigning. Yes, this does require you to spend time seeking Him with all your heart, soul and mind. And sometimes (oftentimes?) it requires some form of fasting as well.

But it is all worth it because we ARE living in the last days and we need to know what our assignments are so that we can go and fulfil them. We do not want to end up standing before the Lord empty-handed.

Need Some Help to Process This?

Our ministry Archippus Awakening has a few for you.

SAY TO ARCHIPPUS is written for the Body of Christ but appeals directly and personally to the individual. It is the sounding of a clarion call for all to be awakened, aligned and assigned. To aid the reader in his/her own processing, questions have been added after each chapter for personal reflection or discussion at group level.

ALIGNMENT CHECK Is there more to Christianity than church service, cell group and that odd ministry trip when convenient? There definitely is! Jesus invites all to participate in the advancement of His glorious kingdom. And it begins with an Alignment Check . Focus on the aligning. Let God do the assigning. The book is a practical follow-on volume for those who have been awakened with the desire to be aligned and to discover kingdom assignments.

More information can be found at the Archippus Awakening website itself or sign up for UPDATES to get immediate notification from us. Want to read testimonies of those who have clarified their assignments from the Lord? Read them HERE .

Let me leave you with our ministry’s verse as you ponder and re-assess your assignments in the Lord:

And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17, NKJV

Say to Archippus for Mothers? Living a Purposeful Life Motherhood is Hard. So Lean In to God in Prayer.

When God Has An Assignment On Your Life You Can’T Hang With Everybody

Have you ever felt like you’re on a different path than some of your friends or that you need to pull away from certain relationships in order to pursue God’s calling for your life? This is a common tension believers face when maturing in their faith.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore why you may need to limit interactions with certain people when God gives you a special assignment to fulfill His greater purposes.

If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer to why you can’t hang with everybody when God has an assignment on your life: Your assignments from God require focus, wisdom and often sacrifice . Not everyone in your life will understand or support these callings, which can hinder your ability to wholeheartedly pursue your kingdom purpose.

Understanding Why God Assigns Special Purposes to Specific People

We are each called to play unique roles in god’s plan.

As children of God, we each have a special purpose and calling that only we can fulfill (Jeremiah 29:11). Our creator has intricately designed us with specific gifts, talents, personalities, and experiences to carry out unique roles in His great plan.

Just as parts of the human body work together, with each playing vital roles, so too are we parts of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The eye sees while the ear hears. Similarly, one is gifted at teaching while another has the mercy to care for the sick.

Our diversity and differences enable us to complement each other.

Focus is Required to Fulfill God’s Special Callings

Fulfilling God’s special assignments requires undivided attention and focus on hearing His voice. We must block out distractions and “tune out” other voices calling us in different directions (Matthew 13:22).

Seasons of separation unto God are often needed to discern our assignments without outside influence.

Jesus himself modeled this laser focus during His earthly ministry. Though crowded and busy, He maintained connection with the Father and walked in step with His will (John 5:19). We too must fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Our Assignments Require Us to Be Set Apart for a Season

There are biblical precedents showing those with special callings on their lives experienced periods of separation from others. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before returning to deliver the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 7:7).

Paul, after his radical conversion, went to Arabia for three years before starting his missionary journeys (Galatians 1:15-18).

Similarly, fulfilling our Kingdom assignments may require seasons of relative isolation to receive needed preparation, wisdom and anointing from God. During these seasons, many relationships and activities that previously occupied our time may need to be laid down for a period to fully focus on God’s plans.

Examining Biblical Examples of Assignments Requiring Separation

Joseph: betrayed by his brothers while fulfilling god’s purpose.

Joseph received a vision from God that he would one day rule over his brothers (Genesis 37:5-11). However, his bothers became jealous and sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:12-36). Joseph was thus isolated and betrayed by his own family while walking in his divine assignment .

Yet later, Joseph was elevated to become second-in-command to Pharaoh and helped save Egypt and his family from famine (Genesis 41:37-57). As evidenced in Joseph’s story, carrying out God’s will can sometimes require painful separation from those closest to us.

Moses: Isolated in the Desert to Prepare Him

Moses spent 40 years in isolation in the desert before returning to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from bondage (Exodus 2:11-3:10). This extended time alone was necessary for God to shape Moses into the leader needed for this immense task.

Similarly, seasons of solitude are often required for God to equip us without distractions. As noted on BibleStudyTools.com , God used Moses’ desert isolation to teach him vital lessons in patience, faith and self-control.

Jesus: Tempted in the Wilderness Before Public Ministry

Before launching His earthly ministry, Jesus spent 40 days fasting alone in the Judean wilderness where He was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). This bleak seclusion and temptation prepared Christ for the trials and testing He would face in public ministry.

We too should expect that embracing a God-given assignment may lead us through a spiritual wilderness of isolation and temptation prior to releasing us into greater influence.

Paul: Received Reveled Truth in Arabia Before Joining Disciples

The Apostle Paul spent three years in the Arabian desert after his Damascus road conversion before joining the disciples in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:11-24). As noted on GotQuestions.org , Paul likely used this desert retreat to receive direct revelation from Christ about the Gospel message he would carry to the Gentiles.

Once again, isolation and solitary retreat played a key role in preparing someone for an assignment of great consequence.

Why Those Closest to You May Not Understand Your Assignment

When God gives us a special assignment or calling in life, it’s easy to assume that our closest friends and family will be supportive. After all, they know us best and want what’s good for us, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Here are a few reasons why those closest to you may struggle to understand or embrace the assignment God has placed on your life:

They Have Not Shared Your Encounter with God

If your friends and family have not had the same kind of divine encounter and calling from God that you have experienced, it may be hard for them to fully grasp it. They don’t have that personal relationship with God guiding them, so your calling could seem abstract or confusing.

Give them grace if they don’t immediately “get it.”

Their Support May Enable Counterproductive Patterns

Sometimes, our family and friends support us in ways that actually hinder our growth and purpose. For example, a parent may want to protect you from challenges God wants you to face. Or a spouse may prefer the comfort of the status quo rather than supporting a bold calling that requires sacrifice.

Their intentions are good, but their support contradicts God’s purposes.

Pursuing Earthly Rewards Does Not Align with Eternal Purposes

Many of those closest to us are consumed by pursuing worldly success, pleasures, or comfort. Your calling may threaten their preferred lifestyle or values. For example, a business owner may not understand why you left a lucrative career to begin an unprofitable ministry.

Your eyes are fixed on treasure in heaven, not on earthly rewards.

Rather than judge those close to you, offer grace and understanding. Avoid defensiveness and arguments. Over time, as you walk faithfully with God, He can change hearts and open eyes. Some may eventually become your biggest encouragers!

Until then, rest in the knowledge that God assigns us to special purposes which the world may not comprehend, but His wisdom and grace is sufficient.

Setting Healthy Boundaries to Protect God-Given Assignments

Be selective about who you share with.

When embarking on a God-given assignment or purpose, it’s crucial to be discerning about who you share details with. Not everyone will celebrate the calling on your life. Some may discourages or drain your enthusiasm with their doubts or negative words (See Gideon’s story in Judges 6).

Be led by the Holy Spirit regarding who needs to know specific details. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, don’t cast your pearls before swine or give dogs what is sacred.

There’s wisdom in keeping some details private until the appointed time. Consider telling only a small, trusted circle of encouragers who will cover your assignment in prayer and speak life and victory over it. Limit oversharing on social media where scoffers and critics have access.

Limit Time with Those Who Drain Your Focus

It’s admirable to try helping and fixing everyone, but that can easily divert you from what God wants you to uniquely accomplish. You might need to limit interactions with friends or family members who are perpetually negative, draining or distracting.

Set healthy boundaries and limits with them. Politely decline get-togethers that usually veer into vent sessions. Say “no” to nonessential requests for your time and energy. Don’t feel guilty about guarding your anointing, gifts, calling and assignment from the Lord.

He wants you to bear lasting spiritual fruit (See John 15:16 ).

Surround Yourself with Like-Minded Kingdom Builders

God often connects us with specific people to mutually encourage our kingdom purposes. Seek out and unite with Christians who share your values and aspirations – perhaps in a small group, ministry team or informal mentoring relationships (see Proverbs 27:17 ).

Discuss ideas, pray together, collaborate on projects. Brainstorm ways to spread the Gospel, make disciples and transform communities. As iron sharpens iron, you’ll inspire each other to grow, improve skills, overcome obstacles and walk in divine destiny.

Staying Rooted in the Vine While Fulfilling Your Purpose

Guard against self-reliance and pride.

It’s easy to rely on our own talents and become prideful when God blesses us. However, we must remember that all good things come from God (James 1:17). If we think success comes from ourselves alone, we essentially push God out of His rightful place in our lives.

Proverbs 16:18 warns that “Pride goes before disaster, and haughtiness before a fall.” This sin threatens those fulfilling their God-given purpose. After experiencing some success in ministry, it’s crucial to give all glory to the Lord for enabling us (1 Corinthians 15:10).

As Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine” (John 15:4) . We rely on His life-giving power flowing through us.

Submit Your Desires Daily to God

As Christ’s disciples, we daily surrender our own desires and accept God’s will. Jesus practiced complete submission when He prayed in Luke 22:42, “ Father, if You are willing, take this cup of suffering away from Me.

Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine .” This models the humility we need in fulfilling God’s calling.

Rather than asserting our plans, we pray “not my will but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Our desires may sometimes align with His purpose for our lives. Other times, He calls us to sacrifice comfortable things. But we can trust that His way is best and will bear eternal fruit.

Remember Your True Value Comes from Christ

Knowing our true identity in Christ protects against pride. All value and significance come from Him rather than worldly applause. Ephesians 1:4 declares, “God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Out of His great mercy and love, He saved us and called us to participate in His glorious plans.

We contribute nothing apart from Christ’s enablement . As Galatians 2:20 says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Everything we accomplish comes by His Spirit’s power from beginning to end.

When God puts a special assignment on your life, you often have to make sacrifices relationally and practically to stay focused on fulfilling your purpose. As we’ve explored, both Scripture and modern examples show that isolation, hardship and lack of support often accompany unique callings.

While this tension can be painful, we must remember that our identity lies in Christ – not the approval of others or worldly affirmation. Staying rooted in God’s love gives us the strength and discernment needed to set healthy boundaries and finish the race marked out for us.

Amanda Williams is a dedicated Christian writer and blogger who is passionate about sharing Biblical truth and encouraging believers in their faith walks. After working as a youth pastor and Bible teacher for several years, she launched her blog in 2022 to minister to Christians online seeking to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. When she's not creating content or connecting with readers, Amanda enjoys studying theology, being out in nature, baking, and spending time with family. Her goal is to provide practical wisdom and hope from a genuine Christian perspective. Amanda currently resides in Colorado with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

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Assignment Series

Contributed by steve ely on jul 4, 2022.

Filters are important because without them things don’t operate properly. Are you living life unfiltered?

No Filter Pt. 4 - Assignment In an age where things that are not real are promoted as reality it would serve to reason that in church, we would tell you to live with no filter since we are taught by our Savior to live authentic and genuine lives. However, I want to tell you that filters are an ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10 , Jeremiah 20:7-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Knowing My Specific Assignment In Life (Part 2) Series

Contributed by jeff budzinski on oct 18, 2006.

When you give voice to God’s Word, you activate the angels to assist you in carrying out His assignment for your life. Angels are ministering spirits that will help you reach the goal so you can have the good life God has prepared.

Introduction · Last week we discussed that God has a specific assignment for each Born Again Believer. That He has laid out a road map for you to be successful in His plans. · We learned last week that you are predestined to do good works & complete your assignment. · He has given you His Holy ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Assignment

Contributed by howard strickland on aug 15, 2008.

In this teaching you will find out that ’really’ your Assignment is simple if you will receive it!

Our Assignment Text: Genesis 12:1-3 Our assignment becomes new and fresh when we are born again. The day we allowed Jesus Christ to come and reside within, we became assigned unto His mission, His calling and His way of thinking! Listen, God always works through assignments! ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

Denomination: Church Of God

Knowing Your Specific Assignment In Life (Part 1) Series

Contributed by jeff budzinski on oct 17, 2006.

We all have a specific assignment from God when we became a Christian. We must uncover what are assignment is, how to complete it with God’s help and be a blessing to the Body of Christ.

Introduction · God has a specific assignment for each Born Again Believer. · God has laid out a road map for you to be successful in His plans. · He has given you His Holy Spirit to guide you to your divine destination. · The only way to be sure of completing your assignment is through constant ...read more

Where Is Your Nineveh? PRO Sermon

Contributed by sermon research assistant on nov 4, 2023.

This sermon encourages believers to embrace God's calling on their lives, resist the temptation to run from it, and understand the repercussions of refusal.

Good morning, beloved. It is a joy and a privilege to gather together in the house of the Lord, to lift our hearts and voices in praise, and to immerse ourselves in the truth of His Word. As we gather today, let's remember that we are not alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3

Topics: Assignment

Tactics - Pt. 3 - Skinned Series

Contributed by steve ely on feb 11, 2015.

We are instructed to be aware of how our enemy works against us. However, it is also essential to know how God works. We need to learn His tactics so that we won't miss His hand moving in our life.

Tactics Pt. 4 - Skinned I. Introduction In the New Testament, Paul instructs us to be aware of how our enemy works. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, he says “After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 27:17

Different Roles, Same Assignment

Contributed by barry o johnson on jul 8, 2021.

There are some in the body of Christ who see those with public roles (ministries) in the body of Christ as being more valuable to the kingdom than those who don’t. But this is simply not true when you see “the big picture.”

Over the years, I’ve known Christians who, because they didn’t have public ministries, believed that they were, somehow, second tier to those who did. They were not preaching. They were not teaching Sunday school. They didn’t lead the choir. They served on committees. They were not unhappy. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:10 , Luke 9:1-2 , Luke 10:17-20 , Luke 10:1 , Genesis 1:31 , Ephesians 2:8-10 , Genesis 2:21-22 , Genesis 1:26 , Romans 12:3 , Ephesians 4:12-14 , Luke 15:7 , Luke 19:10 (view more) (view less)

Leadership Pitfalls

Contributed by fernando cabrera on oct 26, 2004.

Pitfalls in leadership.

Leadership Pitfalls By Pastor Fernando Cabrera Mark 4:30-32 1. Inadequacy (Mark 4:30-32) a. Your assignment from God in the vision may make you feel fearful or inadequate i. “For who has despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10) ii. Little is much when God is in it. 1. We feel ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-32

Faithfulness In Service

Contributed by kayode omotoso on oct 12, 2017.

You must be faithful to Him who has appointed you.

As believers in God’s service, we are required of faithfulness in the delivery of our assigned duties and personal commitment to Him Who has appointed us (1Cor 4:2). And in the show of such faithfulness, we must follow the example of Jesus Christ as described in Heb 3:1-2a and Phil ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-6

I Thought We Were Finished? Series

Contributed by jim drake on jul 19, 2009.

How do you feel when you finish accomplishing a task for the Lord? When you finish that task, does it mean that you’re mission is accomplished? Every accomplishment, every victory, every step along the way is just a step in accomplishing the mission tha

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com/ I want to take you for a few minutes back to another scene in biblical history. Think back to the time when Israel first entered into the Promised Land. They had just wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. They stood on the banks of the Jordan and God gave ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 7:1-73

Denomination: Baptist

A Ministry Of Reconciliation PRO Sermon

Contributed by sermon research assistant on dec 21, 2023.

Explores our Christian journey of becoming a new creation, reconciling others to God, and fulfilling our unique roles in God's Kingdom.

Good morning, dear friends. It's a joy to be here with you today, gathered together in our Father's house, to share the good news of His Word. There's a certain vitality that comes from being in the presence of fellow believers, a warmth that can only be felt in the company of those who share our ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Topics: Kingdom Assignment

We Have Work To Do PRO Sermon

Contributed by sermon research assistant on jan 31, 2024.

Encourages Christians to embrace their divine assignments, honor God through their work, and serve others, fulfilling their role in God's grand plan.

Good morning, beloved family of God. It is a blessing to gather together in fellowship, united by our shared love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, we are going to open our hearts and minds to a powerful message rooted in the book of John, chapter 9, verse 4. The passage reads as ...read more

Scripture: John 9:4

Topics: Work , Do

Submit To One Another Series

Contributed by jim luthy on oct 29, 2002.

Submitting to one another is not a matter of law, but of liberty. It is not the chain of bondage we tend to make it out to be. Rather, it is the triumph of one who has been set free.

You are Free to Submit to One Another Ephesians 5:21-6:9 Pastor Jim Luthy In our study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we have learned the importance of pursuing understanding and receiving grace. Those who understand the blessings we have in Christ and have received the grace to proclaim him, ...read more

Your Sincerity To God's Work Shall Be Rewarded

Contributed by william baeta on sep 21, 2015.

“Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)

Mk. 9:38-50 Theme: Your sincerity to God’s work shall be rewarded Text: Ester 9:20-22; James 5:13-20; Mk. 9:38-50 Introduction: The investigative journalist Anas Ameyaw Anas has over the years clearly revealed the lack of sincerity in the life of many Ghanaians. Sincerity is an important ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"the Power Of True Friendship"

Contributed by jessie manuel on feb 21, 2024.

“ We love quoting the scripture that the Lord sticks closer than a brother”

When God gives us an assignment that is not according to our own plans, it can be confusing and challenging. We may feel unprepared, overwhelmed, or even resistant to the idea of stepping out of our comfort zone. However, it is important to remember that God's plans are always greater than our ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Methodist

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167 So You’ve Got a Writing Assignment. Now What?

Corrine E. Hinton

It’s the first day of the semester and you’ve just stepped foot into your Intro to American Politics class. You grab a seat toward the back as the instructor enters, distributes the syllabus, and starts to discuss the course schedule. Just before class ends, she grabs a thin stack of papers from her desk and, distributing them, announces, “This is your first writing assignment for the term. It’s due two weeks from Thursday, so I suggest you begin early.” Your stomach clenches. For some people, a writing assignment causes a little nervous energy, but for you, it’s a deep, vomit-inducing fireball that shoots down your body and out your toes. As soon as the assignment sheet hits your hands, your eyes dart wildly about, frantically trying to decipher what you’re supposed to do. How many pages is this thing supposed to be? What am I supposed to write about? What’s Chicago style? When is it due? You know your instructor is talking about the assignment right now, but her voice fades into a murmur as you busy yourself with the assignment sheet. The sound of shuffling feet interrupts your thoughts; you look up and realize she’s dismissed the class. You shove the assignment into your bag, convinced you’re doomed before you’ve even started.

So you’ve got a writing assignment. Now what? First, don’t panic. Writing assignments make many of us nervous, but this anxiety is especially prevalent in first year students. When that first writing assignment comes along, fear, anxiety, avoidance, and even anger are typical responses. However, negative emotional reactions like these can cloud your ability to be rational, and interpreting a writing assignment is a rational activity and a skill. You can learn and cultivate this skill with practice. Why is learning how to do it so important?

First, you can learn how to manage negative emotional responses to writing. Research indicates emotional responses can affect academic performance “over and above the influence of cognitive ability or motivation” (Pekrun 129). So, even when you have the knowledge or desire to accomplish a particular goal, your fear, anxiety, or boredom can have greater control over how you perform. Anything you can do to minimize these reactions (and potentially boost performance) benefits your personal and intellectual wellness .

Learning to interpret writing assignment expectations also helps encourage productive dialogue between you and your fellow classmates and between you and your instructor. You’ll be able to discuss the assignment critically with your peers, ask them specific questions about information you don’t know, or compare approaches to essays. You’ll also be able to answer your classmates’ questions confidently. Many students are too afraid or intimidated to ask their instructors for help, but when you understand an instructor’s expectations for an assignment, you also understand the skills being assessed. With this method, when you do not understand a requirement or expectation, you’ll have more confidence to approach your instructor directly, using him as valuable resource that can encourage you, clarify confusion, or strengthen your understanding of course concepts.

What follows is a series of practical guidelines useful for interpreting most college writing assignments. In my experience, many students already know and employ many of these strategies regularly; however, few students know or use all of them every time. Along the way, I’ll apply some of these guidelines to actual assignments used in university classrooms. You’ll also be able to get into the heads of other students as they formulate their own approaches to some of these assignments.1

Guidelines for Interpreting Writing Assignments

Don’t Panic and Don’t Procrastinate

Writing assignments should not incite panic, but it happens. We’ve already discussed how panicking and other negative reactions work against you by clouding your ability to analyze a situation rationally. So when your instructor gives you that writing assignment, don’t try to read the whole assignment sheet at breakneck speed. Instead, take a deep breath and focus. If your instructor talks about the assignment, stop what you’re doing and listen. Often, teachers will read through the assignment aloud and may even elaborate on some of the requirements. Write down any extra information or advice your instructor provides about the requirements, his or her expectations, changes, possible approaches, or topic ideas. This information will be useful to you as you begin thinking about the topic and formulating your approach. Also, pay attention to your classmates’ questions. You might not need those answers now, but you may find them helpful later.

If you’re an undergraduate student taking more than one class, it’s not uncommon to have several writing assignments due within days of each other. Hence, you should avoid procrastinating. People procrastinate for different reasons. Maybe you wait because you’ve always been able to put together a decent paper the night before it’s due. Perhaps you wait because avoiding the assignment until the last minute is your response to academic stress. Waiting until the last minute to complete a writing assignment in college is a gamble. You put yourself at risk for the unexpected: your printer runs out of ink, your laptop crashes and you didn’t backup your work, the Internet in the library is down, the books you need are checked out, you can’t locate any recent research on your topic, you have a last-minute emergency, or you have a question about the assignment you can’t find the answer to. The common result of situations like these is that if the student is able to complete the assignment, it is often a poor representatatoin of her actual knowledge or abilities. Start your assignment as soon as possible and leave yourself plenty of time to plan for the unexpected.

Read the Assignment. Read It Again. Refer to It Often

The ability to read critically is a useful skill. When you read a textbook chapter for your history course, for example, you might skim it for major ideas first, re-read and then highlight or underline important items, make notes in the margins, look up unfamiliar terms, or compile a list of questions. These same strategies can be applied when reading writing assignments.

The assignment sheet is full of material to be deciphered, so attack it the same way you would attack your history book. When Bailey2, an undergraduate at a university in Los Angeles, was asked to respond to a biology writing assignment, here’s what she had to say about where she would start:

When getting a writing assignment, you should read it more than once just to get a knowledge of what they’re [the instructors] really asking for and underline important information, which is what I’m doing now. Before starting the assignment, always write some notes down to help you get started.

Here are some other strategies to help you become an active, critical reader of writing assignments:

Start by skimming, noting anything in particular that jumps out at you.
As soon as you have the time and the ability to focus, re-read the assignment carefully. Underline or highlight important features of the assignment or criteria you think you might forget about after you’ve started writing.
Don’t be afraid to write on the assignment sheet. Use the available white space to list questions, define key terms or concepts, or jot down any initial ideas you have. Don’t let the margins confine your writing (or your thoughts). If you’re running out of space, grab a fresh sheet of paper and keep writing. The sooner you starting thinking and writing about the assignment, the easier it may be to complete.

As you begin drafting, you should occasionally refer back to the official assignment sheet. Maintaining constant contact with your teacher’s instructions will help keep you on the right track, may remind you of criteria you’ve forgotten, and it might even spark new ideas if you’re stuck.

Know Your Purpose and Your Audience

Instructors give writing assignments so students can demonstrate their knowledge and/or their ability to apply knowledge. On the surface, it may seem like the instructor is simply asking you to answer some questions to demonstrate that you understand the material or to compare and contrast concepts, theorists, or approaches. However, assessing knowledge is usually just one reason for the assignment. More often than not, your instructor is also evaluating your ability to demonstrate other critical skills. For example, she might be trying to determine if you can apply a concept to a particular situation, if you know how to summarize complex material, or if you can think critically about an idea and then creatively apply that thinking to new situations. Maybe she’s looking at how you manage large quantities of research or how you position expert opinions against one another. Or perhaps she wants to know if you can form and support a sound, credible argument rather than describing your opinion about a certain issue.

Instructors have different ways of conveying what they expect from their students in a writing assignment. Some detail explicitly what they intend to evaluate and may even provide a score sheet. Others may provide general (even vague) instructions and leave the rest up to you. So, what can you do to ensure you’re on the right track? Keep reading through these guidelines, and you’ll learn some ways to read between the lines. Once you identify all the intentions at work (that is, what your instructor is trying to measure), you’ll be able to consider and address them.

Audience is a critical component to any writing assignment, and realistically, one or several different audiences may be involved when you’re writing a paper in college. The person evaluating your essay is typically the audience most college students consider first. However, your instructor may identify a separate audience to whom you should tailor your response. Do not ignore this audience! If your business instructor tells you to write a research proposal that will be delivered to members of the local chamber of commerce, then adapt your response to them. If you’re in an engineering course, and your instructor asks you to write a product design report about a piece of medical equipment geared toward medical practitioners (and not engineers), you should think differently about your terminology, use of background information, and what motivates this particular audience when they read your report. Analyzing the background (personal, educational, professional), existing knowledge, needs, and concerns of your audience will help you make more informed decisions about word choice, structure, tone, or other components of your paper.

Locate and Understand the Directive Verbs

One thing you should do when interpreting a writing assignment is to locate the directive verbs and know what the instructor means by them. Directive verbs tell you what you should do in order to formulate a written response. The following table lists common directive verbs used in writing assignments:

Table 1. Frequently used directive verbs.

You might notice that many of the directive verbs have similar general meanings. For example, although explore and investigate are not necessarily synonyms for one another, when used in writing assignments, they may be asking for a similar structural response. Understanding what those verbs mean to you and to your instructor may be the most difficult part of understanding a writing assignment. Take a look at this sample writing assignment from a philosophy course:

Philosophy Writing Assignment * “History is what the historian says it is.” Discuss. All papers are to be typed, spell-checked and grammar-checked. Responses should be 2000 words. They should be well written, with a logical flow of thought, and double-spaced with 1” margins on all sides. Papers should be typed in 12-pitch font, using Courier or Times Roman typeface. Indent the first line of each new paragraph five spaces. Also include a title page so that the instructor can identify the student, assignment and course number. Proper standard English is required. Do not use slang or a conversational style of writing. Always avoid contractions (e.g. “can’t” for “cannot”) in formal essays. Always write in complete sentences and paragraphs! Staple all papers in the upper left-hand corner and do not put them in a folder, binder or plastic cover. All written work, citations and bibliographies should conform to the rules of composition laid down in The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition), or Charles Lipson’s Doing Honest Work in College (chapter 5). A paper that lacks correct citations and/or a bibliography will receive an automatic 10% reduction in grade. * Sample undergraduate philosophy writing assignment, courtesy of Dr. Kenneth Locke, Religious Studies Department, University of the West.

You may interpret the word discuss in one way, while your instructor may have a different understanding. The key is to make certain that these two interpretations are as similar as possible. You can develop a mutual understanding of the assignment’s directive verbs and calculate an effective response using the following steps:

Look up the verb in a dictionary and write down all of the definitions.
List all possible synonyms or related terms and look those up as well; then, see if any of these terms suggest a clearer interpretation of what the assignment is asking you to do.
Write down several methods you could use to approach the assignment. (Check out guideline eight in this essay for some common approaches.)
Consult with your instructor, but do not be discouraged if he/ she is unwilling to clarify or provide additional information; your interpretation of the directions and subsequent approach to fulfilling the assignment criteria may be one of its purposes.
Consult a trusted peer or writing center tutor for assistance.
Figure out what you know.

When deciphering an assignment’s purpose is particularly challenging, make a list. Think about what you know, what you think you know, and what you do not know about what the assignment is asking you to do. Putting this list into a table makes the information easier to handle. For example, if you were given an assignment that asked you to analyze presentations in your business ethics class, like the assignment in Figure 2, your table might look like Table 2 below:

Business Writing Assignment Presentation Analysis During three weeks of class, you’ll observe several small group presentations on business ethics given by your fellow classmates. Choose two of the presentations and write a short paper analyzing them. For each presentation, be sure to do the following: In one paragraph, concisely summarize the group’s main conclusions Analyze the presentation by answering any two of the following three: With which of the group’s conclusions do you agree? Why? With which of the conclusions do you disagree? Why? (include specific examples of both) What particular issue of ethics did the group not address or only address slightly? Analyze this aspect from your perspective. In what way could you apply one or more of the group’s conclusions to a particular situation? (The situation could be hypothetical, one from your personal or professional experience, or a real-world example). The paper should be no more than 3 pages in length with 12-pt font, 1 ½ line spacing. It is due one week after the conclusion of presentations. Your grade will depend upon the critical thought and analytical skills displayed in the paper; 2. your use of ethical principles from chapter 7 of our textbook; the professionalism, correctness, and logic of your writing. Table 2. Sample knowledge table for undergraduate business writing assignment.

After reviewing the table, you can see that this student has a lot of thoughts about this assignment. He understands some of the general features. However, there are some critical elements that need clarification before he submits the assignment. For instance, he’s unsure about the best structure for the paper and the way it should sound. Dividing your understanding of an assignment into a table or list can help you identify the confusing parts. Then, you can formulate specific questions that your instructor or a writing center consultant can help you answer.

Ask Yourself: Do I Need an Argument?

Perhaps one of the most important things to know is whether or not your instructor is asking you to formulate and support an argument. Sometimes this is easy to determine. For example, an assignment many instructors include in their courses is a persuasive paper where you’re typically asked to choose an issue, take a position, and then support it using evidence. For many students, a persuasive paper is a well known assignment, but when less familiar assignment genres come up, some students may be confused about argument expectations. This confusion may arise because the instructor uses a directive verb that is easily misinterpreted. What about the verb explain? Does it make you think of words like summarize, review, or describe (which would suggest more facts and less opinion)? Or, do you associate it with words like debate, investigate, or defend (which imply the need for a well-supported argument)? You can also look for other clues in the assignment indicating a need for evidence. If your instructor mentions scholarly citations, you’ll probably need it. If you need evidence, you’ll probably need an argument. Still confused? Talk to your instructor.

Consider the Evidence

If your assignment mentions a minimum number of required sources, references a particular citation style, or suggests scholarly journals to review during your research, then these are telltale signs that you’ll need to find and use evidence. What qualifies as evidence? Let’s review some of the major types:

Personal experience
Narrative examples (historical or hypothetical)
Statistics (or numerical forms of data) and facts
Graphs, charts, or other visual representatives of data
Expert opinion
Research results (experimental or descriptive)

Each of these offers benefits and drawbacks when used to support an argument. Consider this writing assignment from a 200-level biology class on genetics:

Biology Writing Assignment Genes & Gene Research Purpose: This writing assignment will ask you to familiarize yourself with genes, the techniques gene researchers use when working with genes, and the current research programs investigating genes. The report is worth 10% of your final grade in the course. In a research report of at least 1500 words, you should address the following: Generally, what is a gene and what does it do? Create a universally applicable definition for a gene. Choose a specific gene and apply your definition to it (i.e., what does this particular gene do and how does it work?) Recreate the history of the gene you’ve chosen including the gene’s discovery (and discoverer), the motivation behind the research into this gene, outcomes of the research, and any medical, social, historical, or biological implications to its discovery. Explore the current research available on your gene. Who is conducting the research, what are the goals (big/small; longterm/short-term) of the research, and how is the research being funded? Research should be properly documented using CSE (Council of Science Editors) style. The report should be typewritten, double spaced, in a font of reasonable size.

This instructor asks students to demonstrate several skills, including definition, summary, research, and application. Nearly all of these components should include some evidence, specifically scientific research studies on the particular gene the student has chosen. After reading it, here’s what Bailey said about how she would start the assignment: “This assignment basically has to do with who you are, so it should be something simple to answer, not too difficult since you should know yourself.” Ernest, another student, explains how he would approach the same assignment: “So, first of all, to do this assignment, I would go on the computer, like on the Internet, and I would . . . do research about genes first. And . . . everything about them, and then I would . . . start with the first question, second question, third and fourth, and that’s it.” For Bailey, using her own life as an example to illustrate genetic inheritance would be the best way to start responding to the assignment. Ernest, on the other hand, thinks a bit differently; he knows he needs “research about genes” to get started, and, like many students, figures the internet will tell him everything he needs to know. So, how do you know what evidence works best? Know the field you’re writing in: what type(s) of evidence it values, why it’s valuable, and what sources provide that evidence. Some other important questions you should ask yourself include

Where, in the paper, is the most effective place for this evidence?
What type of evidence would support my argument effectively?
What kind of evidence would most convince my audience?
What’s the best way to integrate this evidence into my ideas?
What reference/citation style does this discipline use?

If your writing assignment calls for evidence, it is important that you answer these questions. Failure to do so could cost you major points—in your assignment and with your instructor.

Calculate the Best Approach

When you decide how to approach your paper, you’re also outlining its basic structure. Structure is the way you construct your ideas and move from one idea to the next. Typical structural approaches include question/answer, comparison/contrast, problem/solution, methodology, cause/effect, narration/reflection, description/illustration, classification/division, thesis/support, analysis/synthesis, and theory/ application. These patterns can be used individually or in combination with each other to illustrate more complex relationships among ideas. Learning what structures are useful in particular writing situations starts with reviewing the assignment. Sometimes, the instructor clearly details how you should structure your essay. On the other hand, the assignment may suggest a particular structural pattern but may not actually reflect what the instructor expects to see. For example, if the prompt asks four questions, does that mean you’re supposed to write a paragraph for each answer and then slap on an introduction and a conclusion? Not necessarily. Consider what structure would deliver your message accurately and effectively.

Knowing what structures are acceptable within the discipline is also important. Many students are uncomfortable with rigidity; they wonder why their chemistry lab reports must be presented “just so.” Think about the last time you looked at a restaurant menu. If you’re looking for appetizers, those items are usually listed at the front of the menu whereas desserts are closer to the back. If a restaurant menu listed the desserts up front, you might find the design unfamiliar and the menu difficult to navigate. The same can be said for formalized writing structures including lab reports or literature reviews, for example. Examining scholarly publications (journal articles or books) within that field will help you identify commonly used structural patterns and understand why those structures are acceptable within the discipline.

Understand and Adhere to Formatting and Style Guidelines

Writing assignments usually provide guidelines regarding format and/ or style. Requirements like word count or page length, font type or size, margins, line spacing, and citation styles fall into this category. Most instructors have clear expectations for how an assignment should look based on official academic styles, such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), the American Psychological Association (APA), the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), or the Council of Science Editors (CSE). If your instructor specifically references a style then locate a copy of the manual, so you’ll know how to cite source material and how to develop your document’s format (font, spacing, margin size, etc.) and style (use of headings, abbreviations, capitalization).

Occasionally, an instructor may modify a standard style to meet her personal preferences. Follow any additional formatting or style guidelines your instructor provides. If you don’t, you could lose points unnecessarily. They may also refer you to scholarly journals to use as models. Don’t ignore these! Not only will you be able to review professional examples of the kinds of work you’re doing (like lab reports, lit reviews, research reports, executive summaries, etc.), you’ll also learn more about what style of writing a discipline values.

Identify Your Available Resources and Ask Questions

Even after following these steps, you may still have questions. When that happens, you should know who your resources are and what they do (and don’t do). After Nicole read the business ethics assignment (provided earlier in this chapter), she said, “I would send a draft to [the instructor] and ask him if he could see if I’m on the right track.” Nicole’s instincts are right on target; your primary resource is your instructor. Professors may appear intimidating, but they are there to help. They can answer questions and may even offer research recommendations. If you ask ahead of time, many are also willing to review a draft of your project and provide feedback. However, don’t expect your teacher to proofread your paper or give you the “right” answer. Writing assignments are one method by which instructors examine your decision making, problem solving, or critical thinking skills.

The library is another key resource. Reference librarians can help you develop an effective research process by teaching you how to use the catalog for books or general references, how to search the databases, and how to use library equipment (copy machines, microfiche, scanners, etc.). They will not choose your topic or conduct your research for you. Spending some time learning from a reference librarian is worthwhile; it will make you a more efficient and more effective student researcher, saving you time and frustration.

Many institutions have student support centers for writing and are especially useful for first year students. The staff is an excellent source of knowledge about academic expectations in college, about research and style, and about writing assignment interpretation. If you’re having trouble understanding your assignment, go to the writing center for help. If you’re working on a draft and you want to review it with someone, they can take a look. Your writing center tutor will not write your paper for you, nor will he serve as an editor to correct grammar mistakes. When you visit your university’s writing center, you’ll be able to discuss your project with an experienced tutor who can offer practical advice in a comfortable learning environment.

The above are excellent resources for student assistance. Your instructor, the librarians, and the writing center staff will not do the work for you. Instead, they’ll teach you how to help yourself. The guidelines I’ve outlined here are meant to do exactly the same. So the next time you’ve got a writing assignment, what will you do? Discussion

Think about a previous writing assignment that was a challenge for you. What strategies did you use at the time? After reading the chapter, what other strategies do you think might have been useful?
Choose two verbs from the list of frequently used directive verbs (Table 1). Look up these verbs (and possible synonyms) in the dictionary and write down their definitions. If you saw these verbs in a writing assignment, what potential questions might you ask your professor in order to clarify what he/she means?
Choose two of the sample assignments from the chapter and create a chart similar to Table 2 for each assignment. What differences do you notice? If these were your assignments, what evidence do you think would best support your argument and why (review guideline seven for help)?
What advice would you give to first year college students about writing, writing assignments, or instructor expectations? Structure this advice in the form of a guideline similar to those included in the chapter.
My thanks to Dr. Kenneth Locke from University of the West for contributing a sample assignment to this project and to the students who participated in this exercise; their interest, time, and enthusiasm helps bring a sense of realism to this essay, and I am indebted to them for their assistance.
The names of student participants in this document have been changed to retain confidentiality.

Works Cited

Bailey. Biology Writing Assignment. Rec. 20 July 2009. Digital Voice Recorder. University of the West, Rosemead, California.

Ernest. Biology Writing Assignment. Rec. 20 July 2009. Digital Voice Recorder. University of the West, Rosemead, California.

Nicole. Business Writing Assignment. Rec. 20 July 2009. Digital Voice Recorder. University of the West. Rosemead, California.

Pekrun, Reinhard, Andrew J. Elliot, and Markus A. Maier. “Achievement Goals and Achievement Emotions: Testing a Model of Their Joint Relations with Academic Performance.” Journal of Educational Psychology 101.1 (February 2009): 115–135.

About the Author

Corrine E. Hinton is currently the Student Success Center Coordinator at University of the West (Rosemead, CA). She is completing her PhD at Saint Louis University in English with an emphasis in Rhetoric & Composition. Her research interests include Renaissance rhetoric, first year composition, writing centers, student-veterans, and the first year student experience. For her dissertation, Corrine is investigating the effects of military service and education on the experiences of student-veterans in the first year composition classroom.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionNoncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License and is subject to the Writing Spaces Terms of Use. To view a copy of this license, visit http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. To view the Writing Spaces Terms of Use, visit http://writingspaces. org/terms-of-use

Write What Matters Copyright © 2020 by Liza Long; Amy Minervini; and Joel Gladd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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The 3 Levels of Your God-Given Purpose

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Peter’s rebuke

The Great Sin of Stubbornness

The Christian’s stubbornness

Keep your vow to God

Commitment Check

Peter’s divine assignment