When I was eight years old, I wanted to be a doctor.
I guess all kids everywhere have said they’d like to be a doctor at one point or another. But only some of the many actually follow through on all those years of schooling.
Why?
It becomes a passion rooted in their being, in their heart. They can’t imagine doing anything besides being a doctor and loving people who are hurting.
That’s their job, sure, but it’s also a passion.
Maybe you’re not a doctor, or a teacher, or a lawyer, or a pastor. Maybe you’re just a person – a person that feels like they were left out when God was passing around passions.
Have you stopped and thought about the passions of your heart? Because God gives people passions to glorify His name, you know. People don’t just become a doctor or a teacher. Rather, I believe that God digs deep and finds out the passions of the hearts of His children. Then, He provides opportunities for His children to use those passions to honor Him!
What is your passion – what’s the thing deeply rooted in your being that keeps you awake and dreaming at night?
Consider asking yourself some of these questions as you discover your passions.
1. What do I enjoy doing? What is the thing I can’t stop thinking about during the mundane of life?
2. What are the burdens of my heart? Who do I want to bless, and how do I want to bless them?
3. Which stories of the Bible capture my breath and make me wish I could meet them in ‘real’ life? What is the passion of that characters heart?
4. What do other people say I’m good at doing? Maybe they use words like talented or skilled.
5. What are three or four of my spiritual gifts? See 1 Corinthians 12.
6. How do I experience Jesus? Through reading, writing, baking, music, exercising, etc.?
7. What are some of the things on my ‘used-to’ list? Example: “I used-to enjoy doing XYZ but now I don’t have time, energy, money, etc.”
8. Am I an introvert or an extravert? Do I like being in large groups, or would I prefer to work alone?
9. What do I need to recharge? When am I healthiest emotionally and spiritually? Example: when I have time alone each day, when I can see my small group every week, when I have time to be in nature, etc.
10. At which stages of my life have I felt the most fulfilled? What was I doing during those stages? (for a job, for fun, with family, with church, etc.)
11. If I woke up tomorrow and had all of the time, money, resources, and necessities to make my dream come true, what would I do first?
12. What does Scripture say about the things that make me happy? Does God find my passions pleasing and glorifying to His name?
13. What is stopping me from chasing after the passion of my heart?
We were made to glorify the Lord. And we were made in the image of a God who has passions and desires.
There’s a passion deep down in that heart of yours. I know it. Maybe you’re ignoring the nudge because of fear – fear of failure, of letting someone down, of being judged.
Or maybe you’re ignoring your passion because you haven’t taken the time to sit down and ponder what it is the Lord would have you do.
I’d encourage you to sit down with a pen and paper while you jot down your honest answers to the questions above. It is in pondering and dreaming that our passions will become a reality in our hearts. Take a few extra minutes on that last question. What is stopping you from pursuing your dream?
Now ask yourself, how will I overcome that hindrance? Pray and depend on the Father to supply your every need – both in giving you a passion & in making that passion a reality in your life.
Can I encourage you to seek Him now? Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your hearts.”
You don’t have to be a doctor or a teacher, a missionary or a nurse. You can be you with a unique passion for the ways of the Lord. That is enough, dear soul.
Dig deep. Ask yourself the hard questions. Allow God to instill a passion deep into the folds of your heart.
What is the passion of your heart? What desires has God instilled in you? Share with us in the comments below!
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Love these questions for digging deep, Alison! I find there is so much joy and freedom when we are willing to discover our unique giftings, fight fear and expose them, and then humbly lay them out for His glory. I can’t think of a more beautiful way to honor our Creator than by doing just that!
I agree, Katie! It is SWEET when we discover our purpose and passions, then use them for His glory! Thanks for commenting. 🙂 I sure appreciate you.