5 Steps on Purpose

Hey! Take a look at your life. Are you where you want to be? Do you think that you’re doing what God has created you to do? If not here are just a few  principles that can help propel you toward a more satisfying life.

First, get authentic.  Be real about your feelings of inadequacy.  Face yourself and call it like it is. That burning feeling when you see someone else get what you really want is an obstacle to your achievement. That urge you have to criticize others because you feel inferior– that’s envy. You’ll be amazed at how being positive and loving transforms your life —  daily.  Proverbs 14:30 says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Don’t let jealousy give you spiritual osteoporosis. Don’t envy those who already are who you want to be. Pray, ask God to help you be the best version of yourself, and put in the work so you can love yourself so much that you don’t need to envy others.

Re-structure your friendships. The Bible tells us that “Bad company corrupts good behavior.”  (1 Corinthians 15:33)  Distance yourself from people who weigh you down or distract you from God’s purpose for your life.  If your morning devotion in the Bible app constantly gets interrupted by their ridiculous meme from the shade room,  you may need to shift them out a circle or two in your social orbit. Remember Jesus had thousands of disciples. Twelve hung with him close, but He only took three with him when it was really important.  WWJD? Choose the crew.

Consider the ROI. Money, time and personal energy are necessary resources that you’ll need to invest in order to achieve the vision for your life.  You have to be aware and purposeful in how you spend them so you have enough to fuel you toward the vision God has given you. Remember the five wise virgins?  “No, they replied, ‘There may not be enough for both us and you.”  (Matthew 25) You have to save enough for yourself to be the best you can be for others.  Be absolutely intentional about how you spend your time, money and personal energy. Grabbing coffee and hitting the Bloomies sale might not be aligned with the vision right now.

Do not be led by your feelings. Feelings are over-rated and I have never met a successful person who always chooses fun and feeling over doing the hard work. When you “feel” something you have to take the time to research, plan, and evaluate if your feeling is substantiated.  Since a matter must be established by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15) I take the same approach with my feelings.  Seek confirmation and get some advice before heading down the wrong path because you “feel” like it.

Be resilient. You are going to suffer set backs along the way. You may take a well meaning detour or two but do not lose focus on what you want for your life. Protect your destiny at all costs. Life is real and stuff happens. Keep your head out of the clouds and your mind rooted in the faith to achieve all God wants you to achieve. Keep making hard choices to get back on track. Bottom line: DON’T EVER GIVE UP!

Purposeful living is hard. Do it anyway. It’s worth it.