Slicedman• Show poetry

What will be the centre of my life? This is the question of worship. Who are you going to live for? What are you going to build your life around? You can centre your life around your career, your family, a sport or hobby, money, having fun, or many other activities. These are all good things, but they don’t belong at the centre of your life. None is strong enough to hold you together when life starts breaking apart. You need an unshakable centre.

King Asa told the people of Judah to “centre their lives in God.” 2 Chronicles 14:4 Actually, whatever is at the centre of your life is your God. When you committed your life to Christ, he moved into the centre, but you must keep him there through worship. Paul says, “I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts.” Ephesians 3:17

How do you know when God is at centre of your life? When God’s at the centre, you worship. When he’s not, you worry. Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sideline. The moment you put him back at the centre, you will have peace again. The bible says, “A sense of God’s wholeness… will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.” Philippians 4:7

What will be the character of my life? This is the question of discipleship. What kind of person will you be? God is far more interested in what you are than what you do. Remember, you will take your character into eternity, but not your career. Make a list of the character qualities you want to work on and develop in your life. You might begin with the fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23 or the Beatitudes. Matthew 5:3-12 Peter said, “Don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love.” 2 Peter 1:5 Don’t get lifetime to build Christ like character. Paul told Timothy, “Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it.” 1 Timothy 4:16b

What will be the contribution of my life? This is the question of service. What will be your ministry in the Body of Christ? Knowing your combination of spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences (SHAPE), what would be your best role in the family of God? How can you make a different? Is there a specific group in the Body that I am shaped to serve? Paul pointed out two wonderful benefits when you fulfil your ministry: “This service you perform not only meets the needs of God’s people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:12

While you are shaped to serve others, even Jesus didn’t meet the needs of everyone while on earth. You have to choose whom you can best help, based on your shape. You need to ask, “Who do I have a desire to help most?” Jesus said, “I commissioned you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” John 15:16a Each of us bears different fruit.

What will be the communication of my life? This is the question of your mission to unbelievers. Your mission statement is a part of your life purpose statement. Is should include your commitment to share your testimony and the Good News with others. You should also list the life lessons and godly passions you feel God has given you to share with the world. As you grow in Christ, God may give you a special target group of people to focus on reaching. Be sure to add this to your statement.

If you are a parent, part of your mission is to raise your children to know Christ, to help them understand his purposes for their lives, and to send them out on their mission in the world. You might include Joshua’s statement in yours: “As for me and my family,we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Of course, our lives must support and validate the message we communicate. Before most unbelievers accept the Bible as credible they want to know that we are credible. That is why the Bible says. “Be sure that you live in a way that brings honour to the Good News of Christ.” Philippians 1:27

What will be the community of my life? This is the question of fellowship. How will you demonstrate your commitment to other believers and connection to the family of God? Where will you practice the “one another” commands with other Christians? To which church family will you be joined as a functioning member? The more you mature, the more you will love the Body of Christ and want to sacrifice for it. The Bible says, “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” Ephesians 5:25 You should include an expression of your love for God’s church in your statement.

As you consider your answers to these questions, include any Scriptures that speak to you about each of these purposes. There are many in this book. It may take you weeks or months to craft your life purpose statement just the way you want it. Pray, think about it, talk with close friends, and reflect on Scripture. You may go through several rewrites before you get to your final form. Even then, you will probably make minor changes as time goes by and God gives you more insight into your own shape. If you would like to see some examples from other people, just contact Rick on Purpose Driven Life

In addition to writing a detailed life purpose statement, it is also helpful to have a shorter statement or slogan that summarizes the five purposes for your life in a way that’s memorable and inspires you. Then you can remind yourself daily. Solomon advised, “It will be good to keep these things in mind so that you are ready to repeat them.” Proverbs 22:18

You may wonder, “What about God’s will for my job or marriage or where I’m supposed to live or go to school?” Honestly, these are secondary issues in your life, and there may be multiple possibilities that would all be in God’s will for you. What matters most is that you fulfil God’s eternal purposes regardless of where you live or work or whom you marry. Those decisions should support your purposes. The Bible says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 Focus on God’s purposes for your life, not your plans, since that’s what will last forever.

I once heard the suggestion that you develop your life purpose statement based on what you would like other people to say about you at your funeral. Imagine your perfect eulogy, then build your statement on that. Frankly, that’s a bad plan. At the end of your life it isn’t going to matter at all what other people say about you. The only thing that will matter is what God says about you. The Bible says, “Our purpose is to please God, not people.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4b

One day God will review your answers to these life questions. Did you put Jesus at the centre of your life? Did you develop his character? Did you devote your life to serving others? Did you communicate his message and fulfil his mission? Did you love and participate in his family? These are the only issues that will count. As Paul said, “Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us.” 2 Corinthians 10:13

God Wants To Use You

About thirty years ago, I noticed a little phrase in Acts 13:36 that forever altered the direction of my life. It was only seven words but, like the stamp of searing hot branding iron, my life was permanently marked by these words: “David served God’s purpose in his generation.” Acts 13:36a Now I understood why God called David “a man after my own heart.” Acts 13:22 David dedicated his life to fulfilling God’s purposes on earth.

There is no greater epitaph than that statement! Imagine it chiselled on your tombstone: That you served god’s purpose in your generation. My prayer is that people will be able to say that about me when I die. It is also my prayer that people will say it about you, too. That is why I wrote this book for you. This phrase is the ultimate definition of a life well lived. You do the eternal and timeless (God’s purpose) in a contemporary and timely way (in your generation). That is what the purpose-driven life is all about. Neither past nor future generations can serve God’s purpose in this generation. Only we can. Like Esther, God created you “for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

God is still looking for people to use. The Bible says, “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 Will you be a person God can use for his purposes? Will you serve God’s purpose in your generation?

Paul lived a purpose-driven life. He said, “I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.” 1 Corinthians 9:26 His only reason for living was to fulfil the purposes God had for him. He said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die s gain.” Philippians 1:21 Paul was not afraid of either living or dying. Either way, he would fulfil God’s purposes. He couldn’t lose!

One day history will come to a close, but eternity will go on forever. William Carey (founder of the Baptist’s Church) said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” When fulfilling your purposes seems tough, don’t give in to discouragement. Remember your reward, which will last forever. The Bible says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Imagine what it is going to be like one day, with all of us standing before the throne of God presenting our lives in deep gratitude and praise to Christ. Together we will say, “Worthy, Oh Master! Yes, our God! Take the glory! the Honour! The power! You created it all; It was created because you wanted it!” Revelation 4:11 We will praise him for his plan and live for his purposes forever!

Rick Warren (2002), The Purpose Driven Life, Zondervan. P.314-319