“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”-Ephesians 1:11 (Niv)
Introduction
We bring you this week the concluding part of our article, “A Purposeful Life,” in which we have been exploring how to discover and live out God’s purpose for our lives. In the earlier parts, we established that we were created by God and for God, and that our lives have meaning beyond personal achievements, material possessions and earthly success. We also considered practical steps towards purposeful living, including knowing God’s purpose for our lives, considering our dreams, clarifying our values, setting goals, discovering our strengths, aiming high and taking action.
As we conclude this series, we will consider the importance of discipline, believing in ourselves, involving others and persevering even when the journey becomes difficult. These are important principles because discovering our purpose is only the beginning. We must also be willing to do what it takes to fulfill it.
Above all, we must remember that the purpose of our lives is greater than personal success. God has called us to live lives that honour Him and make a difference in the lives of others. Please enjoy the concluding part and share it with others!
8. BE DISCIPLINED
Discipline is an important part of purposeful living. It means bringing order into our lives and being willing to do what is necessary to achieve our goals. We must learn to manage our time, take care of our health, fulfil our responsibilities, manage our finances and maintain good relationships.
A person may have great dreams and wonderful ideas, but without discipline, those dreams may never become a reality. Purpose requires commitment, consistency and the willingness to keep working even when we do not feel motivated.
We must learn to do what needs to be done, even when it is not convenient. We should not allow laziness, procrastination or distractions to prevent us from making progress. When we are disciplined, we become more organised, responsible and prepared to use the opportunities God brings our way.
Let us remember that living purposefully is not only about knowing what we want to achieve. It is also about developing the habits and attitudes that will help us achieve it.
9. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
We must believe that we can make progress and accomplish meaningful things with the abilities and opportunities God has given us. Sometimes, fear, past failures and the negative opinions of others can make us doubt ourselves. We may begin to think that we are not good enough or that our dreams are beyond our reach.
However, we must not allow these thoughts to stop us from moving forward. We should recognise our strengths, learn from our weaknesses and be willing to grow. Believing in ourselves does not mean thinking that we can do everything without help. Rather, it means having the confidence to take action while trusting God to guide and strengthen us.
Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Our confidence must be rooted in God, not pride or self-dependence. When we trust Him, we can face challenges with courage and continue working towards the purpose He has placed before us.
Let us stop allowing fear and self-doubt to determine what we can achieve. We may not know everything today, but we can learn, grow and become better with time and effort.
10. INVOLVE OTHERS
No one succeeds entirely alone. God often uses other people to encourage us, guide us, correct us and help us fulfil our purpose. We must therefore learn to build healthy relationships and involve trustworthy people in our journey.
Sharing our goals with the right people can provide encouragement and accountability. We can learn from those who have experience, seek advice from people we respect and ask others to pray with us when we face challenges. We must also be humble enough to admit when we need help.
At the same time, we must be careful about the people whose opinions influence our decisions. Not everyone will understand our dreams or support our efforts. Some people may discourage us, while others may offer advice that does not align with God’s purpose for our lives.
We must therefore choose our company wisely and remain open to constructive advice without allowing negative opinions to destroy our confidence. The right people will help us grow, encourage us to remain focused and remind us of what matters when the journey becomes difficult.
11. NEVER GIVE UP
The journey towards fulfilling our purpose will not always be easy. There may be disappointments, delays, mistakes and moments when we feel like giving up. However, these challenges do not necessarily mean that we have failed or that our purpose is no longer possible.
Sometimes, setbacks teach us valuable lessons. They help us recognise our weaknesses, change our approach and develop the patience and strength we need to move forward. Rather than allowing failure to defeat us, we should learn from our experiences and keep trying.
There is a familiar saying that reminds us, “If at first you do not succeed, try, try again.” We must be willing to persevere, even when results do not come as quickly as we expect.
Above all, we must continue to trust God. Perseverance does not mean refusing to change our approach when necessary. It means remaining faithful to what is right, learning from our experiences and continuing to seek God’s direction.
Let us not abandon our dreams simply because the road has become difficult. With faith, patience, wisdom and consistent effort, we can continue to make progress towards the purpose God has for our lives.
PURPOSE IS BIGGER THAN PERSONAL SUCCESS
As we conclude this series, we must understand that living a purposeful life goes beyond achieving our personal goals, gaining wealth or becoming successful in the eyes of the world. These things may have their place, but they are not the ultimate reason for our existence.
Our purpose begins with God because we were created by Him and for Him. Our gifts, dreams, experiences, opportunities and relationships can all become ways through which He works in and through us. The important question is not only, “What do I want to achieve in life?” We must also ask, “What can God do through my life?”
We should consider how our abilities can serve others, how our work can make a positive difference and how our daily decisions can reflect God’s love and goodness. We may not all have the same gifts or opportunities, but every one of us can make a meaningful contribution.
Purposeful living means being faithful wherever God has placed us. It means serving with integrity, treating others with kindness, using our resources wisely and making choices that honour Him. We do not have to wait until we become wealthy, famous or powerful before we begin to live purposefully. We can start with what we have, where we are, and allow God to lead us one step at a time.
CONCLUSION
Every one of us has a purpose. We are not accidents, and our lives are not without meaning. Regardless of our age, background or present circumstances, we can seek God and discover how He wants us to use our lives.
As we have learnt throughout this series, purposeful living begins with God. We must seek to understand His Word, discover our gifts, consider our dreams, clarify our values, set meaningful goals and recognise our strengths. We must be willing to aim high, take action, remain disciplined, believe in ourselves, involve the right people and never give up when challenges arise.
Most importantly, we must remember that our purpose is not simply about what we can gain for ourselves. It is about becoming who God wants us to be and using our lives to bless others and bring glory to His name.
Let us therefore take the necessary steps to live intentionally. We may not have all the answers today, but we can begin by seeking God, making wise choices and remaining faithful in the responsibilities He has given us.
Let us not simply exist. Let us live purposefully, serve faithfully and allow God to use our lives for His glory.
Stay Blessed!
Please Note: The preaching programme on Sunny 88.7 FM every Tuesday at 5:30 a.m. has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM every Sunday at 5:30 a.m. and YFM 107.9 every Sunday at 6:30 a.m. for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 p.m. for Hymns and Their Stories.
