Tony Evans - Called for a Purpose: Daily Devotions to Help You Pursue Gods Plan

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE , OREGON

Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Italicized emphasis in Scripture quotations is added by the author.

Cover design by Brian Bobel Design

Front cover photo Oleg Breslavtsen / iStockphoto

Some material previously published in Discover Your Destiny .

From Tony Evans: I would like to thank my friends at Harvest House Publishers for their partnership in publishing. I would also like to thank Heather Hair for her skills and insights in collaborating on this manuscript.

Called for a Purpose

Copyright by 2018 Tony Evans

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-6439-5 (hardcopy)

ISBN 978-0-7369-6440-1 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Evans, Tony, 1949- author.

Title: Called for a purpose / Tony Evans.

Description: Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2018.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018011249 (print) | LCCN 2018022034 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736964401 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736964395 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: VocationChristianity.

Classification: LCC BV4740 (ebook) | LCC BV4740 .E93 2018 (print) | DDC 248.4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018011249

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Contents

We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

R OMANS 8:28

H ave you ever felt a little hungry, opened up the refrigerator, and thought to yourself, Hmm what to eat? I knowa stick of butter! Yeah, that sounds great.

Probably not. A large serving of butter doesnt taste very good all by itself. Neither does flour. Or salt, or baking soda. Or most cooking ingredients, actually. Yet a master chef gathers them all together, blending them to accomplish her intended purpose. Then she puts them in the oven, and the scent of a freshly baked cake lures everyone nearby into the kitchen.

In the same way, God can use the ingredients of our lives to accomplish His purpose. We often hear Romans 8:28 quoted: We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

However, people often refer only to one part of the verse: All things work together for good. The problem is that all things do not work together for good. To quote only half the verse is to miss the whole meaning. The promise is to people who love God and are called according to His purpose.

God has a purpose for you, and the first step in discovering your purpose is to surrender to that truth.

Only when you are living your life according to His purpose, not your own, will He cause all things to blend together for your good and His glory. Otherwise, the all things may still happen to you, but they wont necessarily be carefully mixed together to accomplish Gods good purpose in your life.

Today, if your life is like a stick of butter or a cup of flour or a few tablespoons of salt, take the first step to turn it into something savory by surrendering to Gods will and seeking His purpose for you. When you are committed to Him above all else, He will mix all things in your lifethe good, the bad, and the bitterand turn them into something divine.

Lord, open my eyes to see Your purpose in my life. Help me to surrender everything to You, and reveal to me the goodness that comes when You merge my life experiences together to bring me to my destiny.

The L ORD will accomplish what concerns me;

Your lovingkindness, O L ORD , is everlasting;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

P SALM 138:8

P reparing for your calling is like going to a fine pizzeria, where skilled chefs start with a ball of dough. They roll the dough, pressing and mashing it. Then they start pounding on it. After banging it around for a while, they start throwing it up in the air and twirling it. That dough goes through a whole lot so that you and I can have the pleasure of eating it.

But when you go to a pizzeria, you dont ask for dough. You want the good stuff. You want the sauce, the cheese, and maybe some meat or veggies on top. Everyone wants the good stuff, but you cant get the good stuff until the dough has been prepared. In the same way, we have to be prepared for our calling. Sometimes our preparation starts with some pressing and some mashing. Sometimes we feel tossed around or banged up for a little while. But this is only in preparation for the good stuff.

Throughout lifes bumps and bruises, God is preparing you for the perfect destiny He has created you to live out. Yet your response to those bumps and bruises may determine how quickly you reach your destiny. Its easy to throw in the towel and walk away when lifes challenges seem pointless or too painful. But if you will keep your eyes focused on Gods purpose for you, not your pain, God will use your trials for your good and His glory. He works all things together for good when you love Him and live according to your calling. No pain or experience is wasted when you are a child of the King.

Keep your eyes focused on the destinationthe end resultand you will find the strength for the journey that takes you there. You have a glorious destiny to discover and live out.

Father in heaven, in those moments (or hours or even years) of preparation, remind me that You have a good plan and purpose for my life. Give me the grace to trust You in it all so I do not waste time relearning the same lessons I need to know in order to fulfill my destiny.

I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

R OMANS 12:1

G od will always test you for the big things by looking at the little things. I knew at 18 years old that God wanted me to preach. But I started out on street corners and bus stops, not in churches. I would stand in front of bus stops where people were waiting for buses, and Id go at it. I would instantly have a captive audience of 10 to 20 people.

There was no pay involved. There was no fame involved. In fact, I looked rather strange sometimes pacing back and forth on street corners preaching in (what some people call) my loud voice. But I was doing what God wanted me to do.

The church came later.