Three steps to a purpose driven faith. Feeling aimless? Here are three steps in a meaningful direction towards a purpose driven faith.
Three steps to a purpose driven faith. Center your mind on God
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (ESV, Lamentations 3:22-23)
We process thousands of thoughts a day. Problems to solve, tasks to do, ideas to cogitate. And positively directing the flow of this massive, mental herd is challenging due to all the bum steers.
Why? Because the mind is where sinful thoughts begin. But centering our minds on God helps push them out. And the best way to begin is by beginning your day WITH God. Reading his Word and conversing with him through prayer.
Think of it as a reset. An opportunity to lean on God’s mercies and faithfulness. Confess yesterday’s sins and pursue today’s righteousness. To spiritually connect with your heavenly Father and commit your day for His glory.
Although you don’t have to stop there. Throughout the day…
Capture your thoughts
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (ESV, 2 Corinthians 10:5)
A serious battle for our minds rages all day long. And Paul uses a military analogy to reinforce the importance of guarding them. Because if Satan controls them, then he controls our actions. Therefore, we must remain alert and diligent.
Redirect your thoughts
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV, Philippians 4:8)
Minds that wander too long among unhealthy daydreams and fantasies beg for trouble. And trying to NOT think about them only assures that we will. So redirect them. Play Christian music. Listen to a Christian podcast. And keep Bible verses on note cards and read them during the day. The point is, be active, not passive on mind management.
Three steps to a purpose driven faith. Love your neighbor
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. (ESV, Luke 12:27)
The Greek word for “love” in this verse is agape. It represents God’s unconditional love that He desires from us in return. God wants first place in our lives. And second to that is love for others.
However, Agape love is much different than the romantic, sexually driven idea of love that dominates today’s culture. And is best represented by the Greek word eros, from which comes the word erotic. It emphasizes feelings with a focus on satisfying personal desires.
Agape is an expression of love more than feelings and is demonstrated in practical, action oriented ways. Because rather than inward, it looks outwards on the needs of others. Even our enemies. Jesus illustrated it in his parable of the Good Samaritan. And why is the story so powerful? Because the story hero was a Samaritan–an ethnic group member Jesus’ Jewish audience despised.
Three steps to a purpose driven faith. Serve others.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. (ESV, John 13:14-15)
The scene takes place during the Passover meal Jesus ate with his disciples. Commonly called the last supper. Because the next day Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross. And his last act as spiritual leader and Lord was to wash the feet of each disciple.
The God of the universe with legions of angels at his command, humbled himself to wash the dirty, smelly feet of his creation. And a simple instruction that we should follow his example. Sounds simple. Looks easy. But it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do.
Because putting others first goes against our self-centered, human nature. It means tabling your entitlements. Accepting the seat of lower status. Not just swallowing your pride, but savoring the taste as you chew it.
By contributing to human flourishing you participate in an eternal reality you probably never considered. That while God could easily accomplish this himself, he chooses, instead, to do so through us. Therefore, your own troubles grow less pressing. A sense of gratitude increases. And a profound truth creates a new perspective. Because you are aligned with God’s eternal purpose. And there is no greater purpose than that.
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.
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