"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." -Jeremiah 1:5

God blew purpose into you. He anointed and appointed you before you took your first breath. So if your question is “God, do I have purpose?” The answer is yes. Recognizing that is the first step to discovering your purpose.

Okay. So now we KNOW that we have purpose. We now need to know WHAT that purpose is. The first thing I began to analyze when discovering my purpose were my interests, gifts, and talents. I identified my passions. I identified what I was good at. I identified things that made me happy or fulfilled. What are these things for you? Are you a good musician? Are you good at giving advice? Do all of your friends call you first when they are in need of prayer? Look at the situations you have found yourself in. Look at the doors God has opened concerning that specific gift or talent. I began to realize God was calling me into leadership when he started to allow my gifts to make room for me. He opened doors for me to sing solos at church as well as direct the choir. He recently has called me into being a teacher to middle and high schoolers. He even has allowed doors to open to be on committees and oversee things of different ministries. When God began to open doors for things of Him and not of my own wants and desires, I knew that he was pushing me towards purpose.

The next thing I began to do was read! I remember being in this Christian book store and as I was walking I passed this book and I literally felt a fire ignite in my belly. When I touched the book it was hot to touch. I said “hold on Jesus, what is this!?” That book was The Anna Anointing. God told me it was my “purpose” book. As I began to read it my purpose began to be revealed and I began to develop the vocabulary necessary to even describe what my purpose was. Reading this book only confirmed what I was thinking to be my purpose at the time. I share this story to say that God wants you to walk in your purpose so He will speak and send resources to help. I remember before this occurred I would pray and seek God. I knew what I was good at. However, I needed to know how God wanted me to use it.

Once you make your list of gifts and talents, pray on how God will have you to use them. You truly have to seek though. You have to stay at the feet of the Father until He reveals it to you. I don’t care how long it takes. Also, usually around discovering your purpose you may be in a season of isolation. Where God is isolating you in order to put you in the position to hear Him clearer. This was at least my experience. He definitely had me alone while implanting in me exactly what I needed to know and needed revealed. He may require you to go through a different process. Yet and still, I do know this much: God wants to help you discover your purpose. He doesn’t want you to try to figure it out on your own or fall into the trap of doing your own will. Allow Him to go through the journey of finding yourself, and your purpose with you. When He reveals it, research it! If God tells you to evangelize, study evangelism. If He tells you you're a prophet, begin to read books and scriptures on this subject matter. Once you discover purpose, you’ve got to cultivate purpose. You’ve got this girl!

Do you know your purpose? What was your journey to discovery? Let me know in the comments! If you are still a bit unclear, my prayer is that the scales are removed from your eyes so that you may see and discover your purpose.

Love and Blessings Ladies,

-Jerica Henderson

IG: @iflyinjuly/@_fierceandfavored_