Day 39: Balancing Your Life

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"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. . . ."  Ephesians 5:8
  1. Love God with all your heart
  2. Love your neighbor as yourself
  3. Go and make disciples
  4. baptize them into. . .
  5. teach them to do all things . . .
Balancing out the five purposes of our lives it not an easy task.  Many times we focus on the ones that come easiest to us and neglect the others.  Keeping on track and accountable takes joining a small group or having a spiritual partner, regularly evaluating spiritual health, journaling, and sharing your experiences with others.

It is one thing to go through The Purpose Driven Life and just read it; next, we have to apply it and discuss it.  Finding others will help to look at all sides of the text as well as reading the passages noted by Rick Warren.  I am almost done reading and evaluating these passages myself.  I highlight the phrases that jump out at me and re-read the ones that really just do not sink in.  This is nice to do before I go to bed as this is when my mind is the quietest.

Just as we need physical check ups for our health, we also need spiritual ones.  We should check our spiritual vitals:  worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry, and mission.  To help with this, Rick Warren has provided us an assessment guide.  After taking it, I would suggest taking it before reading The Purpose Driven Life and then redoing it after you have applied and studied your 40 days to see where you have made the most changes.

Journaling is not about events but about life lessons you do not want to forget.  Write down the story, the experiences, how you felt, and how God spoke to you or helped you.  This will help you to see problems as purpose-driven.  It is also important to share these stories with others.  God has given us all so many tools to continue His work.  Continue to develop and grow in His word and image.  Start by picking at least one of these four to focus on and casually add another until all four are as easy as tying your shoes. . .it is all for His glory!

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Esphesians 5:18-20

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