Guide to a Purposed Family

Did you know your family has a purpose?

Each individual and the collective group in the family has a purpose and it’s intertwined with each other.

Our families are not an accident and in the design of God, there are generational blessings, giftings, and ideas that God has for us.

This is comforting and challenging at the same time. We see the flaws, maybe have tension, and have been let down and hurt by our family potentially. There’s no doubt that our greatest joy and greatest pain come from our families. With this reality, the idea of having a purposed family can get lost in survival mode with just trying to stay above the fray at times.

But God has more for us and our families than just surviving. He has designed us to thrive in what He has for us and to move forward as individuals and as a family unit.

How do we know this to be true?

After all, maybe our family is torn apart and in disarray. Maybe our marriage is barely making it and possibly, we’ve been devastated by something that has happened in our family.

These scenarios are real, and all of us who are reading this blog right now find our families in different places of life.

But, God’s word gives us promises that show us His intent and design for our lives. From these promises, we choose to believe in what God has and what God can do.

I believe this, all of our families are flawed and have things we’re walking out of. I also believe all of our families have purpose and potential in God which is great. No matter our story and the state we find our family in, God is bigger and greater!!

Here are three promises we can apply to both our lives and our families.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬

“And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭21‬

Which of these three verses speaks to you the most?

Your answer is God highlighting His thoughts and plans for you. This ignites hope of what can be when Jesus moves into our families.

So, how do we have a purpose in the family?

1st – We build our lives on Jesus.

If we are going to be a purposed family, we have to build our lives on Jesus. From Him comes the meaning of our lives, and why we are here.

This is an intentional choice because so many things are competing as the foundation for our families. When we build our lives on Jesus, we are choosing to do life His way and to have His priorities.

We do marriage His way. We do parenting His way. We do relationships His way.

Jesus becomes the standard we live our lives and how we connect with our families.

This is big because Jesus changes us from the inside out and when we get better, our families get better. When we change, our families can change. It starts with us because He changes a family one person at a time.

What are you building your life on?

If not Jesus, choose Him today and make Him the rock on which you build your life and family.

2nd – Choose to be a peacemaker.

Notice, I said, a peacemaker, and not a peacekeeper. There is a big difference!

Being a peacekeeper is trying to keep the peace by keeping everyone calm and not ruffling any feathers. But this is short-sighted and doesn’t work because what is in our hearts will eventually come out.

Also, if we don’t address an issue and have open communication, we are a prisoner in that situation and the family is held hostage to someone else’s behavior or attitude. This must be addressed so that the purpose of our families comes forth.

A peacemaker is someone who moves confidence to address issues, wrong behaviors and facilitates open communication. This is where issues can be resolved and wounds can be healed.

Too many times, families go through life with issues, being unresolved and not having open dialogue to get through them. This causes people to shut down, and not openly talk about what they are feeling from what has happened.

We must embrace conflict resolution as a peacemaker to move forward in the purpose. God has called us to do.

Is your family pacemakers or peacekeepers?

You can make a difference by being a peacemaker.

3rd – Choose to resolve conflict.

Conflict does not have to divide us, but rather it can unite us and causes us to go to new levels of love and respect. However, too often conflict derails families and leaves hurt hearts in its wake.

When we choose to resolve conflict we are willing to make adjustments and come to the highest point of unity.

This is a posture of humility and where there is humility there is healing.

This is something our families need more than ever because right now, the ability to agree to disagree and still be family is under attack.

Family is more important than a disagreement or different views. Our posture should be family unity to reach for the purpose that God has for us. We cannot afford to splinter apart over trivial things and important things. We have to come to the highest point of unity and choose to resolve conflict.

God wants to use our families for his glory and while we have an individual purpose from God, our family has a purpose too.

So today I encourage you to fight for your family’s purpose. Move forward in what God has for you. Don’t settle for division, don’t settle for strife, don’t settle for drama, don’t settle for nonsense, and reach higher for what God can do through all of you together.

So today, no matter, if your family is with you, or away from you, begin to pray, and reach for what God has.

All it takes is one! Let it be you!

Have a day and the best is yet to come,
PD