Life is a wonderful gift. It is a gift to be cherished, not to be wasted. It is life that enables us to make choices, to aspire to great undertakings, to love family and friends, to make a difference in this world for the betterment of all, and to seek to fulfill the purpose and calling for which we were created. We do have a purpose in life. What then does it mean to live your life fully?
Within each of us is the desire to find our place in this world. Some see this as excelling in our chosen field, while others see it as learning to live and love and care for others par excellence. Perhaps it means a combination of the two.
5 Ways to Find Your Purpose to Live Your Life Fully
1. Who am I and why I am here?
This is the subject of many a young person’s daily musing. It is a subject entertained around a campfire, over a cup of coffee, or an unanswered question that keeps us from falling asleep at night. It is a question that deserves our attention.
Finding the answer will clarify our path, our goals, and determine our step. Understanding this is the precursor of the ability to plan, develop and ignite that unidentified “who am I?” into a productive life that is satisfying to oneself, while filling a need in this world. Neither you nor I just happened. It is worth the effort to seek understanding with an open mind. We are told to ask for wisdom and are promised that gift.
2. Finding a purpose in the struggle, while recognizing the joy in the living of life, is a journey in finding how to live life more fully.
Recognizing that living your life means relationships, choice of occupations, choice of schools, choice of where to live, how to live, who to help, and the eternal question of how to know God and how to live life in a way to honor the one who created us.
I have yet to meet the person that does not deeply desire to live a life that has meaning and a life that demands respect. Even when that person is someone living a life of drunken abandonment. In the emergency room, the free clinic and on the steps of a church, I have met the person we may think of as hopeless. However, it was soon clear even to me that that person was still reaching out for something better that he/she had missed so far in this life.
I believe there is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each of us, waiting for us to believe and be filled with the Spirit of God. It is with that acceptance and anticipation that we are on our way to living a full life.
Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10. What a wonderful promise to claim.
I don’t want to miss the wonderful things that God planned for me in this lifetime. We must be tuned in, walking daily with God, reading His Word, seeking understanding, anticipating the blessings.
What a joy to live a life of fulfillment because of God’s mercy and grace. Life is truly a gift from God.
3. What are your gifts and talents?
Identifying innate gifts and talents gives us discipline and a culture in which to blossom and begin to mature.
Do you know your strong points? Have you identified your gifts, talents, and leanings, indicating the things in which you may easily excel?
Are you sharing that heart filled with love and acceptance of others, or have you feared to let yourself be known? Do you have blessings to give to others, but you are hiding them out of fear of being laughed at? Or are you paralyzed by fear of failure or ridicule?
Let me challenge you to make a list of your gifts and strong points.
Then ask yourself if you have allowed these attributes to grow and flourish, or if you have squashed them and thereby missed the blessings. Oh, resuscitate them. Let them grow, let them encourage others, open doors for others, build bridges, plant gardens, raise voices in songs of praise. Then lead the children to follow and do the same. There is a full life promised to all who seek.
4. What are you innate abilities?
Evaluating our gifts and working in tandem with our innate ability will enable us to be the best of who we are. We will be able to handle the challenges that arise. We shall persevere and even flourish in pursuing our dreams, putting feet to the task. Is ours a heart of love, a thing of beauty, an offering of service, as we contribute to making life more beautiful and accessible to those we meet?
Do you have a song not yet sung, a book yet unwritten, a canvass still unpainted, a compassionate heart still looking for a place of service? Now it the time! Determine to develop those thoughts and melodies into shareable resources. Turn your innovative ideas into something real and beneficial and beautiful and shareable.
5. What does God have to do with it?
Recognizing our relationship to God the Creator and seeking to know Jesus, the Savior who loves us and guides us, is the essence of the full life promised. Even when we are unaware of his presence, he is near. He is offering us Life Eternal.
And we are overwhelmed at such mercy and grace when we recognize that the creator is also the risen savior – our Hope for now and our joy, because of his grace.
If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we invite you to watch the GREAT NEWS FOR YOU Video on this page.
When we understand that God is not out to punish us, but rather to enrich our lives and give us strength and forgiveness, then we are in position to live life fully.
I often wonder how many blessings, how many promises, I have missed that God intended me to enjoy, use, and share here on earth. Are there days when you, much like I, just stomp along, ignoring the beauty intended for us, disregarding the opportunities on either side to help someone, opportunities to bring joy and encouragement into someone’s life?
What Does It Mean to Live Your Life Fully?
How can we be more aware? By living purposefully.
Perhaps by starting the day, from the moment we open our eyes with, “Lord, what are we going to do today? Show me the best way to handle the problems as well as the joys.”
As we learn to live our lives more fully by allowing our mental, physical, and emotional selves to be in synch with our spiritually committed self, we will not only live more fully, but we will be able to help others to grasp the real meaning of life.
In a world where we can be anything we want, let us choose to be kind. Our words are so powerful. We must intentionally use words that build up and not destroy. We all need a soft answer, a word of hope, a breath of fresh air filled with promise. We can make a difference.
Start your day with Jesus, the God who knows your name!
If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we invite you to watch the GREAT NEWS FOR YOU Video on this page.
