“drive (v): to guide, control, or to direct” — what drives you?

Day 3: What Drives Your Life?

Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace.
~ I think that these little points to ponder are oversimplified, when taking what the chapter truly offers into account. That being said, though I agree that living on purpose is the path to peace, I will share a bit more.

Warren prompts the question “What drives you?” and invites the reader to question our true motivations. Particularly, he discusses the five most common “drives”: guilt, resentment/anger, fear, materialism, and the need for approval.

I thought that the wisdom he offered surrounding each one was pretty neat. Particularly, the discussion on guilt. He writes, “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” I think that all too often, we (myself included) stress too much over things that have happened in the past. We let these regrets and sources of past issues blind us to new opportunities. This is detrimental because we are failing to live in the present, and we are worrying about things that are done with – we have no control over them. I do this with particular events in my life without even realizing it. But gaining the awareness is key; knowing when these types of thoughts creep in is the first step to stopping them from interrupting – and thus, “driving” – your life.

His section about many people being driven by the need for approval is quite interesting as well. He makes a power statement that reads: “Nothing matters more than knowing God’s purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them.” This is harsh yet true! While other things can be satisfied by many sources, God’s role in your life is irreplacable! I know that I need to treat it like that more often!

Warren also goes on to say that there are many benefits to purpose-driven living.
Some of them include (but definitely aren’t limited to):
– knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life (why am I here?)
– knowing your purpose simplifies your life (what can I eliminate that I don’t need?)
– knowing your purpose focuses your life (you become effective by being selective!)
– knowing your purpose motivates your life (purpose produces passion)
– knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity (what God thinks is what matters)

These points were all so important to me that I felt it necessary to share them, even though they strayed from the “point to ponder.”

Verse to Remember: “You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in You.” – Isaiah 26:3
~ I think that this is the most peaceful statement I could hear for the night. This year is all about going out on a limb – giving of myself and my time when I really have NO idea what I am doing. But in an odd way, it is gloriously relaxing to know that I have put my trust in God and He is in control of what happens. Even as I prepare to meet the kids I will be working with all year TOMORROW, I am at peace knowing that God is in control.

Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?
~ Well gee, I guess I’ll leave that to my friends and family who read this to say what they think the driving force of my life is. (But just to satisfy your curiousity, I hope that people see that the driving force of my life is to help & love people – in whatever way God leads me to at the time.)

Friends and family out there, what do you think?