The Purpose Driven Life Part 1

The PurposeDriven Life.

by Rick Warren.

This is more than a book; it is a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey 40-day spiritual journey that will enable you to discover the answer to life's most important question: What on earth am I here for? By the end of this journey you will know G.o.d's purpose for your life and will understand the big picture-how all the pieces of your life fit together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity. that will enable you to discover the answer to life's most important question: What on earth am I here for? By the end of this journey you will know G.o.d's purpose for your life and will understand the big picture-how all the pieces of your life fit together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity.

YOUR NEXT 40 DAYS.

Today the average life span is 25,550 days. That's how long you will live if you are typical. Don't you think it would be a wise use of time to set aside 40 of those days to figure out what G.o.d wants you to do with the rest of them?

The Bible is clear that G.o.d considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period. Whenever G.o.d wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days: * Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain. Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain.* Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai. Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai.* The spies were transformed by 40 days in the Promised Land. The spies were transformed by 40 days in the Promised Land.* David was transformed by Goliath's 40-day challenge. David was transformed by Goliath's 40-day challenge.* Elijah was transformed when G.o.d gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal. Elijah was transformed when G.o.d gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal.* The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when G.o.d gave the people 40 days to change. The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when G.o.d gave the people 40 days to change.* Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness. Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness.* The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection. The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.The next 40 days will transform your your life. life.

This book is divided into 40 brief chapters. I strongly urge you to read only one chapter a day, so you read only one chapter a day, so you will have time to will have time to think about think about the implications for your life. The Bible says, the implications for your life. The Bible says, "Let G.o.d transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what G.o.d wants you to do." "Let G.o.d transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what G.o.d wants you to do."

One reason most books don't transform us is that we are so eager to read the next chapter, we don't pause and take the time to seriously consider what we have just read. We rush to the next truth without reflecting on what we have learned.

Don't just read read this book. this book. Interact with it. Interact with it. Underline it. Write your own thoughts in the margins. Make it Underline it. Write your own thoughts in the margins. Make it your your book. Personalize it! The books that have helped me most are the ones that I reacted to, not just read. book. Personalize it! The books that have helped me most are the ones that I reacted to, not just read.

FOUR FEATURES TO HELP YOU.

At the end of each chapter is a section called "Thinking about My Purpose." There you will find:* A Point to Ponder. A Point to Ponder. This is a nugget of truth that summarizes a principle of purpose-driven living that you can reflect on throughout your day. Paul told Timothy, This is a nugget of truth that summarizes a principle of purpose-driven living that you can reflect on throughout your day. Paul told Timothy, "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."* A Verse to Remember. A Verse to Remember. This is a Bible verse that teaches a truth from that chapter. If you really want to improve your life, memorizing Scripture may be the most important habit you can begin. You can either copy these verses onto small cards to carry with you, or purchase This is a Bible verse that teaches a truth from that chapter. If you really want to improve your life, memorizing Scripture may be the most important habit you can begin. You can either copy these verses onto small cards to carry with you, or purchase a Purpose-Driven Life Scripture Keeper Plus. a Purpose-Driven Life Scripture Keeper Plus.* A Question to Consider. A Question to Consider. These questions will help you think about the implications of what you have read and how it applies to you personally. Let me encourage you to write your answers in the margin of this book or in a notebook, or obtain a copy of These questions will help you think about the implications of what you have read and how it applies to you personally. Let me encourage you to write your answers in the margin of this book or in a notebook, or obtain a copy of The Purpose-Driven Life journal, a The Purpose-Driven Life journal, a companion book designed for this purpose. Writing down your thoughts is the best way to clarify them. companion book designed for this purpose. Writing down your thoughts is the best way to clarify them.In appendix 1 you will find:* Discussion Questions. Discussion Questions. I strongly urge you to get one or more friends to join you in reading this book during the next 40 days. A journey is always better when it I strongly urge you to get one or more friends to join you in reading this book during the next 40 days. A journey is always better when it is shared. is shared. With a partner or a small reading group you can discuss what you read and bounce ideas off each other. This will help you grow stronger and deeper spiritually. Real spiritual growth is With a partner or a small reading group you can discuss what you read and bounce ideas off each other. This will help you grow stronger and deeper spiritually. Real spiritual growth is never never an isolated, individualistic pursuit. Maturity is produced through relations.h.i.+ps and community. an isolated, individualistic pursuit. Maturity is produced through relations.h.i.+ps and community.

The best way to explain G.o.d's purpose for your life is to allow the Scripture to speak for itself, so in this book the Bible is quoted extensively, using over a thousand different verses from fifteen English translations and paraphrases. I have varied the versions used for several important reasons, which I explain in appendix 3.

I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU.

As I wrote this book, I often prayed that you would experience the incredible sense of hope, energy, and joy that comes from discovering what G.o.d put you on this planet to do. There's nothing quite like it. I am excited because I know all the great things that are going to happen to you. They happened to me, and I have never been the same since I discovered the purpose of my life.

Because I know the benefits, I want to challenge you to stick with this spiritual journey for the next 40 days, not missing a single daily reading. Your life is worth taking the time to think about it. Make it a daily appointment on your schedule. If you will commit to this, let's sign a covenant together. There is something significant about signing your name to a commitment. If you get a partner to read through this with you, have him or her sign it, too. Let's get started together!

[image]WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a G.o.d-shaped life is a flouris.h.i.+ng tree. Proverbs 11:28 (Msg) Proverbs 11:28 (Msg) Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.... They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit. Jeremiah Jeremiah 17:7-8 17:7-8 (NLT) (NLT)

1.

It All Starts with G.o.d For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,. . . everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. Colossians 1:16 (Msg) Colossians 1:16 (Msg) Unless you a.s.sume a G.o.d, the question of life's purpose is meaningless. Unless you a.s.sume a G.o.d, the question of life's purpose is meaningless. Bertrand Russell, atheist Bertrand Russell, atheist.i.t's not about you.

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with G.o.d. You were born by by his purpose and his purpose and for for his purpose. his purpose.

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That's because we typically begin at the wrong starting point-ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I I want to be? What should want to be? What should I I do with do with my my life? What are life? What are my my goals, goals, my my ambitions, ambitions, my my dreams for dreams for my my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. The Bible says, future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. The Bible says, "It is G.o.d who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone's life is in his power" "It is G.o.d who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone's life is in his power"

Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won't discover your life's meaning by looking within yourself. You've probably tried that already. You didn't create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for! If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn't know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn't be able to tell you either. Only the creator or the owner's manual could reveal its purpose.

I once got lost in the mountains. When I stopped to ask for directions to the campsite, I was told, "You can't get there from here. You "You can't get there from here. You must start from the other side of the mountain!" In the same way, you cannot arrive at your life's purpose by starting with a focus on yourself. You must begin with G.o.d, your Creator. You exist only because G.o.d wills that you exist. You were made must start from the other side of the mountain!" In the same way, you cannot arrive at your life's purpose by starting with a focus on yourself. You must begin with G.o.d, your Creator. You exist only because G.o.d wills that you exist. You were made by by G.o.d and G.o.d and for for G.o.d-and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in G.o.d that we discover our origin, our ident.i.ty, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end. G.o.d-and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in G.o.d that we discover our origin, our ident.i.ty, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.

Many people try to use G.o.d for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of nature and is doomed to failure. You were made for G.o.d, not vice versa, and life is about letting G.o.d use you for his for his purposes, not your using him for your own purpose. The Bible says, purposes, not your using him for your own purpose. The Bible says, "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to G.o.d leads us out into the open, into a s.p.a.cious, free life.' "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to G.o.d leads us out into the open, into a s.p.a.cious, free life.'2 I have read many books that suggest ways to discover the purpose of my life. All of them could be cla.s.sified as "self-help" books because they approach the subject from a self-centered viewpoint. Self-help books, even Christian ones, usually offer the same predictable steps to finding your life's purpose: Consider your dreams. Clarify your values. Set some goals. Figure out what you are good at. Aim high. Go for it! Be disciplined. Believe you can achieve your goals. Involve others. Never give up.

Of course, these recommendations often lead to great success. You can usually succeed in reaching a goal if you put your mind to it. But being successful and fulfilling your life's purpose are not at all not at all the same issue! You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world's standard, and the same issue! You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world's standard, and still still miss the purposes for which G.o.d created you. You need more than self-help advice. The Bible says, miss the purposes for which G.o.d created you. You need more than self-help advice. The Bible says, "Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self." "Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self."

This is not a self-help book. It is not about finding the right career, achieving your dreams, or planning your life. It is not about how to cram more activities into an overloaded schedule. Actually, it will teach you how to do less less in life-by focusing on what matters most. It is about becoming what in life-by focusing on what matters most. It is about becoming what G.o.d G.o.d created you to be. created you to be.

How, then, do you discover the purpose you were created for? You have only two options. Your first option is speculation. is speculation. This is what most people choose. They conjecture, they guess, they theorize. When people say, "I've always thought life is . . . ," they mean, "This is the best guess I can come up with." This is what most people choose. They conjecture, they guess, they theorize. When people say, "I've always thought life is . . . ," they mean, "This is the best guess I can come up with."

For thousands of years, brilliant philosophers have discussed and speculated about the meaning of life. Philosophy is an important subject and has its uses, but when it comes to determining the purpose of life, even the wisest philosophers are just guessing.

Dr. Hugh Moorhead, a philosophy professor at Northeastern Illinois University, once wrote to 250 of the best-known philosophers, scientists, writers, and intellectuals in the world, asking them, "What is the meaning of life?" He then published their responses in a book. Some offered their best guesses, some admitted that they just made up a purpose for life, and others were honest enough to say they were clueless. In fact, a number of famous intellectuals asked Professor Moorhead to write back and tell them if he discovered the purpose of life!

Fortunately, there is an alternative to speculation about the meaning and purpose of life. It's revelation. revelation. We can turn to what G.o.d has revealed about life in his Word. The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life's purpose: Ask G.o.d. We can turn to what G.o.d has revealed about life in his Word. The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life's purpose: Ask G.o.d.

G.o.d has not left us in the dark to wonder and guess. He has clearly revealed his five purposes for our lives through the Bible. It is our Owner's Manual, explaining why we are alive, how life works, what to avoid, and what to expect in the future. It explains what no self-help or philosophy book could know. The Bible says, "G.o.d's wisdom ... goes deep into the interior of his purposes.... It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest-what "G.o.d's wisdom ... goes deep into the interior of his purposes.... It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest-what G.o.d determined as the way to bring out his best in us." G.o.d is not just the starting point of your life; he is the G.o.d is not just the starting point of your life; he is the source source of it. To discover your purpose in life you must turn to G.o.d's Word, not the world's wisdom. of it. To discover your purpose in life you must turn to G.o.d's Word, not the world's wisdom.

You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop psychology, success-motivation, or inspirational stories. The Bible says, "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." This verse gives us three insights into your purpose. This verse gives us three insights into your purpose.

1.You discover your ident.i.ty and purpose through a relations.h.i.+p with Jesus Christ. If you don't have such a relations.h.i.+p, I will later explain how to begin one. You discover your ident.i.ty and purpose through a relations.h.i.+p with Jesus Christ. If you don't have such a relations.h.i.+p, I will later explain how to begin one.2.G.o.d was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, G.o.d was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input! You without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don't get to choose your purpose. may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don't get to choose your purpose.3.The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that G.o.d has designed for eternity. That's what this book is about. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that G.o.d has designed for eternity. That's what this book is about.Andrei Bitov, a Russian novelist, grew up under an atheistic Communist regime. But G.o.d got his attention one dreary day. He recalls, "In my twenty-seventh year, while riding the metro in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) I was overcome with a despair so great that life seemed to stop at once, preempting the future entirely, let alone any meaning. Suddenly, all by itself, a phrase appeared: Without G.o.d life makes no sense. Without G.o.d life makes no sense. Repeating it in astonishment, I rode the phrase up like a moving staircase, got out of the metro and walked into G.o.d's light." Repeating it in astonishment, I rode the phrase up like a moving staircase, got out of the metro and walked into G.o.d's light."You may have felt in the dark about your your purpose in life. Congratulations, you're about to walk into the light. purpose in life. Congratulations, you're about to walk into the light.DAY ONE THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSEPoint to Ponder: It's not about me. It's not about me.Verse to Remember: "Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him." "Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him." Colossians 1: 16b (Msg) Colossians 1: 16b (Msg)Question to Consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for G.o.d, not myself? In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for G.o.d, not myself?

2You Are Not an Accident

I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Isaiah 44:2a Isaiah 44:2a (CEV) (CEV)G.o.d doesn't play dice. Albert Einstein Albert EinsteinYou are not an accident.

Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but G.o.d did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, he expected it.

Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of G.o.d. He thought of you first. It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor coincidence that you are breathing at this very moment. You are alive because G.o.d wanted to create you! The Bible says, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me." "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me."

G.o.d prescribed every single detail of your body. He deliberately chose your race, the color of your skin, your hair, and every other feature. He custom-made your body just the way he wanted it. He also determined the natural talents you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality. The Bible says, "You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You "You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You

know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something."

Because G.o.d made you for a reason, he also decided when you when you would be born and would be born and how long you how long you would live. He planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and death. The Bible says, would live. He planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and death. The Bible says, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book! "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!

G.o.d also planned where where you'd be born and where you'd live for his purpose. Your race and nationality are no accident. G.o.d left no detail to chance. He planned it all for you'd be born and where you'd live for his purpose. Your race and nationality are no accident. G.o.d left no detail to chance. He planned it all for his his purpose. The Bible says, purpose. The Bible says, "From one man he made every nation,... and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. " "From one man he made every nation,... and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. "4Nothing in your life is arbitrary. It's all for a purpose.

Most amazing, G.o.d decided how you how you would be born. Regardless of the circ.u.mstances of your birth or who your parents are, G.o.d had a plan in creating you. It doesn't matter whether your parents were good, bad, or indifferent. G.o.d knew that those two individuals possessed would be born. Regardless of the circ.u.mstances of your birth or who your parents are, G.o.d had a plan in creating you. It doesn't matter whether your parents were good, bad, or indifferent. G.o.d knew that those two individuals possessed exactly exactly the right genetic makeup to create the custom "you" he had in mind. They had the DNA G.o.d wanted to make you. the right genetic makeup to create the custom "you" he had in mind. They had the DNA G.o.d wanted to make you.

While there are illegitimate parents, there are no illegitimate children. Many children are unplanned by their parents, but they are not unplanned by G.o.d. G.o.d's purpose took into account human error, and even sin.

G.o.d never does anything accidentally, and he never makes mistakes. He has a reason for everything he creates. Every plant and every animal was planned by G.o.d, and every person was designed with a purpose in mind.

Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of G.o.d.

G.o.d's motive for creating you was his love. The Bible says, "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love." "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love."

G.o.d was thinking of you even before before he made the world. In fact, that's why he created it! G.o.d designed this planet's environment just so we could live in it. We are the focus of his love and the most valuable of all his creation. The Bible says, he made the world. In fact, that's why he created it! G.o.d designed this planet's environment just so we could live in it. We are the focus of his love and the most valuable of all his creation. The Bible says, "G.o.d decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made." "G.o.d decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made." This is how much G.o.d loves and values you! This is how much G.o.d loves and values you!

G.o.d is not haphazard; he planned it all with great precision. The more physicists, biologists, and other scientists learn about the universe, the better we understand how it is uniquely suited for our existence, custom-made with the exact exact specifications that make human life possible. specifications that make human life possible.

Dr. Michael Denton, senior research fellow in human molecular genetics at the University of Otago in New Zealand, has concluded, "All the evidence available in the biological sciences supports the core proposition ... that the cosmos is a specially designed whole with life and mankind as its fundamental goal and purpose, a whole in which all facets of reality have their meaning and explanation in this central fact."7 The Bible said the same thing thousands of years earlier: The Bible said the same thing thousands of years earlier: "G.o.d formed the earth.... He did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited." "G.o.d formed the earth.... He did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited."

Why did G.o.d do all this? Why did he bother to go to all the trouble of creating a universe for us? Because he is a G.o.d of love. This kind of love is difficult to fathom, but it's fundamentally reliable. You were created as a special object of G.o.d's love! G.o.d made you so he could love you. This is a truth to build your life on.

The Bible tells us, "G.o.dis love." "G.o.dis love." It doesn't say G.o.d It doesn't say G.o.d has has love. He love. He is is love! Love is the essence of G.o.d's character. There is perfect love in the fellows.h.i.+p of the Trinity, so G.o.d didn't love! Love is the essence of G.o.d's character. There is perfect love in the fellows.h.i.+p of the Trinity, so G.o.d didn't need need to create you. He wasn't lonely. But he wanted to make you in order to express his love. G.o.d says, to create you. He wasn't lonely. But he wanted to make you in order to express his love. G.o.d says, "I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you." "I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you."

If there was no G.o.d, we would all be "accidents," the result of astronomical random chance in the universe. You could stop reading this book, because life would have no purpose or meaning or significance. There would be no right or wrong, and no hope beyond your brief years here on earth.

But there is a G.o.d who made you for a reason, and your life has profound meaning! We discover that meaning and purpose only only when we make G.o.d the reference point of our lives. The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:3 says, when we make G.o.d the reference point of our lives. The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:3 says, "The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what G.o.d is and by what he does for us." "The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what G.o.d is and by what he does for us."

This poem by Russell Kelfer sums it up:You are who you are for a reason. You're part of an intricate plan. You're a precious and perfect unique design, Called G.o.d's special woman or man.

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You look like you look for a reason. Our G.o.d made no mistake. He knit you together within the womb, You're just just what he wanted to make. what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose, And no matter how you may feel, They were custom-designed with G.o.d's plan in mind, And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy. And G.o.d wept that it hurt you so; But it was allowed to shape your heart So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,

You've been formed by the Master's rod. You are who you are, beloved, Because there is a G.o.d!"

DAY TWO THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSEPoint to Ponder: I am not an accident. I am not an accident.Verse to Remember: "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born."Isaiah 44:2 (CEV) (CEV)Question to Consider: I know that G.o.d uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept? I know that G.o.d uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?

3.

What Drives Your Life?I observed that the basic motive for success is the driving force of envy and jealousy! Ecclesiastes 4:4 (LB) Ecclesiastes 4:4 (LB)The man without a purpose is like a s.h.i.+p without a rudder-a waif, a nothing, a no man. Thomas Carlyle Thomas CarlyleEveryone's life is driven by something.

Most dictionaries define the verb drive drive as "to guide, to control, or to direct." Whether you are driving a car, a nail, or a golf ball, you are guiding, controlling, and directing it at that moment. What is the driving force in your life? as "to guide, to control, or to direct." Whether you are driving a car, a nail, or a golf ball, you are guiding, controlling, and directing it at that moment. What is the driving force in your life?

Right now you may be driven by a problem, a pressure, or a deadline. You may be driven by a painful memory, a haunting fear, or an unconscious belief. There are hundreds of circ.u.mstances, values, and emotions that can drive your life. Here are five of the most common ones: Many people are driven by by guilt. guilt. They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. They often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging their own success. When Cain sinned, his guilt disconnected him from G.o.d's presence, and G.o.d said, They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. They often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging their own success. When Cain sinned, his guilt disconnected him from G.o.d's presence, and G.o.d said, "You will be a restless wanderer on the earth" "You will be a restless wanderer on the earth" That describes most people today-wandering through life without a purpose. That describes most people today-wandering through life without a purpose.

We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. G.o.d's purpose is not limited by your past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero, and he can do amazing things with the rest of your life, too. G.o.d specializes in giving people a fresh start. The Bible says, "What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! ... What relief for those who have confessed their sins and G.o.d has cleared their record." "What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! ... What relief for those who have confessed their sins and G.o.d has cleared their record."

Many people are driven by by resentment and anger. resentment and anger. They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehea.r.s.e it over and over in their minds. Some resentment-driven people They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehea.r.s.e it over and over in their minds. Some resentment-driven people "clam up" "clam up" and internalize their anger, while others and internalize their anger, while others "blow up" "blow up" and explode it onto others. Both responses are unhealthy and unhelpful. and explode it onto others. Both responses are unhealthy and unhelpful.

Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you resent. While your offender has probably forgotten the offense and gone on with life, you continue to stew in your pain, perpetuating the past.

Listen: Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is past! Nothing will change it. You are only hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake, learn from it, and then let it go. The Bible says, you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is past! Nothing will change it. You are only hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake, learn from it, and then let it go. The Bible says, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do." "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do."

Many people are driven by by fear. fear. Their fears may be a result of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectations, growing up in a high-control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they're afraid to venture out. Instead they play it safe, avoiding risks and trying to maintain the status quo. Their fears may be a result of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectations, growing up in a high-control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they're afraid to venture out. Instead they play it safe, avoiding risks and trying to maintain the status quo.

Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what G.o.d intends for you to be. You must must move against it with the weapons of faith and love. The Bible says, move against it with the weapons of faith and love. The Bible says, "Well formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life fear of death, fear ofjudgment-is one not yet fully formed in love. " "Well formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life fear of death, fear ofjudgment-is one not yet fully formed in love. "

Many people are driven by by materialism. materialism. Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. This drive to always want more is based on the misconceptions that having more will make me more happy, more important, and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. This drive to always want more is based on the misconceptions that having more will make me more happy, more important, and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide temporary temporary happiness. Because things do not change, we eventually become bored with them and then want newer, bigger, better versions. happiness. Because things do not change, we eventually become bored with them and then want newer, bigger, better versions.

It's also a myth that if I get more, I will be more important. Self-worth and net worth are not the same. Your value is not determined by your valuables, and G.o.d says the most valuable things things in life are not things! in life are not things!

The most common myth about money is that having more will make me more secure. It won't. Wealth can be lost instantly through a variety of uncontrollable factors. Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you-your relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d.

Many people are driven by the need for approval. They allow the expectations of parents or spouses or children or teachers or friends to control their lives. Many adults are still trying to earn the approval of unpleasable parents. Others are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. They allow the expectations of parents or spouses or children or teachers or friends to control their lives. Many adults are still trying to earn the approval of unpleasable parents. Others are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.

I don't know all the keys to success, but one key to failure is to try to please everyone. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss G.o.d's purposes for your life. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters." "No one can serve two masters."

There are other forces that can drive your life but all lead to the same dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life.

This forty-day journey will show you how to live a purpose driven a purpose driven life-a life guided, controlled, and directed by G.o.d's purposes. Nothing matters more than knowing G.o.d's purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them-not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless. life-a life guided, controlled, and directed by G.o.d's purposes. Nothing matters more than knowing G.o.d's purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them-not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless.

Nothing matters more than knowing G.o.d's purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them.

THE BENEFITS OF PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIVING There are five great benefits of living a purpose-driven life: Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. We were made to have meaning. This is why people try dubious methods, like astrology or psychics, to discover it. When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable. life. We were made to have meaning. This is why people try dubious methods, like astrology or psychics, to discover it. When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.

A young man in his twenties wrote, "I feel like a failure because I'm struggling to become something, and I don't even know what it is. All I know how to do is to get by. Someday, if I discover my purpose, I'll feel I'm beginning to live."

Without G.o.d, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. In the Bible, many different people expressed this hopelessness. Isaiah complained, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in pain and for nothing." "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in pain and for nothing." Job said, Job said, "My life drags by-day after hopeless day" "My life drags by-day after hopeless day" and and "I give up; I am tired of living. Leave me alone. My life makes no sense." "I give up; I am tired of living. Leave me alone. My life makes no sense." The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose. The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.