Hi and welcome back to another week on the Chrissie Murphy Designs blog. This week I’ve been reflecting on another of the words the Lord gave me to draw….. Purpose. I’ve been sharing about it quite a bit on social media this week, but it’s actually something that I’ve been pushing in to for a few months. Having the opportunity to deep dive into it this week has been awesome, because it’s opened my eyes to the purpose that’s being lived around me. Let’s get into it and I’ll share what I mean.
You see, the older I get, the less time I have to waste….
That sounds sad, I know, BUT…. it’s something that’s been on my mind. Let me explain…. I have noticed that over the last 6 months or so, I am becoming increasingly intolerant of fruitless pursuits. I have no patience when it comes to spending my time on things that aren’t fruitful, meaningful or aligned with my calling. My heart just isn’t into it…. I’m wanting to live life! I’m wanting to live the calling God has placed on my heart. It’s lead me to spend a lot of time thinking about purpose.
Sunday night is Movie Night in my family
Sunday night is Murphy Movie Night, and it was my daughters choice the Sunday most recently passed. She chose a movie called “Dumplin’” which is loaded with Dolly Parton music and quotes. There was one Dolly quote that got my full attention…..
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose”
Dolly Parton
This one quote seemed to sum up everything I’d been working through these last few months. My desire to pursue things that are fruitful and meaningful, needed to be done on purpose. As soon as I heard it, I knew this week was going to be one of revelation.
Purpose is intentional
This seems like a no brainer, but it actually took more revelation from the Lord for me to truly understand it. He seemed to back up Dolly’s quote because there’s a verse in Proverbs (are you getting that I love Proverbs?) that says “Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.” It says “with fixed purpose” – so purpose is intentional. That’s an aha moment for me right there!
We’re to have purpose about how we live our life. To do it on purpose! This verse tells us that life is going to throw us distractions, but we’re to ignore them, and with fixed purpose, set our gaze on the path before us and do what we’ve set out to do.
There is Divine Purpose over our life
So all of this is great, but how can you set out with intention if you have no idea where you’re going? This is where purpose starts to get absolutely huge and mind blowing…. I’m going to do my best to bring things together, so bear with me as best you can.
In Jeremiah 29:11 it says that the Lord has a plan for us, He has a purpose for our lives. The plan He has for you is going to be different to the plan He has for me. Basically, He has a plan that He’s tailor made for each of us. Remember, He says we’re His masterpiece, we’re something He’s spent a lot of time working on and He has a plan for our lives. He has purpose for us, and often we feel it as a calling.
What if you don’t know your calling?
Gosh I’ve been there. Callings are funny things… for some people they are as clear as chrystal, for others they’re as elusive as quicksilver. As Dolly says you need to “find out who you are”. Sometimes you need to set your gaze, with fixed purpose, ignore life’s distractions and go and find your calling or purpose to life.
For me, my calling was elusive and I don’t think I really found it until this last year or so. I want to recommend a couple of things that have helped me, perhaps they’ll help you on your quest.
The first is Prayer
The first is prayer – prayer that you pray yourself and prayer from others. I have been praying, without ceasing (the Lord tells us to) to know my calling. I have petitioned the Lord, asking Him to reveal His calling and purpose over my life. And because I also believe He can move through anyone, I’ve sought prayer from others on this same thing. This has been fervent, intentional, purposeful prayer on my behalf and I believe this was the single best thing I could do for myself to help me find purpose.
The second is reading His word
I read His word, the Bible. I’m looking to learn what He says about me. Who does He say I am? What does He have to say about why I’m here, and my purpose? When I learned the answers to these things, I made a decision to believe and accept them by faith. For example, if He says I’m His daughter, I believe and accept by faith that I am.
The third is reading “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren.
This was a monumental book in helping me to understand some of the foundational truths of who I was made to be. I learned my place in things, how my upbringing, experiences and passions have helped to shape and mould me into the person I am today. I’ve added link here to where you can purchase this book online for those of you who may be interested.
The fourth is reading “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist” by Matt Tommey
As an artist, this book has been instrumental to me understanding and walking in my calling. This was the final piece of the purpose puzzle, the bit that tied everything together. I received an incredible amount of revelation reading this book, things suddenly seemed to make perfect sense and I began to understand why I am like I am. There was no mistake, I was perfectly made. I was made for a divine reason and purpose and now I know that, I have vision and dreams for my future. You can find this book for purchase here.
Purpose needs vision to function
When you finally begin to understand your calling, your purpose for being here, you can begin to visualise what things would be like if you were living it. Vision is the revealing of what something is going to be like to experience or achieve. Purpose needs vision to function. There’s a verse in Proverbs that says without vision people perish.
Without the vision of where you’re heading (according to your calling), you will wander aimlessly. Without knowing the possibilities of what you can experience or achieve, you will die a little bit inside as futility tends to set in. We’re made to dream, we’re made to hope and we’re made to imagine. We are the only one’s in all of creation that are capable of dreaming, hoping and imagining, so are you?
Are you able to visualise where you’re headed? Can you imagine living your life according to your calling? Purpose needs vision to function, if you can’t visualise things, seek the Lord in prayer and ask him to fill you with His vision for your future.
Vision is vital to our wellbeing
The Lord knows how vital vision is to our wellbeing, its why He says we’ll perish without it. It’s also why He’s made us like we have – with a divine purpose that overarches our lives. The two go together, like mac and cheese.
If you are someone who’s struggling to find your calling or purpose, I’d love to partner with you in prayer. Or maybe it’s vision you’re lacking. I’m ready to pray for you there too. Remember I said prayer was the first thing that helped me. I will pray for you and with you, so leave me a comment or send me a private message (you can contact me here). Let me know where you’re at and what it is you’re trying to work through.
There’s this verse in 1 Corinthians that sums up perfectly where I’m at now on this journey. “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.” As I said at the start of this post, I don’t have time to waste shadowboxing, chasing fruitless pursuits that have no appeal to me anymore. I’m here to run! To run with purpose, every step that’s been laid out before me. I pray you will be to.
Sometimes art resonates
Sometimes art resonates. Remember I shared about Resonate a little while ago… its when something resounds within you. If this blog post or piece of art resonates with you, leave me a comment and tell me how.
This one of a kind original piece of art is actually available to purchase. If it resonates with you, contact me and I’ll let you know how it can be yours.
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Until next time, listen to your heart and sharpen your coloured pencils. A masterpiece awaits!
Bless you my friend
Chrissie xx
Hi Chrissie,
It’s so amazing to me that whenever I read your post you address something that I have been thinking about, or that the Lord has been bringing to me. I have also been thinking about purpose and vision and speaking with God about the vision that He has placed in my heart. Once again you have given me confirmation, thank you again my friend!
This is so encouraging to hear Monica, as it’s what I’m believing Him for. Bless you my friend xx
So good Chrissie! Yes I want my efforts to be fruitful for His purpose! And I love the Dollie Parton quote.
Thanks Heather, it was so timely 💛
Years ago I said to a friend of mine who was a stay-at-home mom, that I was a professional mom, who pursued excellence in all the mom things, and that I didn’t waste any time but lived out my purpose. She pondered and said that she had never thought of being a mom as a calling, as something you could improve skills and become better and better at it, almost like it was a profession.
This is so good Susan. I believe there’s many who don’t realise you can pursue things, that you can pursue everything you sense you’ve been called to. I think sometimes we wait, almost as if someone needs to provide us permission to pursue. But it’s by faith that we’re to pursue, believing in all the call can contain. I loved hearing your comment, and I truly sense excellence in what you put your hand to Susan. It’s in how you write and carry yourself on social media. You’ve been a blessing to me in the short time I’ve known you. Bless you my friend xx
I love how you are able to combine your art and writing together like this. Thank you for sharing with us what God has put on your heart. I am also learning that living on “purpose” needs to be intentional. When it comes to our walk with Christ, we need to purposefully put effort into it and truly follow Him, or else we will easily fall away.
So true Tabatha, everything matters hey xx
Hi Chrissie! You artwork is beautiful! I think I have a firm grasp on my purpose. I need to work on the vision aspect of my purpose.
Vision is so important hey. I will pray for you in this too my friend. Bless you xx
Thank you. Prayer is always welcome and appreciated.😊