Proverbs 19:21 “Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out). – Amplified Version. Thomas Carlyle wrote, “A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man.” Everything in life begins and ends with purpose. Everyone on this planet was born with and for a purpose. Without purpose, life is an experiment or a chaotic journey that results in frustration, disappointment and failure. Without purpose, life is subjective, or it is a trial and error game that is ruled by environmental influences and the circumstances of the moment. Likewise, in the absence of purpose, time has no meaning, energy has no reason and life has no precision. Therefore, it is essential that we understand and discover our purpose in life so that we can experience an effective, full and rewarding life. The Master Manufacturer of all created things has made all His creations for a definite purpose and has established that purpose as the ultimate definition of success. God says your plans for life, your ideas, your dreams, desired career, and your business should come after discovering His purpose for your life. God is therefore only concerned with His purpose and not your mere plans. Until purpose is discovered, existence has no meaning, for purpose is the source of fulfilment. Your purpose is different to the purpose of anybody else on the face of this globe, before you were created, God had the end in mind, He knew your purpose. God did not start with your creation, He started with a purpose and He designed you uniquely and specifically for that purpose. Your existence is evidence that this world needs something that only your life can offer. In other words, your purpose is the uniqueness and the value that you bring to this world. When you embrace your God given purpose, you unleash your God given potential and turn God’s purpose into your passion. Miles Munroe says that the greater tragedy is not death, but life without purpose. The greater tragedy is not the unfortunate and untimely death, as terrible as that is, of a loved one in an accident. It is the millions upon millions who die every year having squandered their potential and their purpose by doing something else. Life is not simply lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousands of ways in which men and woman live their lives without purpose. There is nothing more satisfying than to know what you are meant to be doing, and to commit yourself to do that faithfully. Fulfilling your purpose is not so much about what you do as it is about how you do it. You do not need to do great things to fulfill your purpose but do little things in a faithful way. Your gifts and talents were given you by God to help you accomplish your purpose. Beloved, you cannot walk in the richness and righteousness of your purpose while you are tied to the pain and failures of your past. So my dear friends let go your past in fulfilling your God’s given purpose. Pastor Yemisi Onanuga