POWERFUL ME: LIVING WITH GREATER MEANING AS A MAGNIFICENT WOMAN OF GOD That title conjures up images of CEOs, political leaders, wealthy philanthropists, and celebrities. We think of those who have a broad global impact through corporate leadership, medicine, entertainment, and legislative changes as the truly “powerful women” of today. But just as those women have an important role to play in the world with their “power,” God has empowered you with a unique set of gifts and skills to be used to make a difference in the lives of others. Living a life that is laser-focused on what God wants you to do gives you the power you need to change lives—from one to one million—and to create a rich legacy that honors Him. As a woman in midlife, you have no doubt influenced many lives as you have tried to be “manager of the universe” all these years. From your children to your community, you have been busy taking care of others so that they might be healthy, happy, and well-nourished. But then you reach midlife and you begin desiring something more—you want a “do over!” Life after 40 may include the empty nest, career burnout, or finding yourself “suddenly single” after a marriage that went flat. You feel empty, alone, and powerless, wanting to live with purpose as you make a positive impact in the world. How do you know with certainty what that purpose is? How do you find the joy that He wants you to experience by following His plan for your life if you aren’t even sure what that plan is? God has given each of us unique gifts to serve Him. A paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 12 says
“Each person is given something to do that shows who God is…The variety is wonderful!” Yes, when God created you, He very carefully selected just the right blend of spiritual gifts, skills, personality traits and physical attributes for the role He has planned for you. Ephesians 4:10 says “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ESV I especially like the translation found in The Message: “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Discovering your Divine Life Purpose brings an excitement and passion to your life that is abundant and fulfilling. Living on purpose helps you: 1. Know with clarity where God wants you to go as you live in tune with the purpose He has created you to fulfill; 2. Set goals for yourself that make you stretch and grow, casting aside your own selfimposed limitations because you know God has things planned for you that are beyond your wildest dreams; 3. Live with confidence, knowing that He has equipped you to do specific things (not every thing!) and He will take care of you, even when you stray from the path He has laid out for you. Living in alignment with your Divine Life Purpose means celebrating who you are as God created you, and then to be loud and proud about it! 2 Timothy 1:7 says: “God doesn’t want 46