Day Three: Living On Purpose Is The Path To Peace
"My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness." Isaiah 26:9
We all are driven by something is our life. It could be hundreds of different manipulations of emotion, values or circumstances which push us into the storm. More than likely it is these things which are the storm. This leaves us the victim of ourselves wandering through life without purpose. We make our own self-imposed prison of torment. Some of the most common drives are guilt, anger, resentment, approval, materialism and fear.
Guilt is a good manipulator. It focuses on memories and leaves us running from regrets and hiding our shame. Often it promotes self sabotage of success and drives us to relive the past. The cycle stops when we realize everything in life is handed to us as a learning experience. We should take what we can from the situation and let it go. I can definitely relate as I grew up seeing someone else do this same thing and believed it was the way. Now, in my thirties, I realize it is not. Living in my past only makes me bitter and more suceptible to being stuck. It definitely takes a lot of change, effort, and grace to pull yourself out of a 30 year norm but well worth the effort.
Anger and resentment are also very good at dragging us down. It plays with us along the same lines as guilt-keeping us in a vicious cycle of the past. It allows people to hurt us by constantly marinating it. "The past is the past!" Again, another part of my life which walked hand-in-hand with guilt. I learned it was okay to hang onto those feelings of angst because in the end it is all you have. Of course, I know that is not true. I also know it hurts me more than anything and moving forward requires forgiveness. A foreign concept to me. It takes a lot of strength to change how you deal with hurt when the norm is not normal at all. Ask for God's grace and know he walks with you every step of the way.
Approval is very common. It is the drive where people allow friends, family, spouses, and/or children to control their lives. It is these controlling opinions which will surely distract and make us miss God's purpose for our life. What most people do not realize is how going along with the crowd one usually gets lost in it. We have to realize we cannot please every one. We only have one master and the soul cannot handle more than that.
Materialism is especially gripping in this century. People are constantly looking for more money, more fame, more success. While all of these desires have their perks, they also are temporary happiness'. Within an instant, all of these can be gone or taken away. The one thing that cannot is our relationship with God. "Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things!"
Fear tends to make us stand still. It is the thing which holds us back from venturing out and finding other answers or seeing there is life outside of many general conclusions we have made. Perhaps these conclusions arise from traumatic events, loss, or predisposition. This is our "play it safe" button. It keeps us from taking any risks and crippling us. I have seen fear and I have been afraid. Everyone is afraid of something and we must stand together with faith and love.
Whether you are driven by these things or a multitude of others, it is important to remember that these things to not define you. Know it is impossible to do and/or be everything to everyone. The time we have on this earth is only enough time to do God's will and live out His purpose for us. "Without a clear purpose, you will keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, or other externals-hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, Maybe this time it will be different, but it doesn't solve your real problem-a lack of focus and purpose."
"But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the LORD. LORD, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them." Isaiah 26:10-11
