12 Ways God Leads You Into Your Destiny

We all ask, "What is my purpose for living? I want to do something meaningful! I want purpose to flow from my heart, my gifts and calling, and my God-given destiny. How can I know God’s calling and destiny for my life?"

How about we examine twelve light-posts which guide us along this wonderful path to the understanding, and then fulfillment, of our destiny. It is a path that shines brighter and brighter until the dawning of the full day (Prov. 4:18, 23; Jn. 7:37-39). That would mean, even though God knows it, it will take us a number of years to see it and then walk it out.

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12 light-posts revealing my call, purpose, destiny & fulfillment

Up to age 20-30, pursue answers through the first six principles.

After age 30, pursue answers from principles seven through twelve. 

1. Childhood dreams – What were my childhood vocational dreams calling me to do?
2. Traits and giftings – What traits, gifts, and strengths are observable in me?
3. Synergy empowers – Wisdom, insight, and power occur as I team up 
4. Experiences perfect – I see God’s hand honing me through each life experience.
5. Holy discontent – God often calls us to fix the thing we can’t stand.
6. Anointing needed – ONLY God’s anointing can truly fix things.
7. Laser-focused, intense search – The Spirit leads me in an impassioned search.
8. A breakthrough revelation – God grants me a flash of insight.
9. Proving it works – God’s solution works for me and for others.
10. Multiplying the gift – God reveals ways to multiply His solution.
11. Getting reimbursed – God reveals how to receive financial support through His solution.
12. Effective marketing – God reveals effective marketing techniques to spread His gift.

Biblical examples of destinies being understood and then fulfilled

Abraham, the father of all who believe (Gen. 12 – 22).

Abraham is the father of all who believe (Gen. 12 – 22). He received a clear declaration of his destiny in Genesis 12:1-5. He was 75 years old. God told him he would be the father of many nations. He was married with no children through his wife, Sarai. He began a journey of following God's voice. He did leave Ur and travel to Israel, but he wasn't fully obedient. He brought along his relatives, Lot, when God had said, “Leave your family.” Abraham also expressed fear in the coming years, evidenced by the fact that he did not tell the whole truth about Sarai being his wife, and she was moved into a couple of harems. God protected and delivered her and then told Abraham, “Walk before me and be blameless.” In other words, stop sinning (Gen.17:1). Abraham was now 99 years of age.

God had reinforced the destiny call with a dream (Gen. 15:1-6) of millions of stars, and the promise he would have that many children, through Sarai, and that God would not accept Ishmael, who was born through the handmaiden, as this was not something that God had directed him to do. Wow! Man's ideas are not God’s ideas (Isa. 55:9). At age 100, Isaac was born.

Twenty-five years to get this vision off the ground (Gen. 21:1-5). Yup, God’s ways are not my ways. Then God tested Abraham to see if he had fullness of faith, by telling him to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22). Abraham's faith was strong. Abraham believed God was able to raise Isaac from the dead (Heb. 11:19). It was a lifetime of growing faith and obedience to the voice and vision of God. The light was getting brighter and brighter.

A summary of the importance of faith to release destiny is found in Hebrews 11. Please read it now. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). In the story of Abraham, the father of all who believe, we have learned key principles about discovering and fulfilling our God-given destinies. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).

Jeremiah’s destiny - Ordained by God while in the womb (Jer. 1:4-10).

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you (Jeremiah) in the womb, I knew (Yadah) you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."  Wow! Set apart and ordained by God from day one of our lives. Awesome! Jeremiah did not know this till his youth, but his heart instinctively knew it from birth.

Jeremiah lived by the Spirit - guided and empowered by God. "And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.

I can’t - Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth" (Jer. 1:6). 

Jeremiah experienced a touch from God. Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth" (that is, anointing of power).

God grants a picture of the destiny fulfilled. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant."   

We receive ongoing enlightenment as we walk the path of life. The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day (Prov. 4:18).

Jesus tells us 11 times how He lived out His destiny

Jesus has a destiny laid out by the Old Testament prophets. To become the suffering lamb and to carry the sins of the world to the cross, where His blood would bring remission of sins to all who would receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Jesus was aware of this plan and was obedient to it.

Along the way, Jesus tells us 11 times that He only does His Father's initiative, what He hears and sees Him doing. So Jesus is living by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), just as we are to.

There are many plans in a man's heart; Nevertheless, the LORD's counsel—that will stand (Prov. 19:21).

Jesus makes the Spirit-anointed lifestyle available for us to live!

1. I hear God's voice: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish. (Jn. 10:27-28)
2. I see God's vision: 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. (Acts 2:17)
3. We are led by God's Spirit to the truth: "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. (Jn. 16:13)
4. I walk and live by the Spirit: If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25)

We imitate Jesus’ lifestyle by living tuned to God’s voice and visions

• We ask, look, and listen for God’s revelation.
• Daily tuning to His River that flows within (flowing thoughts & flowing pictures).
• Journal God’s revelation as David did in the Psalms.
• I recommend journaling daily to get God’s heart for the day.
• In addition, I journal every January, asking God specifically what He wants me to focus on over the coming year.

ALL experiences in our lives have positive benefits

• All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-30).
• Make sure you answer journaling question #4 in-depth, taking all your negative pictures of your past experiences to Jesus and asking Him what the gift was that you received through that "negative" experience.
• "A hurt is healed when you can see the gift that God has produced in your life through the experience."
• Once Jesus shows you the gift (this new vision of the experience), you ONLY gaze upon this NEW experience every time you go back to recount or envision it. This lets you experience LIFE and not DEATH! This is called "Inner Healing Prayer."
• Here is a blog and video on Inner Healing prayer 

The path to destruction - NOT embracing a LOVE for the truth.

Those perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth (2 Thess. 2:10).

If I allow myself to knowingly believe a lie (perhaps because it is the easier or more profitable way to go), then I open myself up to cascading lies.

For example, if I accepted the comprise that I would not preach or pursue the gifts of the Holy Spirit because I wanted the guaranteed comfort of living in homes provided by the Wesleyan Church to its Wesleyan retired pastors, then that unwillingness to walk in a love for the truth, because of my love of guaranteed comfort, opens me up to accepting many additional lies down the road.

We must “Watch over our heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life”  (Prov. 4:23).

God knows my heart. If God and His truth are not the things I wholeheartedly LOVE, then there is a repercussion. "For this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness" (2 Thess. 2:11-12). Now I am participating in the demonic derangement syndrome. YUCK!

Journaling questions for discerning your destiny 

Download an editable file of these journaling questions by clicking here

Hearing God's voice is as simple as: 1) quieting down (Ps. 62:1-5), 2) beholding Jesus at my right hand (Ps. 16:8; Acts 2:25), 3) asking for His revelation and tuning to flowing thoughts and flowing pictures (Jn. 7:37-39; Jer. 2:13; 10 pictures), and 4) recording this flow (Hab. 2:1,2; Rev. 1:9-11). I then test it, ensuring it lines up with Scripture (Ps. 1:2; Jn. 10:35; 1 Thess. 5:2) and is affirmed in the hearts of my three spiritual advisors (2 Cor. 13:1; Prov. 11:14). See this link.

1. Childhood dreams (Jer. 1:5) - What were my childhood vocational dreams calling me to do?

Lord, You formed me, knew me, sanctified and ordained me by the time I was born. My heart felt this call and purpose, and expressed it through dreams. Remind me of these childhood longings and dreams for my life. In what ways am I to serve humanity through the fulfillment of these dreams?

2. Traits and giftings (Rom. 12:6) – What traits, gifts, and strengths are observable in me?

Lord, what are the special, unique gifts, strengths, and abilities You have equipped me with? Who else has confirmed these gifts within me? Lord, what about my mind, will, emotions, passions, attitudes, motivations, and character traits?

3. Synergy empowers (Eccl. 4:12) – Wisdom, insight, and power occur as I team up. 

 Lord, show me where I have been teamed up with individuals or groups, and they have added insights, keys, and complementary gifts that have helped me grow. Who am I to team up with now?

4. Experiences perfect (Rom. 8:28) – I discern God’s hand through suffering, failures, victories, and successes.

Lord, You work all things together for good. What good did You accomplish in the times I suffered/failed, and in the times I succeeded? Where has Your comfort granted me the grace to overcome and comfort others? What “spontaneous thoughts” and “chance encounters” have I acted on, which have actually been You guiding my steps?

5. Holy discontent (Neh. 1:1-11) – God often calls us to fix the thing we can’t stand.

Lord, what is it that irritates me that You are calling me to fix?

6. Anointing needed (Jn. 6:63; 5:19,20,30 - Divine initiative) – ONLY God’s anointing can truly fix things.

God, show me how I cannot accomplish this destiny alone and how Your anointing CAN accomplish this. What must I do to see Your anointing released?

7. Laser-focused, intense search (Acts 7:29,30) - The Spirit leads me in an impassioned search.

Lord, Moses spent 40 years and discovered Your power. Jesus took 40 days. Where and how am I to search to receive Your revelation and power needed to succeed in the destiny set before me?

8. Breakthrough revelation (Acts 7:30-34) - God grants me a flash of insight.

Lord, You gave Moses a burning bush experience and Paul a Damascus Road experience. I’m asking for a similar revelation experience, so I can step forward in revelation knowledge and power to accomplish Your plan. Lord, please disclose Yourself to me.

9. Proving it works (Jas. 1:23-25) - The solution works for me and for others.

Lord, as I gaze intently on this revelation and practice walking it out, show me how to define, improve, and clarify it so it works easily for me and for others. Lord, what is the feedback I am getting from others? What do I need to add/adjust to make it a 100% solution for all?

10. Multiplying the gift (Matt. 13:23) - God reveals ways to multiply His solution.

Lord, how do You want me to effectively plant this seed in a form that allows it to multiply exponentially so others can experience a harvest from it?

11. Getting reimbursed (1 Tim. 5:18) - God reveals how to receive financial support through this solution.

Lord, how is this gift to be released so that it provides the finances necessary to live?

12. Effective marketing (Rom. 10:15) - God reveals effective marketing techniques to spread His gift.

Blessed are the feet of those who share good news. Lord, how do You want the good news of this revelation to be spread to others?

Dig Deeper: Personality Profiles, 4 Keys Training & More Journaling Questions

•  As I completed a dozen personality profiles in the book, Gifted to Succeed, I noted that God had placed within my DNA specific and unique gifts which I can now see were the building blocks to assist me in coming to the place of fulfilling my destiny. I was uniquely designed, equipped, and anointed to fulfill my destiny. The same is true for you, so why not check out the profiles in Gifted to Succeed?
• A free Jesus Encounter prayer app will be released in 2026 from Communion With God Ministries. It will contain key journaling questions for 30 specific prayer topics. If you are signed up for the CWG monthly newsletter, you will be informed when this app is available for download. 
• Here is an online DISC Profile that I found very helpful
   

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