"When the Ruach haEmet (Spirit of Truth) has come, She will lead you in all emet (truth), for She will not speak from the mind of the nefesh (flesh) but all that She hears, that She will speak, and She will make known to you future things" (John 16:13, HRV).

Yahweh has a purpose for you and your life. Even before He brought our grand cosmos into being, He had a purpose. Knowing what that purpose is, is one of the most important things you can ever discover. You won't necessarily know what it is all at once but you absolutely can know what your purpose is for each day, each week (on the Sabbath), each month and each year. To know and follow this divine purpose brings the simcha (joy) and radiance of a Messiah-guided life. That revelation is available here and now...if you are willing to follow four basic steps.

1. Be Filled with the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). Without the infilling of Yahweh's Ruach (Spirit), we will never make it. Knowing the power of the Ruach and to be sensitive to Her voice is the difference between defeat and victory, failure and success, direction and aimlessness. However, there is a price for being filled with the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) - Yahweh exects you to be empty of self and sin. He is always ready to fill your lev (heart) - the trouble you, your fleshy nature, usually is not:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13, NKJV).

"For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and She shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in Her power" (v.11, KJV).

2. Be Sure You Have Fully Yielded Yourself to Yahweh's Will. Remember, it's not what you want but what He wants! Elohim (God) cannot direct a life that doesn't want to be directed. Your lev (heart) has to agree with your mind - any decision you may reach. Praying that He will totally direct your will is critical.

Now you may think that total surrender like this is unreasonable. However, remember that He alone knows what the future holds - you don't. Who, in any case, is best equipped to run your life - you or Yahweh? He has all the wisdom and power and the ability to be with you wherever you go. Nothing is too hard for Him. He has never made a mistake! He has never said, 'I don't know!' And He has never made a selfish decision. These are pretty good grounds for surrendering to Him, don't you think? He is a loving, kind, and compassionate Father who longs for your highest happiness and holiness. Make this a matter of sincere and heart-felt prayer and self-searching. Tell Him that you are willing to go wherever He wants you to go, and then do whatever He wants you to do - no matter what the cost. And if you don't mean it, don't bother to pray, because Yahweh will hold you to any and every promise or covenant you make to Him. So make sure you are being transparently honest with Him.

3. Count the Cost. A half-hearted belief system is powerless and joyless. It has to be all or nothing because that is His standard of committal. Yahweh never uses people whom He can get rid of easily. He never does business with people who don't mean business with Him. Are you still willing? Think specifically. Are you ready to leave home? Give up your rights to a home? To friends? Family? Marriage? A lucrative or important career that you have desired since you were little? Remember the story of Abraham. Yahweh may not ask you to give up or sacrifice your desires for any of these things, but unless you are willing - honestly willing to do so, forget about Him ever using you. This is going to be hard - really hard. But if you really mean business with Yahweh - and you do - you won't want it any other way. Remember, the best things cost the most.

4. Ask Him to Show You. Don't expect that Yahweh will always detail everything for you, or tell you in advance all that He has in store for you. As men's choices change, so Yahweh changes the ways that He works. Don't get angry at Him because He doesn't show you a diary of the next five years of your life or make a detailed itinery for the day. Such a diary is impossible because you are a mortal creature constantly making mistakes that need correcting. Yes, He knows every mistake you are going to make, but if He were to show you every one and all the corrections you would have to make, you would never walk by emunah (faith)! That is why revelation comes in small chunks when you need it, after you have made choices (big and small), and in order to correct you so that you are again in a position to do what He wants. They don't come when you want or expect them.

I cannot stress enough how every single choice - even the smallest one - is important, and counts. Each correct choice, no matter how little and insignificant to you, brings into being a brand-new creature in Yahweh's universe. He uses these choices - large and small - to fulfil His own purposes. But because they don't exist until you actually make these choices, it is impossible to make you a detailed 'diary' of your life in future.

Did you know that the words 'plan' or 'blueprint' for a human life don't exist in Scripture? Yes, there is divine tavnith or pattern - a cosmic blueprint or plan for walking right and growing smoothly in emet (truth) but until we are walking in that voluntarily with our whole mind, lev (heart) and being, life will be like a car wandering all over the road requiring constant correction until the driver finally realises that the Rules of the Road are, after all, wise and in the best interests of all motorists. For each time we wander from the lane we run the risk of crashing with other 'vehicles' and then having the problem of not only just correcting our course but effecting repair after repair. Your daily itinery will include all these corrections and repairs until you are sufficiently disciplined (discipled) to be ready for bigger missions. Like a soldier being prepared for war, we must be spiritually trained and tested first. Some people just never complete their training for their life mission because they are too stubborn and rebellious. For them, guidance consists of a continual struggle to yield to Yahweh's correctives. The story of King Saul, who started well, but who went off the rails, is a good illustration.

Do you see now why Yahweh cannot give you a detailed 'diary'? You have been created free to choose, and for this reason it is important that you learn to know Yahweh's Voice on a day-to-day basis. This should be your priority in prayer. You can expect guidance for what you have to do right away: but He may not always show you what you are supposed to do next year. And don't be hung up on words or definitions of your ministry for Him - Yahweh may call you to do something, then change it later as He feels you are better equipped to handle another task. The only thing you can be sure of is that He will use you wherever He wants you and that you can expect Him to show you what to do in each circumstance.

Finally, don't be too impatient. A walk with Yahweh is, like the immortal Inspector Chan taught, is one step at a time. He will never forget you. He will never be late in His promises. Failure can only come from your side. But there never need be disappointment, or the sense of having missed His will in your life - if you want to know Him - if you want to know your task for the present with all your lev (heart).

Next time we will go into some specifics. May Yahweh bless you as you ponder these thoughts and probe deeper in study and prayer.