Discover Your Soul Purpose: An Intimate Conversation with God

By Wendy Templeton Padilla

Do you believe God speaks to you? What if you could sit down with God? What would you say to Him? What questions would you ask Him? Most importantly, what would He say to you? Would you be willing to enter the conversation?

As a broadcaster and certified life coach, Wendy Templeton invites you to experience a personal encounter with God, the One Who knows and loves you best.

Dear child, I Am God, your heavenly Father. I Am the one Who knows you inside and out: your past, your present, and your future. I know all your thoughts even before you do. I know when you are filled with joy and peace, and I know when you are anxious and sad.

My heart is so filled with love for you as you turn to me for help. I fully understand and know your conflicted heart, and I love you despite all your challenges: your disappointments and sorrows, your hesitations, and your fears. How I wait for you to release them to Me once and for all. I must ask you, My precious soul, what do you believe?

As you tune the ear of your heart to listen to God's voice throughout each unique discovery prayer letter, you may find that you are touched on a very deep level; this is good.

Discovering Your Soul Purpose: An Intimate Conversation with God will help you...

Know who you are in God.

Tune out distractions to listen to God's voice more intently in your daily life.

Forge a deeper relationship with God.

Discover Your Soul Purpose.

Live with more love, hope, joy, and courage.

Live without fear and anxiety.

Live in true peace despite your current circumstances.

Understand that forgiveness is meant for you--to forgive and to be forgiven.

Be your authentic self.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685704186

Book preview

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Discover Your Soul Purpose

An Intimate Conversation with God

Wendy Templeton Padilla

ISBN 978-1-68570-417-9 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88540-097-8 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68570-418-6 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Templeton Padilla

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament © 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

An Introduction of Love

Letter of Discovery 1

Hope

Letter of Discovery 2

Forgiveness

Letter of Discovery 3

Prayer

Letter of Discovery 4

Gratitude

Letter of Discovery 5

Eternal Salvation

Letter of Discovery 6

Faith

Letter of Discovery 7

Courage

Letter of Discovery 8

Living

Acknowledgments

About the Author

For Grayson and Noah

Foreword

Having a prayer life is essential. I think most folks wish they had more of a prayer life than they do. I know I fall into that category. And because of that, I have a great admiration for people who actually do have a rich prayer life. My friend Wendy Templeton Padilla is one of those people I admire.

Let me start with a bit of history. I've known Wendy since our days in radio together. Back in those days, Wendy was really beginning to find her way in her relationship with God. She was (and still is) supertalented and honing her communication skills on the radio. We spent a lot of time together, and I remember thinking that she was in something of a state of transition. You see, it takes a bit of ego to be in media. I think Wendy was struggling with her ego, as everyone in Christian media rightfully should. She was trying to find that sweet spot of projecting herself but more projecting Christ. For those in media, it can be a difficult balancing act. That's where prayer really comes in.

Many years ago, I had a spiritual director who encouraged me to journal. He thought it would be good if I would write down my thoughts each day and the conversations that I had with God. Truth be told, I never did do it. I'm sure glad Wendy has. My point is that he made it very clear that prayer is conversations with God. So often, our prayer is one-sided. We talk to God, telling him all the things we want, thanking him for his goodness, and offering up others. But we rarely listen. And if we do listen, often it goes in one ear and out the other. This is why journaling can be so key. It not only helps us remember, but it also builds an intimacy with God.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Discover Your Soul Purpose is its intimacy. What struck me from the very beginning was its rawness. As someone who has been privileged to know Wendy personally, I know that she can sometimes be rather blunt. That's an attribute that not everyone appreciates. But I believe that God appreciates it. In fact, I believe he desires it.

In a truly intimate relationship, both parties can be totally honest—perhaps even blunt—with one another. And while God may appreciate our bluntness, sometimes we may not appreciate God reciprocating. But God is not one to beat around the bush. The Scriptures make very clear that God can be very blunt. And I love that in Wendy's conversations with God, he is very blunt with her. You see, when he makes difficult things very clear, it doesn't mean he loves us any less. Quite the contrary. He loves us enough to tell us what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear. And even in his bluntness, there is love and mercy and compassion. That's the kind of God we serve. That's the God that Wendy shows us.

I hope that when reading Discover Your Soul Purpose, you will, like me, hear the struggles of a real person, just like you and me, and the responses of a loving God who desires us to draw closer to him every step of our journey. I know that's why Wendy has opened up the deepest parts of her soul to us. May we hear God's voice ever more clearly.

—Gus Lloyd

Preface

I am thrilled that you have chosen to spend time with the discovery prayer letters in this book. As God's beloved children, we all thirst to experience that loving connection with our heavenly Father. Saint Augustine of Hippo, one of the greatest saints of all time, described that thirsting for God perfectly. He said, You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. For us to rest in God, we must be willing to spend time with Him in prayer, to discern His voice, to get to know Him intimately, and to be open to all that He desires to say to us—the whole lot of it!

You have heard it before: prayer is a two-way conversation between you and God. Sometimes we may find it hard to know what to say to God, then there are other times we come to Him with a long wish list; we have so many burdens and concerns. In these times when there are so many people hurting and the world seems to be darker than ever before, it is vital for us to find our peace and refuge in God alone. We may wonder if God could really be concerned with every little detail in our life; we may even question, at times, if He cares at all. But the good news is that He absolutely does! We serve a mighty big God Who pursues and loves us more than we could ever know. The truth of the matter is that God already knows what is in the deepest recesses of our hearts, and He remains with us—period. When we feel we can't hear Him, we can be sure that we are not alone; He is with us and speaks love, mercy, and forgiveness into the silence of our hearts.

But what happens when it's not so silent? We can get so easily distracted by the noise around us that we can miss out on those important conversations God desires to have with us. Our Lord desires to speak to us very clearly throughout the simple and even hectic moments of our day. We must ask ourselves, are we willing to open our hearts, seek Him out, and listen?

As we continue to grow in a deeper relationship with our Lord, we will begin to recognize all the various ways that we can discern the voice of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can clearly discern God's authoritative and truthful voice by reading and meditating on His Word in the Holy Scriptures. We can also hear His still, small voice through simple moments spent in prayer, adoration, and devotion. We may hear His voice from a fellow brother or sister in Christ, sharing a message of hope and encouragement through a radio or television program. Maybe you've experienced the voice of God through the kindness of a stranger. Can you think back to a time when you turned on the radio, only to hear a song seemingly meant just for you? We may not be good at timing, but when God speaks, His message is perfect and clear.

The good news of the gospel, which proclaims God's love for us, along with His promise of eternal salvation is never changing, noncompromising, and always on time. I'm sure you can recall a special time when you knew God was speaking directly to your heart. Maybe you were edified and convicted by the Holy Spirit through a sermon given from your priest, pastor, or minister. How many times have you felt the anointing of the Holy Spirit while participating in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, a weekly church service, or in a time of praise and worship? Was it a time you were longing to hear from God?

Our Lord speaks to us continuously—praise God! If you desire more of these anointed moments, then may I humbly suggest that you spend more time desiring the author and Creator Who anoints them. As darkness and evil spread, we are called to witness God's love…to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Do not hesitate to get to know, love, and serve your heavenly Father, Who loves you beyond measure. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

These discovery prayer letters, surrounded by scripture, are intended to help you grow in your desire to know, love, and serve God and neighbor with your whole heart and soul. Each topic of conversation will help you find rest and peace in Christ alone. This is your soul purpose. Taking time with the scriptures will help you fix your gaze on Him, allowing you to see that He is everything you could ever want or need. Throughout the book, you may find that these prayerful conversations touch your heart on a very deep level; this is good. Continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide your mind and strengthen your resolve as you turn the ear of your heart to each of His promptings. Ask your guardian angel to help you on this journey and be ready to come into a deeper and more joyful life of prayer with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

May God bless you abundantly.

An Introduction of Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated,

it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it

does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

—Saint Paul

Speaking to the Corinthian church regarding the way of love

in the First Letter to the Corinthians 13:4–7

My dearest child,

I Am God, your heavenly Father. I Am the one Who knows you inside and out: your past, your present, and your future. I know all your thoughts even before you do. I know when you are filled with joy and peace, and I know when you are anxious and sad. My heart is so filled with love for you as you turn to Me for help. I fully understand and know your conflicted heart, and I love you despite all your challenges: your disappointments and sorrows, your hesitations, and your fears. How I wait for you to release them to Me once and for all.

There is nothing that you have ever said or done that will take My love away from you. I have always loved you, and I will always love you. Do you know that I chase after your soul every single day? Even when you become lost and turn from Me for a time, you are never out of My reach; I Am with you, and I patiently wait for you to fall back into My arms. I long for you to accept the abundance of My mercy and grace that I have reserved just for you. The love I have exclusively for you is deeper than the deepest ocean and taller than the highest mountain peak; it is eternal and boundless. I joyfully formed you in your mother's womb, anticipating that your life would be the purest example of My love. You are My masterpiece. As I Am your God, you are My creation. I created you in the image and likeness of Me: to love and to be loved.

The word of the Lord came to me:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I dedicated you,

a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

(the call of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:45)

There is one God, one Creator, and I Am. Because My love for you is as deep as it is wide, I have given you this life to enjoy and share. I have also given you free will to love one another as I love you, to live out My Ten Commandments, and to receive the abundant blessings of My mercy and forgiveness. It brings Me great joy as I watch you accept My blessings and cultivate the gifts that I have given you to share with all of humanity.

You are so precious to me, dear child, that I placed you here on earth for such a time as this. I promise that as you listen to My Holy Spirit and walk in My ways, you will not only fulfill your destiny but also go further than you ever dreamed possible. I have sent My one and only Son to teach you how to live. I sent Him to die for your sins so that once you fulfilled the plan I set out for your life, you would come home to Me and enjoy eternal life.

I have seen you worry about your past, and I know that you wonder about how your life will be judged on the day I call you home. I Am glad you are cognizant about this matter because it is indeed important. But if you are thinking that our relationship is solely based on an official scorecard of only your good and bad actions that I will tally up at the end of your life, you are sorely mistaken. The love I have for you is greater than that. My commandments are meant to give you more freedom in life, not less. They will give you more ways to love and to be loved, not fewer.

You see, I created you, and I know what will bring you eternal happiness. I know what fills you up and what leaves you feeling empty and never satisfied. Remember, it is the state of your soul that is My sole interest. I have placed you on this earth for a brief time to be a shining example of My love. You must remember that your eternal and true home is in heaven with me. There will be a judgment day for every soul, and your entire life will be illuminated. Nothing will be hidden. I Am a patient and merciful God, but the choice to follow Me into eternity will ultimately be yours.

There is nothing that grieves My heart more than to see beautiful souls, whom I have created out of love, choose to spend their eternity apart from Me in darkness. I know it is hard to believe that a soul would choose hell over heaven, but many of My children will never give heaven a second glance. How I long for them to come to the truth and love of their Almighty God!

Then there are those who have become spiritually blind by strongly tethering themselves to outright lies and falsehoods. They spend so much of their time and energy fighting against the God Who loves them. They preach light and love, and yet they are shrouded in darkness. They boldly proclaim themselves to be the gods of their own universe as they mock those who are simple in faith. The soul who comes to Me with the faith of a child is not to be considered simpleminded or weak; it is the very essence of this pure faith in God that will save this soul from eternal darkness.

I Am saddened when I see a beloved lost soul do all he can to lead others from the truth; you must understand that a soul who knowingly leads another soul into the darkness will be responsible for that action. I Am angered as I watch them try their best to convince others, in the name of science and for the sake of universal knowledge, that any existence of a one true God is irrelevant at best. They believe that there is no need for repentance because there is nothing to repent from; every choice they make and every action they take is acceptable in their mind. They say that each man's version of what he believes as truth is truth, which should be celebrated and never questioned. There is never a need for self-examination as the conscience they follow is rooted in self. Their sole focus is to release the God within while aspiring to true happiness in the here and now.

This poor, misguided soul not only denies the existence of his Creator but also denies the chance that he could be wrong. It is this arrogant denial of Me that will send him into eternal darkness long after his death. My heart breaks when a soul decides to spend eternity burned by the inextinguishable flames where I cannot be. And just as the truth always comes to light, this poor soul will find out that he has made the wrong choice. He will long for Me to rescue him, and I will be unable to help. I Am love and cannot be in a place that is devoid of love. Woe to those