Praying for Yourself – for Clarity of Purpose

(1 Thes 5:17 NLT)  Never stop praying.

This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life,” by continuing to look at “What to Pray For.”  We spent the entire month of January studying purpose and vision.  Now let’s look at some scriptures that we can meditate on as we prepare to pray for clarity of purpose.  As a reminder, remember that:

• Purpose gives birth to vision.

• Vision informs your plans.

• Plans help you to develop measureable goals.

• Goals are incremental steps that take you towards an expected end.

• Discipline is required to complete your goals.  Discipline is a self-imposed standard or restriction motivated by a desire greater than the alternatives.  Discipline is about making decisions that are dictated by a determined destiny.

Clarity of Purpose:

(Jer 29:11 GW)I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

(Jer 1:5 GW)  “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

(Rom 8:28 NLT)  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

(2 Tim 4:7 KJV)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

(1st Cor 6:12 NIV)  “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

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

Closing Prayer:  Father, I believe Your Word teaches me that I have a predetermined and pre-established purpose.  You have planned out my future and it is a future filled with hope.  You have an expected end for my life and I want to arrive there before I die.  But I will never arrive there if I don’t find, follow, and finish my purpose.  Therefore, I ask that You reveal Your plan and purpose for my life TO ME.  You told Jeremiah what Your plans were for his life.  You revealed to Him what You purposed before He was ever formed in his mother’s belly.  Your revelation enabled him to make an alignment with his assignment.  I ask You to do the same for me.

When I look at the life of Paul I see a person that was led by Your Spirit mightily.  He accomplished many things, because he was a man on a mission.  Paul was able to say, “I have finished my course,” because he knew what it was.  Father, You are no respecter of persons.  You don’t play favorites.  I ask You to do the same for me and once You do, I declare that I will follow and finish my purpose with a bulldog tenacity!  Your purpose will give birth to divine vision.  That vision will inform my plans.  My plans will help me develop measurable goals.  And through discipline, I will be able to complete those goals year by year, so that annually I can get incrementally closer to Your overall expected end for my life.  I thank You in advance for giving me clarity of purpose and I declare by faith that I will maximize my purpose and potential before I die.  I pray this prayer by faith.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!