Living My Life on Purpose (Pt. 2)

If we want to live on purpose God’s way, we must invite Him into every decision. Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

(Please take a moment to read Part 1 from last week.)

Over my lifetime I have learned to trust the Lord with everything I have (it belongs to Him anyway); my family, my money, my home, etc. Now I look at what He has done with the little that I offered and I see how blessed I am presently.

Living your life on purpose means God should be involved in every area of your life. I mean every area; our thoughts, plans, finances, careers, relationships, friendships, families, and ministries. Before making any decision, stop and pray. If it’s important to you, seeking God’s purpose for it must be considered.

Important Questions

Here are practical questions that can help us keep our lives aligned with God’s purpose:

Does this decision agree with God’s Word?
Have I truly prayed about it?
Am I being led by faith or by fear?
Am I trying to please God or people?
Will this decision help me become more like Christ?
What kind of fruit will this decision produce?

Maybe you are reading this and thinking, “I have wasted too many years.” You do not have to let your past mistakes determine your future. God is a God of redemption. Peter denied Jesus, yet Jesus restored him. Paul persecuted Christians, yet God transformed him into an apostle. Moses made excuses, yet God used him. David made some serious mistakes, yet God continued working through his life. Your failures are not greater than God’s grace. You may have lost time, but God can redeem what remains. Don’t spend the rest of your life looking backward at what you should have done.

Sometimes we want God to give us the entire blueprint. Living on purpose requires us to take one day at a time. His grace is sufficient for each day (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). We want to know where we will be five years from now, but God often gives us enough light to see the next step that requires faith. Every morning that we wake up we have an opportunity (choice) and a chance to glorify Him. “Lord, this is Your day. My life belongs to You. Show me how You want me to live today.” That is purpose.

Purpose isn’t always found in one dramatic moment. It is often found in the small decisions we make throughout an ordinary day. Choose patience, forgiveness, integrity, prayer, obedience, kindness, truth, faith, and most of all Jesus. These choices may seem small, but over time they shape the direction and purpose of our lives.

Your Purpose Impacts Others

Your purpose is not simply about what God wants to do for you. It is also about what He wants to do through you. One of the beautiful things about living on purpose God’s way is that our obedience rarely affects only us. When you choose to follow Christ, your family, children, friends and the world see it. Even people who don’t know Jesus may notice that there is something different about the way you live. Your purpose can and will impact other people.

What Does Living on Purpose God’s Way Look Like?

It looks like getting up each morning and intentionally choosing God and His will for you.
It means allowing His Word to influence your decisions.
It means praying before you act.
It means obeying even when obedience is uncomfortable.
It means loving people who are difficult to love.
It means forgiving when you would rather hold onto the offense.
It means remaining faithful when nobody is applauding.
It means trusting God when you don’t understand what He is doing.

It means refusing to allow culture to become your authority when God’s Word has already spoken. And it means remembering that your life belongs to Him. So take the next step in your spiritual growth. If you desire to live your life on purpose God’s way, don’t try to do it through willpower alone. You need God’s Word. You need prayer. You need biblical teaching. And you need other believers who will encourage you along the way.

A Final Thought

God did not create you without purpose.

Your life matters.
Your choices matter.
Your obedience matters.
Your testimony matters.

You may not understand everything God is doing right now, but you can trust the One who does. So don’t wait for perfect circumstances. Do not wait until you have everything figured out. Don’t wait until someone else gives you permission. Start where you are. Give God your today. Ask Him to direct your steps. Open His Word. Listen to His voice and obey what He shows you. And then take the next step.

Remember that your past is the past, but in His grace, God has a purpose for you and your future. Put your life in His hands and watch what He does. As I stated earlier, learn to trust the Lord with everything. Start by taking one day at a time. Smile Jesus loves you and so do I!