Saturday, February 23, 2013

Your Life's Purpose by Ann Broughton




“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).
   
    Keeping the faith can be very difficult, especially if you are facing a difficult situation. I am currently reading a book that has really given me a challenge about keeping the faith and finding my purpose.  I highly recommend Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. There is a specific chapter in the book about setting your focus.
     
    The author quotes Jonathon Edwards, a minister in the 1700’s who made a life purpose statement. This is how it goes: “Resolved to live with all my might while I do live. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, to improve it in the most profitable way I can. Resolved, never to do anything I should despise or think meanly of in another. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge. Resolved, never to do anything that I would be afraid to do in the last hour of my life” (Calm My Anxious Heart, pg. 103).
   
    Reading this life statement really challenged me to think of my own life statement. Lately, the following verse has been my life statement and my mantra: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV). It is so important for all of us to think about a life purpose statement and what we want to do for the Lord in our life.
   
    One lady mentioned in this book, made a statement where she offered all she was to God, which included all she had, all she suffered for now and forever. She divided these up onto papers and listed all the things in each category and offered it to God. It is something to ponder about your own life purpose and your relationship with God.
  
   This week think about what your life purpose is in regards to God.
Pray about this and ask God to impress upon you what your statement should be. When it comes to you, write it down and pray about it.
Then act upon it. You see when you come to your end of your life you will want to say that you fought the good fight and kept the faith. In order to do that, you must keep living a life that is pleasing to God and know what your purpose is.

Dear Lord,
We come to you as humble servants, asking that you reveal to us your life purpose for our lives. Help us to pray and believe that you will enlighten us with that purpose. Then help us to live with your purpose always in our hearts so at our last breath we can say we fought the good fight for you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

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