LIVING WITH PURPOSE

BY PASTOR TERRY TOWNSEND

WE ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL AND TO GIVE YOU SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING. THEN THE WAY YOU LIVE WILL ALWAYS HONOR AND PLEASE THE LORD, AND YOUR LIVES WILL PRODUCE EVERY KIND OF GOOD FRUIT.

COLOSSIANS 1:9-10 (NLT)

Living a life of purpose is a partnership. We begin with God’s part— what only He can do in us.

1. God fills us with a knowledge of His will.

He does this primarily through the Bible, which is God breathing Himself into our lives. Every time we read the Bible, it is a miracle because God speaks at the deepest level—His Spirit to ours. Far from merely reading about miracles that happened millennia ago, the very act of picking up the Bible, whether digital or printed, sets us up for a miracle.

2. God fills us with His Spirit, bringing wisdom and understanding.

God’s Holy Spirit comes into us at salvation and wants to fill every one of us until we overflow (what we call speaking or praying in tongues). This is a free gift received as we open ourselves to Him. Think of it as God the Father wants to give us more of Himself—the Holy Spirit.

Though saved, I grew up afraid of the Holy Spirit. If I allowed Him free reign, would I become a religious fanatic? Dealing with my skepticism was a huge obstacle to receiving all He had for me. When I was finally willing, God filled me with the Holy Spirit, and it was wonderful—nothing like I feared it would be! I felt something unlock deep inside me, a new boldness to overcome my fears and embrace God’s design for my life. It was so much better than I had imagined!

Today, we’re inundated with unlimited amounts of data: everything from TED Talks promising to make us smarter to YouTube videos helping klutzes like me change a car battery. But God wants to give us more than just information—He wants to empower us to live with purpose through His Spirit. He promises us wisdom to interpret all the data thrown at us and an understanding of how to put it together so that we can live boldly and effectively every day.

Only He can do these things, and He does them by the power of His Spirit.

Moving Forward

Are you holding back a part of your life from God because of fear? What would happen if you prayed: “God, I want all that you have for me”? Pray this, and let’s see!