Your Creator.
From whence hath thou come? Where do you go? What is your purpose? This, I am asking you, the reader…
In Job 1:7 (KJV), the Lord asks Satan, “Whence comest thou?” to which Satan replies, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it”. This exchange signifies Satan’s role as a tempter patrolling the earth, acting within limits to test humanity.
- From Whence Hath Thou Come? Satan answers he has come from “going to and fro in the earth”.
- Where Do You Go? Satan describes his activity as “walking up and down in it,” indicating a continuous, active search across the world.
- What is Your Purpose? This passage highlights a spiritual conflict where evil, personified by Satan, patrols the earth. Other interpretations (such as Christian Science Sentinel) interpret this as a representation of sin and evil operating in the world apart from God’s law.
- Context: This scene occurs in Job Chapter 1 (and again in Job 2:2), showing Satan reporting to God, followed by the testing of Job.
Another instance of this question appears in Genesis 16:8, when an angel asks Hagar, “whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?”, focusing on her life’s direction and submission.
And we pray:
“Dear Lord, I come before You seeking clarity on my purpose. Please guide me in Your way, accepting my strengths and weaknesses, and help me to be compassionate toward others. Remind me that I have a purpose as Your child to love You and love others. Please show me specific ways to follow my purpose every day. Give me wisdom in every small and large decision as I step into my purpose, and strengthen my faith to trust in Your plan, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Key Elements of Purpose-Focused Prayer
- Surrender & Direction: Asking for guidance to know what steps to take next on your path, ensuring they align with divine will.
- Wisdom & Clarity: Requesting discernment in decisions, recognizing that reliance on divine understanding is safer than human understanding.
- Passion & Fruitfulness: Praying for a passionate pursuit of purpose and the ability to bear good fruit through love and humility.
- Strength & Courage: Asking for the strength to overcome weariness and for the courage to trust God, even when the path is unclear.
- Kingdom Perspective: Seeking to understand how your specific life and skills contribute to the broader purpose of expanding God’s Kingdom.
Scriptures to Incorporate
- Proverbs 3:5-6: Trusting in the Lord with all your heart rather than your own understanding.
- Ephesians 2:10: Remembering you are God’s handiwork, created for good works.
- Jeremiah 29:11: Trusting in the plans to prosper and give you a future.
1. Where there is no vision, the people run wild, but blessed is he who follows divine instruction. Proverbs 29:18
Father, we pray that you would remind us that that we are all a part of building and expanding your Kingdom. We ask that you give us a fresh vision for your purpose for our lives. We ask that you open our eyes, our ears, our hearts, and our minds to your vision so that we can live out our purpose. Remove anything from our lives that hinders us from discerning your vision. We pray that you would draw us closer to you as you bring us revelation to our purpose. Please reveal to us what we need to do today to not run wild, but rather be focused on your divine vision. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
2. For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Thank you Lord that even if what we see in front of us doesn’t feel good or look good, your plans are good. That even if harm comes our way, you’ll use it for good. Thank you for the hope we can find in you. We trust that you have our future planned out from the very beginning. Allow us to rest in you and rest in your master plan. Give us the confidence that you have nothing but good planned for us. Remind us that even though we don’t know the full plan, that you know the plan. May we lean into you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
3. There are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail. Proverbs 19:21
Father, we thank you that even though we have our own idea of how our life should look, often setting out according to our plans, that your ultimate purpose prevails. We ask that you prompt us when we set out to make plans that we make them according to your will, and not our own. We ask that you remind us to come alongside you as we surrender every detail to fulfill your greater purpose. Please align our hearts with yours, our ideas with yours, and our will with yours. For your ways are higher than ours and your plans are greater than ours, and nothing is impossible with you. Lead us every step of the way, in Jesus’s name. Amen
4. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Father, in the name of Jesus, as we begin to take steps in the direction of our purpose, we ask that you give us wisdom. We ask in faith, that as your Word promises us, that you will give us wisdom in every small and large decision as we step into our purpose. We thank you that we don’t have to rely on our own understanding, as we know that your wisdom will guide us to our exact purpose. Thank you that we can come to the throne and ask anything. We ask for your guidance, and we thank you for the gift and power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’s name.
5. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. I Thessalonians 5:24
Father, we thank you for being a faithful God. Thank you that although we live in a world where our circumstances at times are shaky, that we serve an unshakeable God. Lord, we ask for this type of faith. Thank you for giving us examples in the Bible of those who found their purpose in you, and every time, without a doubt, you were faithful. Thank you that if you have called us to it, then you will equip us for it. We ask that you remind us of your faithfulness when doubt creeps in. We ask that you allow your promises to overwhelm us when our purpose seems to big. For you are bigger than anything in front of us. Thank you that we can trust in you and your faithfulness never fails us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.