Day 40 Purpose Driven Life.

https://youtu.be/Gf1Fsde5dag

DAY 40 Thinking about My Purpose 

POINT TO PONDER: Living with purpose is the only way to really live. 

VERSE TO REMEMBER: “For David … served the purpose of God in his own generation.” ACTS 13:36 (NASB) 

QUESTION TO CONSIDER: When will I take the time to write down my answers to life’s five great questions? When will I put my purpose on paper?

What Is a Life Purpose Statement?

*It’s a statement that expresses your shape. It reflects the unique ways God made you to serve him. Take your time writing out your life purpose statement. Don’t try to complete it in a single sitting, and don’t aim for perfection in your first draft; just write down your thoughts as fast as they come to you. It is always easier to edit than to create. Here are five questions you should consider as you prepare your statement:

Life’s Five Greatest Questions

What will be the center of my life? This is the question of worship. Who are you going to live for? What are you going to build your life around? You can center your life around your career, your family, a sport or hobby, money, having fun, or many other activities. These are all good things, but they don’t belong at the center of your life.

*How do you know when God is at the center of your life? When God is at the center, you worship. When he’s not, you worry. Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sideline.

*The moment you put him back at the center, you will have peace again. The Bible says, “A sense of God’s wholeness … will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

What will be the character of my life? This is the question of discipleship. What kind of person will you be? God is far more interested in what you are than what you do.

*Make a list of the character qualities you want to work on and develop in your life. You might begin with the fruit of the Spirit or the Beatitudes.

What will be the contribution of my life? This is the question of service.What will be your ministry in the Body of Christ? Knowing your combination of spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences (SHAPE), what would be your best role in the family of God?

*While you are shaped to serve others, even Jesus didn’t meet the needs of everyone while on earth. You have to choose whom you can best help, based on your shape. You need to ask, “Who do I have a desire to help most?” Jesus said, “I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last.”Each of us bears different fruit.

What will be the communication of my life? This is the question of your mission to unbelievers.Your mission statement is a part of your life purpose statement. It should include your commitment to share your testimony and the Good News with others. You should also list the life lessons and godly passions you feel God has given you to share with the world.

*As you grow in Christ, God may give you a special target group of people to focus on reaching. Be sure to add this to your statement.

*If you are a parent, part of your mission is to raise your children to know Christ, to help them understand his purposes for their lives, and to send them out on their mission in the world. You might include Joshua’s statement in yours: “As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

*Of course, our lives must support and validate the message we communicate. Before most unbelievers accept the Bible as credible they want to know that we are credible. That is why the Bible says, “Be sure that you live in a way that brings honor to the Good News of Christ.”

What will be the community of my life? This is the question of fellowship.How will you demonstrate your commitment to other believers and connection to the family of God?

*To which church family will you be joined as a functioning member?

*The more you mature, the more you will love the Body of Christ and want to sacrifice for it. The Bible says, “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.”17 You should include an expression of your love for God’s church in your statement.

As you consider your answers to these questions, include any Scriptures that speak to you about each of these purposes. There are many in this book. It may take you weeks or months to craft your life purpose statement just the way you want it.

In addition to writing a detailed life purpose statement, it is also helpful to have a shorter statement or slogan that summarizes the five purposes for your life in a way that’s memorable and inspires you. Then you can remind yourself daily. 

Solomon advised, “It will be good to keep these things in mind so that you are ready to repeat them."

Here are a few examples:

 “My life purpose is to worship Christ with my heart, serve him with my shape, fellowship with his family, grow like him in character, and fulfill his mission in the world so he receives glory.”

 “My life purpose is to be a member of Christ’s family, a model of his character, a minister of his grace, a messenger of his word, and a magnifier of his glory.” 

“My life purpose is to love Christ, grow in Christ, share Christ, and serve Christ through his church, and to lead my family and others to do the same.” 

“My life purpose is to make a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.” 

“My goal is Christlikeness; my family is the church; my ministry is________; my mission is________; my motive is the glory of God.”

The Bible says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.”Focus on God’s purposes for your life, not your plans, since that’s what will last forever.

One day God will review your answers to these life questions. Did you put Jesus at the center of your life? Did you develop his character? Did you devote your life to serving others? Did you communicate his message and fulfill his mission? Did you love and participate in his family? These are the only issues that will count. As Paul said, “Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us.”

There is no greater epitaph than that statement! Imagine it chiseled on your tombstone: That you served God’s purpose in your generation. My prayer is that people will be able to say that about me when I die. It is also my prayer that people will say it about you, too. That is why I wrote this book for you.

That is what the purpose-driven life is all about. Neither past nor future generations can serve God’s purpose in this generation. Only we can. Like Esther, God created you “for such a time as this.”

Paul lived a purpose-driven life. He said, “I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.” His only reason for living was to fulfill the purposes God had for him. He said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Paul was not afraid of either living or dying. Either way, he would fulfill God’s purposes. He couldn’t lose!