There is an old saying that curiosity killed the cat. Curious by nature, cats can get into trouble and even die when they allow their curiosity to lead them where they don't need to go. You are not a cat, however, and the opposite can be true for you. Your curiosity will seldom harm you and, what's more, your purpose can be hindered and thwarted if you don't follow your interests and curiosity. Allow me to explain.
A CURIOUS SIGHT
I was meeting with someone in a purpose coaching session the other day and I asked her a Bible question: "When did God speak to Moses from the burning bush?" The answer is found in Exodus 3:2-3: "Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.'"
God did not whistle and call Moses over to the bush. Moses had seen a lot of burning bushes in the desert over the years, but this one was different. It was burning but it was not consumed. So Moses followed his curiosity and, when he arrived at the bush, God spoke to him and told him to take off his shoes.
I asked the woman with whom I was meeting the question about Moses because she was telling me what so many people tell me: She was waiting on the Lord. While this sounds spiritual, it is often an attempt to avoid personal responsibility in making any decision about what to do and not to do. If you put all the burden on the Lord to "prove" to you that there is something you need to do, you are basically saying, "Unless You drop a piano in front of me (or on top of me) from the top of a high building, Lord, I am going to keep doing what I'm doing and getting the same results I have always received. If I don't do more it's Your fault because You didn't show me."
A CURIOUS LEADING
Since you are not a cat, your curiosity not only doesn't kill, but it serves an important purpose, often leading you where you need to be. Stop scrutinizing your interests and thoughts. You need to chill out, relax and realize that God is with you and is directing your interests and, yes, even your curiosities.
I love school and learning. So I have enrolled in biblical Hebrew not because it is required but rather because I want to learn it. I am taking a two-week course in Quickbooks so I can understand that accounting software and use it in my business. Did God tell me to do those things? Well, indirectly He did, for I was curious and now that I am in those classes, He is "speaking" to me. Perhaps God isn't speaking to you because you are insisting that God has to speak to you where you are and not where He wants you to be. You want to hear His voice now and He wants to speak to you when you are where He wants you to be. Guess who will win that battle of wills?
How will you know where you are supposed to be? At least some of the time you will know because you followed your curiosities, nothing more and nothing less. Why not follow your interests and let curiosity lead you this week? It may not be the voice of God, but if you follow it, it may lead you to a place where you will hear what you have been wanting to hear -- the voice of God clearly directing your path. Have a great week!
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ASSESSMENT: Have you taken the purpose assessment on my updated website? A lot of people did take it last week. If you haven't done so yet, why not do so now and then follow up with some of the online resources that can improve your score?
LAST WEEK FOR CD SERIES: I have a three-CD series entitled Getting Your Life Back on Track: A Study of Purpose and Goals that I taught earlier this year in Texas. I would like to make it available to you this week for any contribution to my ministry. This series, designed to help you clarify your purpose and set some high goals, comes with a fill-in-the-blanks outline along with a copy of my book, I Wrote This Book on Purpose. This special will run through the month of September. You can contribute on my website using PayPal or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221.
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