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Living Life of Purpose Requires….
isten to these powerful verses of Scriptures from The Passion Translation in Ephesians…
Ephesians 4:15 – 17 (TPT) – “So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. And don’t live foolishly for then you will have discernment to fully understand God’s will.”
Listen to this verse out of the Message Translation… Proverbs 19:21 (The Message) – “We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but GOD ‘s purpose prevails.”
Do you get the picture or idea that God’s Purposes are very important? Do you think that aligning our lives to God’s Purposes and His Plans and Intentions is vital to living a life of PURPOSE? Perhaps, we must embrace the “Not my will but Your will Lord”. Perhaps, we have to lay down our plans for His plans, and lay down our lives for His Life for us. Think of this friends, losing your life. Yes, quite possibly the world’s most unpopular answer — but it’s true! At the very foundation of building a life of purpose, one that leaves an eternal legacy, is choosing to make your life all about Christ, and not about yourself.
Depending on your upbringing or what you may or may not have heard over the years about the Lord…that may be a scary thought. “You’re asking me to lose my life, for Him?” Yes. Not literally, but yes — in terms of shifting your heart’s attention from things in this world that are temporary and onto things that have lasting impact.
In a culture where many choose to just “do their thing” and do whatever they want to do, this notion of choosing to invest your life into the cause of Christ does not get talked about enough! But friends, the truth is — living for Him is the only true freedom! When you let Him take the lead in your life, you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. You don’t have to make things happen, you don’t have to know all the answers…rather, you just rest in Him and follow the Holy Spirit’s lead…and He’ll guide you on His perfect path for you. Doesn’t the thought of that just make you want to take a deep breath? It’s so freeing!
When we willingly ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life, we’re asking Him to “take the wheel” as the song goes…but something really significant happens inside of us. We see this in Galatians 2:20, which says: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (NKJV). If you’ve been crucified with Christ, it means the old you is gone — your spirit has been reborn, and it is Christ who lives in you and equips you for your purpose-filled life!
It’s not scary to let the Lord take the lead when you understand His character — I encourage each of you to marinate your heart in scriptures about Who He is and what He’s like — the more you get to know Him, the easier it is to give Him all of you and just follow His lead! He loves you, never leaves you, protects you, heals you, forgives you, cherishes you, and He made you — He knows the very number of hairs on your head. Don’t allow “the Thief” (the enemy ref John 10:10) to steal and rob you of your spiritual identity of “Who you are In Christ”. Because, when you don’t know who you are, you tend to think, speak and act like who you are not! It the enemy can steal your identity through deception or devastation in your life, he can steal your inheritance in Christ. Friends, in Christ, you are really, really someone special!
>>There is no one who loves you more fully, completely and unconditionally than the Lord — and you can trust Him to lead your life!
When we choose to live for Christ and build a life of purpose, there will be a process we go through…not just once, but probably several times in different seasons of life as we continue to mature and grow in our faith. It’s called the “law of death and resurrection” and simply put, it means that we need to die to our own way of making things happen and let Him fulfill the dreams in our heart His way — which is always the BEST way!
A great illustration of this principle is found in John 12:24:26, let’s check it out: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (NKJV).
I pray that today each of us is even more stirred up to lay down our own life for Christ and follow His lead…His plans lead us in our life of true purpose. Jesus is coming back soon friends – it is time to give and surrender our all to the Lord. In whatever circle of influence you’re in, whatever career, family, city…if you’ll choose to make your life about Him…He’ll not only bless your life but help you impact all those around you for Christ. YOU can have an eternal impact…now that’s something worth investing your life in!
Pray This and Say This Out Loud: “Father, I ask You to take my life and consecrate it to You. I choose to submit my way of making things happens, my plans and my striving. Rather, I choose to live for Christ! I ask You to please help me to follow Your lead every day of my life and build a life rich in purpose that impacts those in my world for You. Not my way or my will Lord, but Your Will and Your Way be done in my whole life – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, relationally, socially and financially. Take all of me Lord! I freely and willingly surrender my all to You. I trust You and know that You’re blessing me beyond measure and helping me to make an eternal difference in the lives of many! Thank You Father for enabling and empowering Your Purposes and Your Plans to prevail in my life everyday and in every way! All things are working together for my good, because I love You Lord and I am the called according to Your Purposes. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”