The Purpose

I was on a walk one night and I thought, “you know what, I am going to leave my phone and my headphones at home and just have a conversation with you, God.”

I started out by thanking him for some of the things I have recognized in my life and then I told him, “I just want to talk to you and dream with you and listen to you.”

I am currently in a waiting season and have been for quite some time. In the waiting, I wonder sometimes if I am on the right track. If there is something I need to be doing in the waiting. So, I was asking him, what should I do during this time? During this walk I saw a couple of caterpillars. I started thinking to myself, caterpillars eat and eat and eat and then they isolate and transform into a beautiful butterfly (I know this from one of my favorite books growing up-The Very Hungry Caterpillar). Then a question came to my mind. What is the purpose of a butterfly? So, I thought, well, what is the purpose of a butterfly? I thought about this for a little bit and then I realized I was almost home. I asked God, “um, did I just get distracted by caterpillars and butterflies? Did I just waste my time with you?” and then I said, “God, if I go home and look up the purpose of a butterfly, is it going to be your answer? Is it going to blow my mind God?” 

I get home and I immediately look up the purpose of a butterfly. A butterfly pollinates plants in the garden. They feed on nectar and collect pollen to carry to other plants and in doing this, they help fruits, veggies and flowers produce new seeds. And my mind was blown. If you put this answer in response to my question it sounds a lot like this:

Q: God, what should I do while waiting?

A: Feed on my word and spread the good news.

And really, that is what we are called to do.

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation

Mark 16:15

If you take anything from this, I hope that you see that He is talking to us and answering our questions all the time. I love to write out my conversations with God. There is just something about having a pen in my hand and an action to take that keeps me from getting distracted. I will often write out a prayer or a question and then I like to sit and listen. It is rare that our minds are blank, so I just write down everything that comes to mind. Even if that thought seems stupid, minor or made up (like the thought of a butterfly’s purpose). If you are learning to discern His voice, this is a great way to do that. You can look back on what you wrote and easily be able to tell what is flesh, what was a lie from the enemy and what was a word from God. He knows how to reach you. Are you paying attention?