Living a Purpose Filled Life

Discovering God’s purpose for our lives as children of God is vital, and for me personally this is an area where I have often had a lot of confusion. So many questions were and are still on my mind, other than that I had to question whether I was really willing to submit my whole life, plans and desires to God.

Over the last few weeks I have decided to open my heart to study deeper into this topic. I remember a book that was given to me at church years ago, I think I was 18. “The purpose driven life” by Rick Warren.

I’m not going to lie, I actually started reading the book but it was so deep that I stopped reading it. In the sense that it dawned on me that my life was not about me. Like it wasn’t about what Alessandra feels like or wants to do, my talent, my dreams, aspirations or career plans. I read about half of the book and stopped.

I realised the importance of understanding purpose and decided to face the book. I’m nowhere near finishing the book but I am going to share some things I have learnt so far about purpose.

It all starts with God

Colossians 1:16

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels – everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.

If we want to know why we were placed here we must begin with God. You and I were made by God and for God, and until we understand this, life will probably not make sense. Life is about letting God use us for His own purposes.

There is more to life than just here and now

2 Corinthians 5:1

For we know that when this tent we live in – our body here on earth – is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.

Understanding that there is more to life than here and now will cause us to re-evaluate so many things.  Living in light of eternity, so many things become insignificant. The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears. This is a phrase I really had to allow to sink in.

Our brains don’t really have the capacity to fathom what eternity will be like. However, from the bible we know God has prepared a home for us where we will be rewarded for our faithfulness in this world.  God has a purpose for our lives on earth, but it doesn’t end here. We need to think about eternity more.

Life from God’s view

The way we see our lives will determine how we handle it. There are thousands of philosophical ideas and metaphors for life: Life is a party, a circus, a jungle, a race, a battle, a fashion show… you name it. How does God see it?

Life is a test 

God continually tests people’s faithfulness to Him. The bible is literally a book discussing the tests and trials faced by people such as David, Daniel, Abraham, Joseph and many more. God is observing our responses to all situations and wants us to pass every test. Every day is an opportunity to develop in character and grow in faith.

 James 1:12

Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him.

Life is a trust

Everything in life has been loaned to us by God. Yes it’s a loan. Our gifts, talents, intelligence, skills, money, relationships and all have been entrusted to us to manage as stewards. The first thing to understand is that God is the owner of everything.

One day we will all stand before God to be evaluated and rewarded on how well we handled what God entrusted to us.  From now on I am definitely living with this understanding.

1 Corinthians 4:7

Who made you superior to others? Didn’t God give you everything you have? Well, then, how can you boast, as if what you have were not a gift?

Life is a temporary assignment

Psalm 39:4

 LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.

We must realise that life on earth is temporary and we are just passing through. We are to bear in mind that we are citizens of heaven, and there is far more to life than our few years here. We are Christ’s representers here on earth and many scriptures urge us to not get too attached because everything around us is temporary.

1 Peter 2:11

Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.

These are just the few things I have been learning over the past few weeks. I am still trying to discover God’s specific purpose for me and also how I can use my gifts to please Him.

I would strongly advice this book as a starting point.

Living a purpose-driven life will focus your life on what really matters.