The Purpose Driven Life

The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder a waif, a nothing, a no man. Thomas Carlyle

1. We are the products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. God's purpose is not limited by our past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero, and believe Him that He can do amazing things with the rest of your life, too.

2. Resentment always hurts us more than it does the person we resent. Remember that those who have hurt us in the past cannot continue to hurt us now unless we hold on to the pain through resentment. Let go.

3. Fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they are afraid to venture out and take risks. They choose to remain the status quo, which means a stagnant life.We must move against all kinds of fears with the weapon of faith and love.

4. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. God says the most valuable things in life are not things. A relationship with God is one thing no one can ever take from us.

5. Those who follow the crowds are drowned. Nothings matters more than knowing God's purposes for our life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them. No one will know the keys to success, but one key to failure is to please everyone. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters."

6. Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.

7. It is impossible to do everything people want us to do. We have just enough time to do God's will.

8. The power of focusing can be seen in light. Diffused light has little power or impact, but we can concentrate its energy by focusing it. Paul almost single-handedly spread Christianity throughout Roman Empire. His secret of success was a focused life. He said, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

9. We were not put on earth to be remembered. We were put here to prepare for eternity. Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal. A wiser use of time is to build an eternal legacy.

10. Remember one day we will stand before God, and he will do an audit of our life, a final exam, before we enter eternity. Bear in mind that He is the best surveyor and auditor in the world. He can measure with 101% accuracy and precision. We will have to give a personal account to God. A statement of life flows, there won't be any adjustment at the end of judgment period. What done is done.

Source: Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren