When you live your life as an arrow, you focus on three core areas: Purpose, Power, and Presence.
We also said that a transformational relationship is based on four elements: Examination, Confession, Distinction, and finally — Decision
Today we are going to talk about three distinctions that’ll help you gain greater clarity on your Purpose. Distinctions are a key way to live as a new creation:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
To not copy, you need to know what the customs of this world are.
To live into your transformed way, you need to know this new way of thinking.
Here are some questions to help you get started:
- Have you ever wondered why you’ve made the choices you have made?
- Or how you have set the goals that you have?
- Have you ever looked at what are the rules, the do’s and don’t’s, the should's and cant’s, that might be secretly pulling the strings in your life?
If you haven't, then this first distinction is for you:
Fickle vs. Foundation
“Then we will no longer be immature like children.
We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.
We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever
they sound like the truth.”
Ephesians 4:14
There are plenty of lies which sound like the truth.
These lies try to shape who you aspire to become, what is your source of worth, how to spend your time and money.
They even try to define your very identity.
Whether these ideas were instilled during your childhood, or are the latest fad in yesterday's podcast, if they aren't based in the truth of the Gospel according to Christ, you’re on sinking sand.
So let's say you're really busy all the time, either filling each day with your hopes and dreams or burning out and exhausted just getting by.
Then this second distinction is for you:
Busy vs. Building
Do you sometimes find yourself busy all the time…
but have a sense that, in the end, you’re building nothing?
Instead, do you desire to build, in your own small, but personal way…
….something that will truly last?
It’s easy to mistaken being busy….
…with building something of substance.
In fact, it's our often very busyness that keeps us…
from really facing the hard questions we need to answer…
….to start building.
I faced this harsh reality while reading these words from the prophet Haggai to the people of Israel:
You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6)
Haggai confronts the people with misplacing their energies on their own house….
….when they should have been building the Lord’s house.
Driven vs Drawn
The next distinction is very similar: are you Driven or are you Drawn?
It's a subtle but important difference.
There’s a great battle scene where Saul has been given specific instructions by Samuel.
But then things start going badly.
He panics.
And then he takes matters into his own hands.
When Samuel finds out, he chastises Saul:
You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.
Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
But now your kingdom must end. (1 Samuel 13:13-14)
Saul was focused on building the right things.
But in a moment of stress and fear…
…he let his own will go against God’s instruction.
He operated out of his drive.
In contrast, Samuel as a child literally was drawn out…
…by the call of God’s voice in the night.
And Samuel followed.
Where does your drive end, and your calling begin?
The amazing thing about your life is, unlike an arrow, where the aim you have is one shot and that's it,
right now you can adjust and course correct.
The beauty of being in a mentorship is learning what shots not to take.
The best shot for you…
…is the shot you don’t take because you learned from someone else who took that missed.
So if learning how to lean into your Purpose is appealing to you….
…. then sign up to become a part of a mentorship.
In the next videos….
We’ll look at how to live with greater Power and Peace.
So sign up today.