As I mentioned in my last post, I had been actively searching for my purpose for a couple of years (’01-’03). I was doing everything I knew to do in order to allow God to speak to me. I was studying His Word, praying, participating in Bible studies, leading others in Bible study, teaching, etc. and it seemed I was still not sure of what I should be doing with my life.
Between April 2002 and the fall of 2003, I continued to go through the Impact Discipleship study and take others through it as well. I continued studying God’s Word on a daily basis. I started journaling on a regular basis. I was reading everything I could get my hands on in an effort to find my purpose. I had decided to walk away from the family business and was looking for other work that allowed me more time to volunteer and work for God in whatever capacity he had planned for me.
In my last post, I began to tell you about another crucial step in this journey – one that changed everything for me.
As the oldest of three sons, I was always the one expected to take over the family business. It was all I knew. It was all I had ever pictured as my future…and I was walking away. After six intense months of reading and studying my Bible and praying, I was certain I had to make a significant change in the direction of my life.
In my last post, I explained how, after 20 years as a Christian, I was convicted of not treating the Bible as God intended – as an instruction book for this life. This conviction had come through reading a book on a trip to Hawaii and left me eager to start studying my Bible.
I had a serious problem. I had a blind spot and did not know it. I was raised in a Christian home. I accepted Jesus and was baptized when I was 10 years old. I grew up in a small-town Baptist church and was given a great faith foundation and working knowledge of the Bible. I was a good kid and never got into much trouble.