Purpose Driven Life Day 7? The 194 Correct Answer

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The feeling of waking up with no purpose is incredibly frustrating. You look around and see that your friends and coworkers are living passionate, engaged, and meaningful lives. They have deep relationships, rewarding jobs, and a sense of direction that compels them to spring out of bed every morning.

You know that God has something good in store for you. You don’t think he intends you to live a life of painful drudgery, where every day is a total burden. After all, the Bible is crammed with passages about joy. While this doesn’t mean that every single day is a parade and a circus, it does mean that an overall sense of joy should permeate your life.

At Psalm 63:7 David said, “…for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” How can you get to this place? Where, instead of wandering aimlessly through life, you actually sing with joy (or just make a joyful noise if you’re not the singing type)?

In this post we will first talk about some key signs that indicate that you may not be living in the fullness of God’s purpose for you. Then we give some important suggestions on how you can start living a meaningful, enthusiastic and joyful life.

6 SIGNS YOU MAY NOT BE LIVING FOR GOD’S PURPOSE

Before we go into this point, we must make at least one caveat. In a way, you are always living in the spirit of God. God is God and He works all things, including your life, according to His purposes. Nothing can happen unless God decrees it.

Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, God who fulfills his purpose for me.” This is the key to understanding God’s purpose for your life. God has numbered your days and will fulfill whatever purpose he has for you.

But our decisions and actions are also important. In a way, this is an enigma that we can’t fully understand, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. We can choose things that bring us more joy and give us more meaning. That’s what we’re going to do in this post. We want to help you make the choices you can make to bring more enthusiasm and God-given purpose into your life.

But first, here are 6 signs you don’t have much purpose in your life.

YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY LIVING IN SIN.

Let’s start with the obvious here. If you are blatantly disobedient to the Bible, you are not living the purpose of God, and you will certainly feel a sense of aimlessness in your life. This one is pretty easy so we won’t have to spend too much time here.

YOU LACK JOY AND EXCITEMENT.

If you wake up every day filled with apathy, anxiety, or total boredom, you’re probably not doing what you should be doing. God made you unique, has really good things planned for you, and one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22). Sure you will come across difficult things that will require patience and perseverance, but overall you should have a sense of joy and excitement that fills your days, your work, and your relationships.

In his book Desiring God, John Piper says:

Seeking joy in God is not optional. It is not an “extra” that a person can grow into after coming to faith.

YOU DON’T FEEL MUCH ACCOMPLISHMENT IN LIFE.

If you pass your days with little fulfillment, you may be deviating from your God-given purpose. Fulfillment comes from doing rewarding, meaningful, and purposeful things. From a job that appeals to your skills and passions. A relationship that involves give and take. About hobbies that invigorate instead of numb. Yes, you have to do certain things that are boring and unfulfilling, but if your whole life is gray, you probably need a change.

YOU WORK SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORK.

You know the feeling of meaningless work. You go to the office, clock in, do your job, then go home and collapse in front of the TV. They work weekends and for retirement. All true joy you experience comes from things outside of work. From hobbies or friends or part-time jobs.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 says, “And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry, for this will attend him in his toil through the days of his life which God subordinated to him The Sun.”

Would you say that this kind of joy characterizes your life and work? If not, you may need to reconsider where you’re going.

YOU FEEL STANDING.

If you are desperate for a change but also feel completely stuck in your life, it is almost certainly a sign that you are not walking according to God’s purpose. Those who are stuck want to go in a certain direction but don’t know how to get there. So they spin their wheels and feel endlessly frustrated but unsure how to put an end to the frustration. Do you feel trapped?

THEY HAVE NO DIRECTION.

When you don’t know God’s purpose for your life, you have a constant sense of aimlessness. You feel like you’re wandering from thing to thing without progressing. Nothing excites you and you have no concrete goals to work towards. Unlike the Israelites, who wandered for 40 years and still had a goal (the promised land), you don’t even have a goal before you.

6 WAYS TO MAINTAIN YOUR PURPOSE AGAIN

In his classic book The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a poem with the line: “Not all who wander are lost.” The same goes for you. Even if you feel like you’re wandering with no real purpose, that doesn’t mean you’re lost. You can regain your purpose and discover what God has for your life.

Here are 6 ways you can discover God’s purpose in your life.

GO TO GOD IN PRAYER.

Let’s start again with the obvious. When you feel aimless, ask God to give you wisdom and guidance. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it shall be given him.”

This is incredibly good news. God wants to give you a purpose. He wants to give you divine wisdom. It’s not like God is stopping you to make you miserable. He wants you to live a joyful, ambitious, and purposeful life. Ask God for a goal and expect him to give it to you.

UNDERSTAND GOD’S WORD.

The primary way God speaks to us is through the Bible. This means that one of the first things you should do in your search for God’s purpose is to dig into the Scriptures. Now you won’t find verses urging you to become a dance teacher or a painter, but you will begin to understand the heart of God.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s Word brings light to paths that otherwise seem obscure. The Bible teaches you how to live wisely in God’s world, which is the first step to finding your purpose.

DETERMINE YOUR GIFTS AND STRENGTHS.

God has given you very specific gifts and strengths. Maybe you’re a math genius or a wise advisor. Maybe you have an electronics or business sense. Maybe you are good at organizing people and getting things done. God’s purpose for you likely includes the things you are already good at.

This is where education can be particularly valuable. When you go to college or go back to college, you can discover your gifts and then determine how you will use them. It also connects you with people who want to help you find your purpose.

DETERMINE YOUR PASSIONS.

What is particularly important to you? It really can be anything. Business, art, economics, poverty alleviation, you name it. If money were no object, what would you like to do?

Identifying your passions often helps you discover what God has called you to do. It is often said that God works at the intersection of our gifts and our passions. Where do your gifts meet your passions? That may be God’s purpose for you.

BRING OTHERS INTO YOUR LIFE.

Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no leadership a people fall, but in a plenitude of counselors there is safety.” In other words, one of the most important ways God will help you find your purpose is by through others.

A caveat must be made here. Your advisors should be people you trust. Whether they are your professors, parents or friends, they must be people who have your back and want the best for you. You want wise counselors to help you find God’s purpose for you.

TAKE A LONELY RETREAT.

Sometimes it can be incredibly helpful to get away from it all and take some quiet time to think, pray, and journal. You don’t have to spend a week in the woods for this to be effective. Even just a day away from the hustle and bustle can be very rewarding.

During these retreats, allow yourself to just be still. To think about. Ask God for guidance and listen to his voice. It doesn’t have to be complicated and doesn’t require elaborate rituals. Hebrews 11:6 is a reminder that God always rewards those who seek Him. He does not hide in the dark and tries to hide his will from you. he wants to lead you

IN THE END, TRUST GOD

Trying to discover your purpose in life can be a stressful, overwhelming thing. It can seem like such a big, confusing, frustrating topic. You want to get ahead but don’t know how. You want to find your purpose, but you feel like you’re wandering aimlessly.

But you can trust that God will take you where He wants you to go. As Psalm 23:2-3 says, “He leads me to still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

You may feel confused, but God is not.

PURPOSE IN A CHRIST-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE

Our programs at PGS focus on more than just the content learned in class. It is important to us how you practice what you have learned in everyday life. Whatever your calling, our foundation brings a Christ-centered perspective.

Your life purpose consists of the core motivating goals of your life – the reasons you get up in the morning.

Purpose can guide life choices, influence behavior, shape goals, provide direction, and create meaning. For some people, purpose is coupled with calling—meaningful, rewarding work. For others, their purpose is their responsibility to their family or friends. Others seek meaning through spirituality or religious beliefs. Some people find their purpose clearly expressed in all of these aspects of life.

The purpose will be unique for everyone; What you identify as your path may differ from others. Additionally, your purpose may actually shift and change throughout life in response to evolving priorities and fluctuations in your own experiences.

Questions that may arise when thinking about your purpose in life are:

The search for the meaning of life has occupied us for thousands of years. Because we usually start in the wrong place – with ourselves.

We ask egocentric questions like: What do I want to be? What am I supposed to do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams? What should my future look like?

In reality, focusing on ourselves will never reveal the purpose of our life because it is not really about us. Our purpose in life is far greater than our own personal fulfillment, our wildest dreams and ambitions. We were not born for our own purpose, but for a higher purpose, a purpose that I now define as a divine purpose.

Contrary to what most of us believe today, we will not discover the meaning of our lives by looking within. We may have already tried that, I have. I always went within and in order to integrate all that I had learned over the years of training and study, I knew I had to look and reach within. I enjoyed getting to know myself and all the beauty that lived there from the inside. Finally I completed myself and became whole.

For some of us, focusing on the inside might be all we ever wanted to do. Introverted or isolated people do this. But this attitude also does not lead us to discover the meaning or purpose of our lives.

The where is the actual starting point. Imagine getting lost in a forest and learning that you can’t get where you need to be from where you are. You are told to start on the other side of the forest. The same goes for finding our purpose in life, we cannot do this by simply focusing on ourselves, nor by just looking outside of ourselves.

First and foremost, finding our higher purpose in life requires breaking free from the limitations of our ego and connecting with something bigger or higher than ourselves. Something a lot of people call mysterious or powerful, and I like to call it magic. We can call it a magical intelligence, since the term “god” seems to be out of fashion these days and often strange. Some believe this higher power exists outside of us and others within. Religions and science have played a role in alienating us from our connection to this magical intelligence.

I came to believe that our higher purpose is not found and driven from outside or within, nor by ego or it. It is simply powered by something magical that we cannot explain, something invisible and untouchable that we perceive as outside. Like the wind, we cannot see or embrace it, but we can feel it brushing against our skin. The emotional tension that we call intuition or our gut feeling.

We believe that life is about us using the divine magic for our purpose, when in reality life is the divine magic using us for their purpose. Self-help books usually offer the same predictable steps to finding our purpose in life: focus on your dreams, use your strengths, make a list of your values, set goals, dream big, believe in yourself, be self-disciplined, be resilient, never give up.

Your recommendations are all fantastic and often lead to great success, I might add. I have trained with several people who have found their purpose in life by only focusing on themselves. With enough willingness, we can achieve our personal goals, become a roaring success by societal standards, and still fall utterly short of the purpose for which we were originally born. I believe we need more than self-help advice because when we truly know our purpose, there is less we can do by focusing on being and what matters.

When I coach, I often work with clients who come to me to find their higher purpose. Often this is a search for a meaningful relationship or a successful career, so I need to help them understand that this is an ego driven purpose. Even if we plan ahead and save so that our children can attend the best universities, we have a selfish purpose. Ego driven purpose is not our purpose in life as we might think, there is another kind which is god driven purpose. This latter type of purpose is what we were born with our lives for, and you can know when you are fulfilling your God-powered purpose because things will fall into place and flow much more easily. It’s like there’s no resistance and everything conspires to help you get from A to B. This is the most effective way to differentiate between an ego driven purpose and your actual purpose in life.

I find that younger clients struggle more in the quest for that higher, God-driven purpose in life because they are still in the process of finding themselves and achieving their life goals. That is their primary focus, it is not until around the 40 year mark that people typically have the maturity, resources and stability to begin the search for their God given purpose in life.

There are a few important things we need to fix in our hearts and minds when it comes to a higher purpose:

We need to be aware that we may choose our career, spouse, hobbies, and many other parts of our lives, but we cannot truly choose our purpose. In fact, it is our purpose that chooses and pursues us. Our higher purpose must fit into a larger, cosmic purpose over which we have no control. A divine intelligence is truly in control and we are all part of that intelligence.

Questions that can help you reflect and move forward in your quest for divine purpose:

What is the meaning of my life (inside) in connection with the life of others (outside)?

In what ways have you tried to discover the meaning of your life so far? did they work?

Many turn to God/divine intelligence to discover their purpose. Have you thought about it?

After many years of searching and experiencing between different religions, cultures and spiritual paths, I have come to my own insights, which I summarize here:

There is order in the chaos of the world we live in. Therefore nothing is accidental. There is something bigger and more powerful than us humans, who created us for a reason and thus gave life a deep meaning. The way I have to discover the meaning of life day by day is to get closer to and know higher intelligence, its nature and the way it manifests and works in my daily life.

Originally published on www.elisabettafranzoso.com

As children we think we can do anything. Our motto was, “Do whatever makes you happy.” When I was a boy, I always wanted to be a fighter pilot. That thought made me happy. When I was 11, my mother even took me for an eye test. Turns out I was partially color blind. Even though my eyes weren’t a problem, I grew to a good 1.85m and was relatively tall. This made for a poor fit (literally) in a fighter jet cockpit.

As life always does, it started to get in the way. My dreams have been peeled away. I focused on things, things like money, titles, business class travel, the size of the team that we lead. I was guided by this idea of ​​measuring these so-called tangibles. After all, they are what others see as a sign that we have “made it”.

I got a pat on the back for my first full-time job and spent every free minute working in the black light as a university student. At 23, I slipped into the golden handcuffs of a well-paying job. I was excited but also realized that I had missed out on the great Kiwi experience abroad – aka working in a bar in London as many of my friends had done. And by the time I was in my mid-30s, I had progressed from local to regional to global roles.

We choose our jobs for the wrong reasons and then settle for it. We begin to accept that doing something we really love for a living is not realistic. In the meantime I have changed my direction, even if it was not an easy route.

The Measures of Success: Purpose

Instead of looking at the traditional measures of success, ask yourself this hypothetical question: Let’s say you reach the top and have millions in your bank account, does your work still matter to you?

Put simply, the pursuit of money can, at best, ease the frustrations of your career. More money won’t make you love your job more, it just makes you hate it less. That is, if you don’t have a goal.

The 3 signs of a goal oriented person

A purpose-oriented person has a few key characteristics:

They have a vision or aspiration for the work they love. They can talk about the impact they want to create, bigger than themselves. They’re knowledgeable, and they have the stories to back it up. It may have been smooth success or, more likely, many failures leading to success. They tend to be humble about their accomplishments and let their work do the talking. They know their strengths and weaknesses, but they will speak their minds and define their ways, even if they are unconventional.

I remember Steve Jobs’ famous inaugural speech at Stanford in 2005, where he said, “Your work will fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly happy is to do what you do.” consider great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t commit yourself.”

Would you like to learn how to stand in your circle of power and unleash your power for positive change? Subscribe to Fight Club’s monthly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter here.

About Roger Grant, CEO of PERSONNA

Roger helps people unleash the power for positive change to achieve transformative business growth.

He has over 20 years of experience leading small, highly motivated teams to develop innovative customer-centric technical services, including the launch of Nokia’s first mobile device support service.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

This article was written by Katrina Ruth, Founder and CEO of The Katrina Ruth Show, a multi-million dollar online entrepreneurship coaching company, and a consultant at The Oracles.

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Are you struggling to achieve your dream life or business? If so, you’re probably getting distracted by the “how.” What you should focus on instead is identifying your calling.

I know first hand that nothing else matters if you are not following your soul’s purpose. Once you find it, you can align all areas of your life to point in that direction. It is possible to do what you love and live in the flow – it just takes the right motivation, mindset and action.

1. Understand what life should feel like.

“Living with purpose” means doing what really matters to you, in accordance with your values ​​and beliefs. I can’t tell you what that means to you, but you know it when you feel it – and when you don’t.

When you’re not you, everything is foggy and colorless. You are bored and busy at the same time, always tired. Even small things feel like work. You take tests to understand why you’re feeling down and take pills to fix it. The list goes on. When you constantly ignore your higher self, it nudges you—even slaps you in the face—to get your attention.

When you are in alignment, life is right. Things are simple and everything just works. You feel alive, passionate and enlightened from within. You don’t care how you get where you want to go; you are sure of yourself even if you are afraid at the same time.

2. Tap into your inner calling.

Stop looking outside of yourself for answers. There is only one thing: be who you were born to be. You can find many exercises on the internet to find your calling, but you don’t need them. Deep down, you already know what makes you feel alive. You just have to be careful.

Not sure what your mission is? You’ll be able to put it into words when you stop worrying about whether you’re saying it correctly or whether others “get” it. However, sometimes confusion blocks access to your soul, especially if you have ignored it for a long time. In this case, practice connecting with yourself and tuning into what’s buried there by asking, “What do I need to know or hear here?” Then trust the answer. I find journaling is the most powerful way to do this, but you can also do this as part of a meditation or while walking or driving.

3. Trust yourself and forget what others think.

We are intuitive by nature before we learn “the rules”. But there is no right or wrong way to live. If you don’t follow your intuition, you act on other people’s terms – and no one can tell you how to be yourself.

There is always a different approach to everything. I hated building marketing funnels until I started doing them my way. Visionary leaders do things differently; that’s why they stand out. They challenge the norm to find what is right for them.

Imagine you are successful. Nobody would question you because you are on top of the world. who would you be How would you act? Confidence and confidence are key. Make conscious decisions knowing what’s best for you. Put your hand on your heart and say to yourself, “I trust my ability to make the best decisions for me.” Do this for every area of ​​life that is important to you.

4. Feel the fear and still take the first step.

If you don’t wake up excited to start your day, rip off the patch. Make a change or start trading. While maintaining alignment takes practice, you don’t have to work forever to get there.

The unknown scares. We feel safe and comfortable with the way things have always been. Fear is part of us and will always be there, but it cannot control you unless you let it; So act in the direction of your goals anyway. You don’t have to know how or feel ready or worthy.

When I finally realized that after years of struggling I wasn’t doing my soul work, I moved across the world to start anew with my family. Having almost no money, I gave myself no choice but to succeed by following my passion to help others. It paid off and I have never looked back. Even if your path may not be so extreme, you have to take the first step.

5. Rethink your to-do list.

Time is precious and you should care about how you spend it. If you don’t decide in advance what matters, you’ll spend everything doing things that don’t move you forward. I constantly outline my goals and dreams in a document called “Creating the life I want”. I make sure I set these goals for myself (not for others), identify the actions that will get me there, and plan them each week.

Fast forward to a year you are intentionally living in. Are the things on your to-do list important today? Is that how you got there? Review items on your list and clear, do, or delegate. Sometimes it pays to pay someone else for things so you can focus on what really matters: the tasks that get you there if you do them every day.

If you don’t care enough about a goal to take action on a regular basis, it may not be as important as you think. But if you want it bad enough, you suck it up and do the work.

6. Check in with yourself daily.

Before you get up in the morning, ask yourself what is important today. What would make you sleep well tonight? Most of the things we do throughout the day separate us from ourselves, so practice tuning in. Just sit down or write whatever needs to come out for 15 minutes. Let go and ignore the outside world – even if you have to start noticing only the world you have created for yourself.

Before you make any decisions or take any action, ask yourself: Do I want to do this? Does that feel right? Am I happy about it? Make this a daily practice by setting check-in reminders. otherwise you slip into old patterns.

7. Realize that you have everything you need.

This may be uncomfortable at first, and sometimes it will still feel like work. But if you’re working toward the right thing, it’s worth it. You can either deny yourself or say yes to your heart and soul, but you choose what you get in life. Get the work done today to create the tomorrow of your dreams.

If you trust it will work, it will. Don’t worry if you don’t get the result you want today. Success takes time, which is why most people give up. You will never look back and think, “I’ve spent too much time being myself”; so go ahead It is impossible to fail at being yourself.

You have everything you need. You become what you are meant to be when you recognize who you already are.

Connect with Katrina on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or visit her website.

Kindness came easily to my father. It was one of his greatest strengths of character and he expressed it effortlessly. One of my earliest lessons about meaningful living came from him. His words were fresh in my mind as I recently celebrated his life on the 11th anniversary of his death from Lewy body dementia. He was a businessman and philanthropist, although he would never have identified himself as such. His “doing good” approach was as practical and logical as one would expect from an actuary. He said, “If you have the opportunity to help someone and it’s easy for you, … just do it.”

After years of hearing that every time I saw him write a check and explain why he believed in anonymous giving, or every time he advised me how, as he might say, “not to be an asshole.” ‘ I internalized it. And his words were probably the one piece of advice that contributed the most to my own purpose in life. During the most difficult times of my life, I can always find purpose in looking for little ways to practice kindness.

But this post isn’t just about my dad. It’s about how each of us can find meaning in our lives—and how it can make us healthier, wealthier, and more effective at what we set out to do.

The science behind purpose

People with a strong sense of purpose tend to live longer, have healthier hearts, and are more psychologically resilient.

Work can be a big source of meaning, which could explain why early retirement is associated with shorter life expectancy and a higher risk of dementia. This evidence also shows why we need meaning beyond work so we don’t decompensate when our jobs shift, when we take vacations, or when we retire. A sense of purpose in one’s work also benefits organizations, as employees with a strong sense of purpose work harder and stay longer.

Professor Victor Strecher, author of Life on Purpose, had to say goodbye to his daughter Julia far too soon. She died at the age of 19 from a rare form of heart failure. The enormity of his grief prompted him to delve into the exploration of what makes life worth living. His answer? A sense of purpose. Here’s something he wrote summarizing what he discovered in his research:

So let’s imagine a drug that has been shown to add years to your life; reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke; Cut Your Risk Of Alzheimer’s By More Than Half; help you relax during the day and sleep better at night; double your chances of staying drug and alcohol free after treatment; activate your natural killer cells; reduce your inflammatory cells; increase your good cholesterol; and repair your DNA. What if this imaginary, drug-restricted hospital stays long enough to weigh on the national health crisis? Oh, and as a bonus, did you have better sex? The pharmaceutical company that made the drug would be worth billions. The inventors of the drug would receive Nobel prizes and institutes would be named after them! But it’s not a drug. His task. And it’s free.

The meaning gap

The purpose may be simple and it’s certainly free, but that doesn’t mean it always feels easy to get hold of.

One of the biggest gaps I see in terms of purpose is a huge gap between what we want and how we act. We long for a meaningful life, but we spend our days thinking thoughts and engaging in behaviors that don’t enhance our sense of purpose.

Part of this gap is because we assume purpose is something we fall into, like a puddle on the street. We also believe in the myth that purpose must be great and all-consuming.

But purpose is not something that happens to us. It is something we can consciously cultivate. And very often it is much easier than we think. As my father entered the later stages of dementia, so much of what defined him fell away – his brilliance, his business, his memory and even his home as he eventually required 24/7 assisted living support. But his goodness remained. In the end, it was kindness that made his legacy and inspired others.

11 ways to bring more meaning to your life

Meaning is subjective – my goal-directed path may be different from yours. Try the tips below and use your highest character strengths to prioritize what feels most helpful to you!

Look for opportunities to practice kindness. Some of my most significant accomplishments have come from following my father’s advice: “If you have the opportunity to help someone and it’s easy for you, … just do it.” This can be as simple as writing a LinkedIn -Testimonials or texting a friend who is struggling. Identify your values. One way to think about purpose is to focus your energy on what matters most. To do this consciously, you need to identify what matters most to you. Write a list of the big and small ways your work has benefited others. In one study, Professor Adam Grant got a grantee to speak for five minutes with a group of staff at a university fundraising call center, and the benefits were amazing. A month later, these employees were raising 171 percent more money and spending 142 percent more time on the phone than their peers. Seeing how your work benefits others is a powerful motivator. Positive impact can be as simple as brightening a colleague’s day. Are curiosity and/or social intelligence your most important character strengths? Ask someone a question and really listen to the answer. The simple act of listening makes others feel valued and strengthens our sense of connection. Our relationships provide a great source of meaning in life, and social connections also happen to correlate with longevity. Look for meaningful moments. Living With Purpose doesn’t require big, Instagram-worthy actions, nor is it only accessible to those of us who have a dream job that feels like a calling. Purpose is felt in the simpler moments which, when woven together, create a meaningful tapestry of a life worth living. Here’s how:

Much like approaching a gratitude list, take five minutes to write down at least a few moments during your week that were outstanding (e.g., having a positive conversation with a co-worker, watching a beautiful sunset). You may find yourself with a lot more than you thought.

Be the best version of yourself more often. When was the last time you really felt like yourself? Think back to that time. What did you do? What strengths of character emerged? What people or things have made it possible for you to appear as you really are? Acting as the best version of ourselves makes us feel like who we are meant to be, which can make us feel aligned with our overall sense of purpose. To breathe. A greater sense of purpose is literally right under our noses. Mindfulness, which renowned teacher and researcher Jon Kabat Zinn defines as intentional attention to the present moment, trains us to direct our focus intentionally. As a result, it allows us to quiet the unhelpful noise in our brain and focus our energy on what matters most. Here’s a very simple way to get started (also check out the countless resources available online for free to find an approach that works for you):

Sit in a comfortable position with your spine erect, either cross-legged or seated in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. If you are comfortable, close your eyes. Begin to tune into the rhythm of your breathing. You can choose to watch it rise and fall from your face to your stomach; or as it flows across the space between the upper lip and nostrils. Wherever you decide, be consistent and follow the breath with your mind’s eye and your gut. If you get distracted, which is natural, simply bring your attention back to the breath. Continue for a minute, two minutes or more. (Note: Even if you get distracted 100 times, that’s fine. The benefits of the practice come from noticing without judgment and simply redirecting your attention, intentionally, over and over again.)

Go out. Using an appreciation of beauty and excellence to feel a sense of awe in the world around us, whether by observing an act of “moral beauty” or by encountering the beauty of nature, can ignite a sense of purpose . Research shows that spending time in nature is one of the best ways to experience awe. Find your favorite amps. We can all find an action or two that has a high success rate to reinforce our sense that life is meaningful. It’s so helpful to have these when we’re going through tough times or when we feel like our purpose is slipping away. My “go-tos” are small gestures of kindness and hiking my favorite park. What are yours? Change your iPhone wallpaper. On average, we check our phones 46 times a day — creeping up to 76 times a day for adults aged 18-24. Capitalize on this by making your wallpaper a photo of something that reminds you of what’s important. What you value most is personal. It can be a photo of a special place, a special person, or even a screenshot of a quote. Get support. We are designed to learn and grow in connection with others. Purpose is not something we must achieve alone. Whether you’re struggling to find meaning in your life or you’re looking to amplify a sense of purpose you already have, there are many ready to help. From religious and spiritual leaders to professional leadership coaches to psychologists, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. As a leader, make sure your team has access to support and development opportunities.

As we’ve seen in research, purpose isn’t just nice to have. It is a powerful resource for quality of life, health and impact.

Bestselling books of all time

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Over 8 million copies sold! Check out my book Atomic Habits. Over 8 million copies sold! Learn more

This page contains a list of the 25 best selling books of all time as well as the 25 best selling book series of all time. Best selling books are ranked by number of copies sold, not my personal rating.

It is also worth noting that some religious and political books such as The Bible, Quran, and Quotations from Chairman Mao are believed to have more than a billion copies each. However, the sales of these books are difficult to keep track of, as many are given away by churches or governments. Additionally, these books were often printed for centuries by a variety of publishers, many of whom are unreported. For these reasons, important religious and political texts are not included here, but we can all agree that they are among the best-selling books of all time.1

25 Best Selling Books of All Time

#1 – Don Quixote (500 million copies sold) 2

by Miguel de Cervantes

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#2 – A Tale of Two Cities (200 million copies sold)

by Charles Dickens

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#3 – The Lord of the Rings (150 million copies sold)

by J.R.R. tolkien

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#4 – The Little Prince (142 million copies sold)

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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#5 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (107 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#6 – And Then There Were No More (100 million copies sold)

by Agatha Christie

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#7 – The Dream of the Red Chamber (100 million copies sold)

by Cao Xueqin

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#8 – The Hobbit (100 million copies sold)

by J.R.R. tolkien

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#9 – She: A History of Adventure (100 million copies sold)

by H. Rider Haggard

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#10 – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (85 million copies sold)

by CS Lewis

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#11 – The Da Vinci Code (80 million copies sold)

by Dan Brown

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#12 – Think and Grow Rich (70 million copies sold)

by Napoleon Hill

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#13 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (65 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#14 – The Catcher in the Rye (65 million copies sold)

by J.D. Salinger

To press

#15 – The Alchemist (65 million copies sold)

by Paulo Coelho

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#16 – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (60 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#17 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (55 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#18 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (55 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#19 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (55 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#20 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (50 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#21 – One Hundred Years of Solitude (50 million copies sold)

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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#22 – Lolita (50 million copies sold)

by Vladimir Nabokov

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#23 – Anne of Green Gables (50 million copies sold)

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

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#24 – Charlotte’s Web (50 million copies sold)

bye b. White

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#25 – Black Beauty (50 million copies sold)

by Anna Sewell

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25 best-selling book series of all time

#1 – Harry Potter Series (450 million copies sold)

by J.K. Rowling

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#2 – Goosebumps Series (300 million copies sold)

by R.L. Stein

Print | eBook

#3 – Perry Mason series (300 million copies sold)

by Erle Stanley Gardner

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#4 – Berenstain Bears Series (260 million copies sold)

by Stan and Jan Berenstain

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#5 – Choose your own adventure series (250 million copies sold)

by different authors

To press

#6 – Sweet Valley High (250 million copies sold)

by Francine Pascal

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#7 – Noddy Series (200 million copies sold)

by Enid Blyton

To press

#8 – Nancy Drew Series (200 million copies sold)

by Carolyn Keene

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#9 – Thomas the Tank Engine series (200 million copies sold)

by W. Awdry

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#10 – San Antonio Series (200 million copies sold)

by Frederic Dard

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#11 – Robert Langdon series (200 million copies sold)

by Dan Brown

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#12 – The Babysitters Club (172 million copies sold)

by Anna Martin

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#13 – Star Wars Series (150 million copies sold)

by different authors

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#14 – Little Critter Series (150 million copies sold)

by Mercer Mayer

To press

#15 – Peter Rabbit (150 million copies sold)

by Beatrix Potter

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#16 – Chicken Soup for the Soul series (130 million copies sold)

by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

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#17 – American Girl Series (120 million copies sold)

by different authors

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#18 – The Chronicles of Narnia Series (120 million copies sold)

by CS Lewis

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#19 – Mr. Men (120 million copies sold)

by Roger Hargreaves

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#20 – The Twilight Saga (120 million copies sold)

by Stephenie Meyer

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#21 – Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (120 million copies sold)

by Jeff Kinney

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#22 – Clifford the Big Red Dog series (110 million copies sold)

by Norman Bridwell

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#23 – James Bond 007 series (100 million copies sold)

by Ian Fleming

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#24 – Martine (100 million copies sold)

by Gilbert Delahaye and Marcel Marlier

To press

#25 – Fifty Shades Trilogy (100 million copies sold)

by E.L. James

Print | eBook | audiobook

II. The best non-fiction books

These are the best nonfiction books to read sorted by category.

III. The best fiction books

These are the best fiction books to read sorted by category.

Or browse through all book recommendations.

Book by Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message & Mission is a 1995 book by Rick Warren, founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, USA.

Summary[edit]

Aimed at pastors and church leaders, the book advises them to align their ministry with God’s purposes, not their own ideas of ministry, hence the term “purposeful.” Warren suggests that these goals are worship, fellowship, discipleship, service, and mission, and that they derive from the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).[1]

Warren writes that every church is driven by something. Tradition, finances, programs, personalities, events, seekers, and even buildings can all be the controlling force in a church. But he believes that in order for a church to be healthy, it must be built around the five New Testament goals that Jesus gave to the church. “It’s about church health, not church growth!” Warren explains. “If your community is healthy, growth will come naturally. Healthy, steady growth is the result of balancing the five biblical purposes of the church.”

He suggests that church leaders ask themselves, ‘What is our goal?’, ‘Why are we doing what we are doing?’, ‘What should we be doing?’ and ‘How will you do it?’. In this book, Warren provides a guide to answering these questions about how to make church. He further suggests that following the principles he outlines in the book will enable a church to grow.[2]

The author emphasizes a conscious people-building process. He says, “If you focus on building people up, God will build the church.”

The tenets of The Purpose Driven Church were derived from Warren’s own experience leading Saddleback Church from its founding in 1980 to over 10,000 worshipers in its first fifteen years, making it one of the fastest growing churches in America during that time became.[3]

Reception [edit]

The book was a bestseller a few weeks after its release.[4] The Purpose Driven Church has been translated into over 30 languages ​​including Spanish, Portuguese, French and German. It is listed in 100 Christian Books That Changed the Century[5] and has received many awards. For example, the book was a 1996 and 1997 winner of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Christian Book Award for the United States. In 2002, the ECPA awarded him the Gold Medallion Award.[6] The book and its author have received numerous reviews in the mainstream press and have been the subject of much support and criticism in Christian blogs and newsletters.[7][8][9]

In a May 2005 survey of American pastors and ministers conducted by George Barna[10], it was voted the second most influential book on their lives and ministry, behind The Purpose Driven Life, a later book by Warren.

Influence[ edit ]

The book gave rise to the annual conferences called the Purpose Driven Conference.[11]

Read these passages and ponder the insights they contain regarding the meaning of life as a follower of Jesus:

Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and this is not your work; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, lest any should boast. For we are what he made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand for our way of life.”

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Philippians 2:1-8 Now if there is encouragement in Christ, comfort of love, participation in the Spirit, compassion and concern, then complete my joy: be of like mind, have like love, be of one accord and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but humbly regard others as better than yourself. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same spirit be in you as was in Christ Jesus, who, though in the likeness of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself by taking the likeness of a slave, by human resemblance was born into it. And when he was found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death – even death on a cross.

Luke 9:46-48: A dispute arose among them as to which of them was greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put him by his side and said to them: “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who receives me.” has sent for the least among you is the greatest.”

Philippians 3:8-11 Furthermore, I count everything as a loss because of the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have suffered the loss of all things for his sake, and count them as apostasy, that I may win Christ and be found in him, having no righteousness of my own that is of the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, which is on faith based righteousness from God. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and sharing His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death if somehow I can achieve the resurrection from the dead.

John 13:31-35 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him immediately. Little children, I’ll be with you just a little while longer. you will look for me; and as I said to the Jews, so I say to you now, ‘Where I go ye cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that ye love one another. As I have loved you, so should you love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

Colossians 3:2-17 Set your thoughts on what is above, not on what is on earth, for you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, you too will be revealed with him in glory.

Therefore, kill everything earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed (which is idolatry). Because of these, the wrath of God comes upon the disobedient. These are the paths you once walked when you lived this life. But now you have to get rid of all these things – anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another when you see that you have shed the old self with its practices and clothed yourself in the new self, renewing itself in knowledge in its Creator’s image. In this renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

As God’s chosen, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Carry one another out and forgive one another when one has a grievance against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you forgive. Clothe yourselves above all with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, to which you are called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.

John 15:1-11: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it bears more fruit. You are already cleansed by the word I spoke to you. Remain in me as I remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me will be thrown away like a branch and wither; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for anything you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified in that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father loved me, so have I loved you; stay in my love If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my father’s commandments and remain in his love. I said these things to you so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be full.”

1 Peter 2:4-5: Come unto him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals, yet chosen and precious in the sight of God, and be built like living stones in a spiritual house, to admit a holy priesthood be to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

What’s the meaning of life? Or more specifically, what gives life meaning and satisfaction? What gives us meaning? It is the fundamental question that has challenged mankind throughout the ages. Living a purposeful life is one of the most common goals in all walks of life. Finding an answer to this profound question is not easy. Many people struggle to find meaning and satisfaction in life. It doesn’t have to be. Perhaps taking the necessary steps to lead a meaningful life is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. All it takes is an effective set of strategies and an insatiable willingness to make positive changes in one’s life. Here’s what you can do to live a purposeful life filled with purpose, happiness, and contentment.

It’s relatively easy to get distracted by the ups and downs of life. Some even rush through life without ever thinking about its purpose. However, the vast majority are constantly wondering what on earth they are doing here.

More importantly, not only are they searching for the meaning of life, they are also wondering if what they are doing matters.

As humans, we strive for something that gives us meaning and purpose. It’s only natural that we constantly strive to find meaning in our lives.

Inspiration is the greatest gift because it opens many new possibilities in your life. Each day becomes more meaningful and your life is enhanced when your actions are guided by what inspires you.

Bernie Seal

Why is it so important to have purpose? The feeling that you are making a difference, that what you are doing has meaning, can have a major impact on your life. A sense of purpose can make all the difference in your life! It can help you get up every morning looking forward to the day ahead. More than that, it can help you face difficulties and overcome even the biggest obstacles that stand in your way. Having a goal will motivate you to do whatever it takes to achieve your dreams.

But what can you do to live a purposeful life? How can you cultivate a more purposeful life? The following 11 steps will help you give your life more meaning.

How to live a purposeful life

There isn’t a single guide to what you can do to make sense of it. However, research has clearly shown that there are several powerful factors that can help you find meaning in life.

The science behind the powerful benefits of having a purpose

Living a purposeful life can help you live longer, research suggests. The scientists found that those who have a purpose in life have a lower risk of dying. In short, finding meaning in one’s life promotes positive aging. Many studies confirm that purpose is an important predictor of overall life satisfaction. One of these studies found that the more purposeful one’s life appears, the better one’s well-being.

Not only that, but having a purpose in life is also associated with a lower incidence of sleep disorders. In 2013, scientists also found that having a purpose in life is significantly associated with a lower incidence of stroke. Further research has shown that having greater meaning in life can significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

11 effective tips for a purposeful life

1. Pursue your passion

Following your passion makes life worth living. It will give you meaning and give meaning to your life. Whenever you spend time achieving something you are passionate about, it will bring joy and a sense of accomplishment to your life.

When you pursue your passion, your motivation remains at a consistently high level. When you’re passionate about what you do, you can achieve better results. Besides, there’s nothing more exhausting than having to do chores you don’t like or care about. There’s a big difference between being forced to perform unpleasant tasks and finding solutions to the challenging problems that stand between you and your goals. Perhaps doing something you enjoy once in a while will help you a lot in finding a job you really enjoy.

What’s more, if you really like what you do, you’ll find it much easier to come up with innovative solutions to challenging problems. If you’re passionate about what you do, there’s not much that can stop you from being successful. Passion ignites the fire within you and helps you accelerate to new heights. In addition, it will truly fulfill you when you can reach for the stars and make positive changes in the world around you.

2. Define what is important to you

So many people wander through life not knowing what is important. Everyone may think they know what is important to them. But there’s a big difference between the importance of something that’s irrelevant/entertaining and what’s really important.

It is important for them to watch TV, eat fast food and have a lot of money. But I ask you, is watching TV and pursuing wealth really fulfilling? If your happiness level depends on the numbers in your bank account, it depends heavily on an external factor. Likewise, most people neglect to figure out what is really important in life. These people may give importance to superficial things, but purpose and meaning cannot always be derived from these activities. As a result, those who don’t define what’s truly important to them struggle to prioritize properly. Instead of doing what makes sense, they thoughtlessly waste their time.

Try to find out what is important to you. Find the activities that fulfill you and give meaning to your life. If something doesn’t give you meaning in life, it may not always be worth pursuing.

3. Helping others

It shouldn’t be too much of a secret that helping others makes you feel good. Not only is it an amazing feeling to know that you’ve helped someone live a better life, but it also brings meaning and purpose to your life. Seeing that you can make someone’s life a little easier is one of the most fulfilling things you can experience in life.

You don’t necessarily need money to help others. If you don’t have money to donate, you can also help, donate your time or just help someone get through difficult times. Whatever you do, you will quickly realize that giving to others can have a powerful impact on your own life. More specifically, serving others will give meaning to your life.

4. Focus on one thing at a time

Modern life brings a variety of difficulties for the human brain. We are inundated with streams of information, all demanding our attention. The information overload has changed the attention span of many people. As a result of this attention deficit, many are no longer able to focus their full attention on just one task.

Multitasking is our answer to the challenges that technical developments place on our attention. Most of us like it a lot, although multitasking has been shown to increase your error rate and time and again decrease your productivity.

Instead of trying to switch back and forth from one task to another, try to focus on one task at a time. Do your best to do the best job possible before working on another goal. By focusing on one thing at a time, you can focus all of your time on what really matters to you. You benefit from this not only in business life, but in all areas of life.

When you focus on what really matters to you, you can live a more meaningful life.

5. Ignore your inner critic

Sometimes your inner critic can stand between you and a purposeful life. It is the inner voice trying to protect you. And in certain situations it can be quite helpful to listen to this voice. But when it comes to living a purposeful life, the critical inner voice could keep you from doing things that give your life meaning. Instead of encouraging you to explore new and potentially meaningful ideas, your inner voice will keep you on the old and familiar path. In most cases, its purpose is to increase stability by convincing you to maintain a defensive outlook on life.

After all, purposeful living might resemble a risk that parts of you would rather avoid. Even if that means living a life without meaning or purpose.

Whenever these critical inner thoughts arise, don’t let them progress any further. Stop these negative thought patterns immediately. Don’t get drawn into any arguments with yourself. Living a purposeful life requires courage and the mental stability to keep pursuing your dreams even when difficulties arise.

6. Encourage creativity

What is it exactly that causes us to live a life without meaning? In many cases, our tendency is to be result-oriented. Instead of spending our time doing something that gives meaning and purpose to our lives, we choose the alternative that is most financially rewarding. Even if it means doing things that prevent us from living a purposeful life.

By encouraging creativity and letting things take their natural course, we will quickly discover the things that truly fulfill us.

However, this does not mean that you have to quit your job. But it does mean that you make an effort to explore new possibilities and seek activities that bring meaning to your life. There are many people who live purposeful lives by choosing the right leisure activities that provide meaning and satisfaction.

7. Have the courage to express yourself

Living a purposeful life is closely related to authenticity.

Many people struggle to find meaning in life because they don’t allow themselves to be who they really are. Instead of expressing themselves, they try to conform to other people’s definition of life. And that’s exactly the problem. They don’t allow themselves to be who they really are for fear of being rejected or criticized by others. As a result, many people are not living the life they dreamed of.

Living a life that family, friends, or society approve of doesn’t always make your life happier. It makes everyone around you happy, but not yourself.

But when it comes to living a purposeful life filled with meaning and satisfaction, freedom to express yourself and live your authentic self is critical.

8. Prioritize family and friends

Connecting with others will bring greater meaning to your life. When you are close to your family and friends, you increase the meaning of your life. In addition, scientific research has shown that family relationships are an important source of perceived meaning in life.

The results of the study underscore the importance of spending quality time with loved ones.

However, it is important to note that this does not mean that you have to live in a perfectly harmonious family. Instead, most researchers point out that the process of overcoming conflict and challenges is also very important. Not only will it help deepen the relationship with your loved ones, but it will also help increase the meaning of your life.

Even if your relationships with your family and friends aren’t perfect, you can bring deeper meaning to your life by nurturing and cherishing those bonds.

9. Be bold

Sometimes it takes quite a bit of courage to live a meaningful life. There are many obstacles to overcome on the way to a purposeful life. In some situations, we just feel way too comfortable within the confines of our comfort zone. In other situations, negative habits have prevented us from making progress.

That is why it is so important and desirable to have the courage to reach for new and fresh experiences.

Most people who live purposeful lives have had the courage to keep going outside and looking for new opportunities. They were willing to try new things and question their habits. Instead of being limited to the limits of their comfort zone, they had the courage to push those limits.

10. Know that purpose and happiness are not always linked

Many people mistakenly assume that a purposeful life will automatically make them happy. And while it’s certainly true that finding meaning in life can bring happiness, the two aren’t always connected.

There are certain differences between a happy life and a meaningful life. They can go hand in hand, but that’s not always the case. The feeling of having a meaningful life does not depend on your happiness.

Satisfying your wants and needs may make you happy, but it is absolutely irrelevant to living a purposeful life. Also, striving to live a meaningful life can come with several challenges and obstacles. There may be pain, bruising, and challenges along the way. But at the same time, a sense of purpose and meaning is fostered through the challenges that go beyond you.

11. Simplify your life

We are so busy with countless activities, tasks and commitments that we have completely lost sight of the meaning of our lives. By decluttering and simplifying your life, you can spend more time on meaningful activities.

More so, it can greatly help you relieve stress and open yourself up to you and exciting possibilities.

It’s not always that you add more to your life that helps you find meaning. But on the contrary. What are your tricks for following your life purpose with great determination?

I hope you enjoy this article on how to live a purposeful life.

Stay victorious!

Last updated: March 18, 2022

Growing up in the Church, I always knew God had a plan for my life, but I was told I had to find it. I struggled with doubt and inaction because I wasn’t sure what God intended for me. For anyone like me who has felt great pressure to find God’s will, there is some really good news in this Bible verse.

Psalm 138:8 (ESV) says: “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; Your unwavering love, O Lord, endures forever. Forsake not the work of your hands.” This verse tells us that God has a purpose for our lives and He will fulfill it. Because his love is everlasting, we can trust that he will never abandon his work in our lives.

For years I worried that I might miss out on God’s plan for my life. I struggled with anxious thoughts like, “What if I’m going the wrong way? How do I know I’m in God’s will?”

But as I finally began to understand his love and faithfulness, I learned that he is working to fulfill his purpose in my life. The pressure is off because it’s his plan. My role is simply to trust him and allow him to work in my life.

Let’s take a closer look at Psalm 138:8 and other Bible verses that show that we can trust God to fulfill his purpose.

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It is God’s purpose, not ours

The first thing to take away from Psalm 138:8 is the simple truth that God has a purpose.

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.”

God orchestrates the events of our lives according to His good plan. In fact, before we were born, He knew all the days of our lives:

Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in your book before any of them came into being. ~ Psalm 139:16 NLV

God has a purpose for us beyond what we can imagine. Even when we are imagining great things to do in life, its purpose is greater. This is because it is his purpose, not ours, that is being accomplished. Its purpose is greater than ours, and it will stand firm no matter what happens to us (source).

Everything is for his honor

In these verses we get a glimpse of the all-encompassing purpose of God:

In him we also were chosen, predestined according to the plan of him who works all things according to his will, that we might be to the praise of his glory. ~ Ephesians 1:11-12 NIV

Ultimately, his purpose is greater than ours because it’s not about us, it’s about him! He chose us to be one people to bring him glory. Everything we do ultimately serves his honor.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

God fulfills his purpose, not us

God knows how each of our individual lives will bring glory to Him. Going back to Psalm 138:8, we see that he serves this purpose, not us.

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.”

God is intimately involved in our daily life to fulfill His purpose. If each day is in its book, then its purpose must be very detailed! We don’t know everything he has planned for us. But we do know that He works out every little detail according to His plan, for His glory.

And we know that God works all things for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28 BSB

Also, there is another verse in the Psalms that says something similar to Psalm 138:8. Allow me to draw your attention to several different translations of this verse, Psalm 57:2:

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me. (ESV)

I will cry out to God Most High; to God who does everything for me. (KJV)

I cry out to God Most High, to God who will accomplish His plans for me. (EHV)

I will cry out to God Most High, to God who does everything for me. (NASB)

I cry out to God Most High, to the God who does everything for me. (NCV)

Isn’t it amazing? He accomplishes His plans… He does everything… He fulfills all things for me. everything i have Everything I am. Everything I’ve ever done – it’s all of God! He’s the one who supports me and gives me my breath away every moment.

He will finish what he started

What a good reason to give him the credit, honor and glory! His detailed involvement in our lives shows his grace, love and goodness.

He began a good work in us when by His Spirit He enabled us to say “yes” to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And even after we accept the gift of salvation, it is still God who continues to work in our lives:

Because it is God who works in you to want and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. ~ Philippians 2:13 NIV

It is very liberating to realize that the Lord’s purpose does not depend on us, but on Him. We may make a mistake, make a bad choice, or lose focus, but God is faithful and He works even on our mistakes to accomplish His purpose. No matter what, we can trust him to finish what he started:

And I am convinced that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ. ~ Philippians 1:6 ESV

Nothing can stop his intention

Some Christians worry that they have failed in God’s will. I’ve struggled with this before, wondering if my choices have taken me in a different direction than God intended. Did I choose the wrong profession? Did I miss a better opportunity?

You may fear that your past choices have strayed from God’s purpose for your life. Maybe you think your mistakes have blown you too far off course. Can I encourage you with something I’ve learned?

Your actions are not strong enough to derail God’s purpose for you!

In fact, nothing is powerful enough to stop its intent.

I know that you can do everything and that none of your intentions can be thwarted. ~ Job 42:2 ESV

God’s promise of faithfulness

Remember Psalm 138:8: “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; Your unwavering love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

We know that God’s love is everlasting. There is absolutely nothing in the universe that can separate us from His love (see Romans 8:38-39)!

Because the Lord is good. His unwavering love endures forever, and his faithfulness continues through every generation. ~ Psalm 100:5 NLT

He promised to be faithful to us. So we can trust that He will never give up the work He is doing in us. The way I interpret the psalmist’s (David) plea in Psalm 138:8, “Forsake not the work of your hands,” is prayer of trust. David is confident that God will answer this request because he knows and trusts God’s character.

For the LORD will not cast away his people; he will never give up his inheritance. ~ Psalm 94:14 NIV

Be encouraged, friend. God loves you very much and he will never leave you. Nothing you could ever do would be powerful enough to stop His purpose for you.

Maybe you made some mistakes. But when you believe in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, your sins and mistakes are forgiven and washed away.

God is so good and so faithful that He even works through our mistakes to reach His goal! He works everything together for good (see Romans 8:28 above). By His grace, He orchestrates every detail of our lives for the ultimate purpose of His glory.

Three practical uses of trust

So if you’re like me, you may believe and trust that God will accomplish His purpose, but there’s still a part of you that wonders, But what am I doing? Here are three practical steps we can take to apply this to our lives.

1. Don’t worry about your life

I used to be afraid to try new things because I wasn’t sure if they were “God’s will for me.” But that mindset just paralyzed me. I was stuck in inaction rather than developing the gifts and abilities that God had given me.

So Psalm 138:8 and Psalm 57:2 teach us to stop worrying so much about finding God’s “perfect” plan for our lives.

If it’s his plan, he will carry it out. When we believe it will fulfill its purpose (not us), it frees us from focusing more on walking with it day to day. Jesus told us not to worry but try to live life God’s way first:

I tell you, do not worry about your life… but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you also. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will take care of itself. ~ Matthew 6:25, 33-34 NIV

In our daily life there is freedom in Christ. We are free to try new things, explore new directions, and see where we can use our unique gifts, talents, and abilities to glorify God. Instead of worrying about our lives, we can just rest, trust Him, and live to His glory.

Read more: 30 Biblical Affirmations to Calm Anxiety and Fear

2. Get to know God

It’s hard to trust someone you don’t know, so the next practical application is getting to know God. Do you think he has a purpose for you? How do you know it’s for a good cause? If you know the nature of God, this question is easy to answer: because he is good.

God has given us the amazing privilege of having a relationship with Him! We have the Holy Spirit living in us. The Bible is a treasure trove of knowledge about God’s character, and the Spirit uses it to teach us about Him. So study God’s Word, meditate on it, and learn what it says about who He is. Then spend time in prayer. Build that relationship with him and get to know his qualities.

When you get to know God, you get to know His heart and His ultimate purpose. In His Word He showed us His way of life (see Micah 6:8). As we study the scriptures, we learn the guidelines He laid down for our lives. And the more we learn about him, the more we know for sure that he is powerful and capable of fulfilling his purpose:

I am the Lord God of all peoples of the world. Is something too heavy for me? ~ Jeremiah 32:37 NLT

To learn more about the attributes of God and His nature, I recommend this book: The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. tozer I also recommend Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund to get to know the kind and compassionate heart of Jesus.

Bible meditation is also a great way to fill our minds with truths about who God is. For a step-by-step guide on how to meditate as a Christian, these 3 guided meditations on Scripture are the perfect introduction to Christian meditation for beginners:

3. Think of the big picture

Finally, remember the big picture. God has made known to us his ultimate purpose: it is all for his glory! He has chosen us to be His holy, perfect, and blameless people, uniting all things under the leadership of Jesus Christ:

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world, that we might be holy and blameless in his sight… He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ… to unite in himself all things heaven and earth under Christ. ~ Ephesians 1:4, 9-10 NIV

In eternity we will not remember all the things we have done for God in life! We will praise him for all the wonderful things he has done:

LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such great things! You planned it a long time ago, and now you have fulfilled it. ~ Isaiah 25:1 NLT

When all is said and done, we will know that everything was to his credit and that he served his purpose.

Whatever we do in our lives, may it be done to honor him. May we use the unique abilities, gifts, and opportunities He has given us to honor Him.

More resources for finding God’s purpose

If you want to learn more about what the Bible says about finding God’s purpose and making life decisions with God’s glory in mind, I recommend these books:

Are you striving to follow God’s purpose for your life? This printable journal will guide you through the scriptures of God’s plan for you, with prayers and devotions to help you live for His glory. Check out the Walking in Purpose Prayer Journal*:

*BONUS: Use discount code GRACETRIBE for

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I hope this post was helpful to you. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Calm,

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Your life purpose consists of the core motivating goals of your life – the reasons you get up in the morning.

Purpose can guide life choices, influence behavior, shape goals, provide direction, and create meaning. For some people, purpose is coupled with calling—meaningful, rewarding work. For others, their purpose is their responsibility to their family or friends. Others seek meaning through spirituality or religious beliefs. Some people find their purpose clearly expressed in all of these aspects of life.

The purpose will be unique for everyone; What you identify as your path may differ from others. Additionally, your purpose may actually shift and change throughout life in response to evolving priorities and fluctuations in your own experiences.

Questions that may arise when thinking about your purpose in life are: