Day 3: What drives your life?

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
More and more people telling me that they've read this book, or are reading this book. Some already nearly finish this book. I feel so encouraged. I feel so motivated. Thank you everyone. Yea, Taci, I know you're a girl now. Anyway, you can always leave comments in the comment box =)

Ha ha, I had fun using translator to communicate with you =)

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Day 3: What drives your life?

Well, there are lots of source that drives your life. Rick Warren listed 5 most common "sources" that drive most people's life, and guess what, I hit 4 out of 5 of them:

1. Many people are driven by guilt. Yes, My first jackpot. I always felt guilty and regret over my broken relationship. I felt so sorry to her as I've done so much damages to both of us. As the result, the problem dragged me on, sabotaging my success... How much tears I've shed for this first love? I don't know, but definitely more than one liter of tears. Thinking back again, it was really such a dreadful moment. I highlighted a sentence in the book which I found it interesting:

We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

God's purpose doesn't limited by our past. He turned Paul into a great apostle. He turned Moses the murderer into a leader. What will He turn you to be?

2. Many people are driven by resentment and anger. I bingo-ed again. There are some people that I hate, whether the hatred is small or big. And most the offenders have lived their own lives, ignoring my anger, or do they even know I'm angry at them at all. But here I was taught to not to be perpetuated *I hope I used this new word correctly* by my past.

Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is past! Nothing will change it.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
Job 5:2

3. Many people are driven by fear. You caught me in again! My biggest fear is to take the first step. I worried the consequences, and they often turn more to be an excuse for me to take move myself. This book for example, if not because of Jia Jin and Stephanie as company, I won't even dare to start to read it. Venture out! I was told. Step out from your comfort zone. Don't be afraid, just equip yourself with strong faith and love. Move against it!

4. Many people are driven by materialism. No, finally, not me! Ha ha. Anyway, a lot people takes earthly legacies as their goal of life. You want to be a best badminton player in my class, then in my batch, then in my school, then in my division, then in my state, then in my country, then on the earth, then on this solar system, then the whole universe, then... Punkt Punkt Punkt * Means dot dot dot, in German*. In the end, you will never satisfy. God says that the most valuable things in life is not things.

5. Many people are driven by the need of approval. Yes, *hands up in the air* me again! I always think that if you really think of it, you can solve a problem and please everyone. But no, it's impossible. To please everyone is one of the keys to failure. I highlighted this sentence again:

Being controlled by opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God's purpose for your life.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Without a purpose, life is a motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

And I was given 5 great benefits of living a purpose-driven life:

1. Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. God has his plans and purposes in us:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hopes and a future"
Jeremiah 29:11

Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance nor hope.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Still need anymore explaination to this?

2. Knowing your purpose simplifies your life. When you doing something, just ask yourself; or if you can't find the answer, just ask God: "Does this activity help me fulfill one of the God's purposes for my life?" Not knowing your purpose, you'll pick up everything that is available for you to do. You're given enough time to do what God wants you to do. And if you couldn't finish things that you're doing, you might want to check back your pace again, whether you're doing more than what God intended you to do. Ok fine, for people like me, I think I couldn't finish something is because I wasted too much time on internet and DotA. Ok, that's out of topic. Anyway, it was written:

You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

3. Knowing your purpose focuses your life. Becoming effective by being selective. Without clear purpose, you will often change careers, girl/boy-friends, churches... with the hope that one day you will settle down. "It will not be the same this time," you tell yourself. But hey! Things will never change unless you realise your purpose! You need to identify your problem - you lack of focus and purpose. In Bible it was written:

Therefore do not be foolish, understands what the LORD's will is.
Ephesians 5:17

Again, if you want to know His will for you, ask! Then focus on it! Trim away even good activities and only do that which matters most.

4. Knowing your purpose motivates your life. Purpose produces passion. Therefore, it's necessary to know your purpose so that you can live a life you want, not a hectic one.

5. Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity. Don't waste your time on earthly heritage - they will gone eventually. What ultimately matters the most is not what others says about your life, but what God says.

You weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Before you enter eternity, you need to sit for an exam, hosted by God. We do not know exactly what will He ask, but in Bible it tells us that 2 crucial questions will surely come out in the exam:

1. "What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?"
Did you accepted him for what he had done for us - to die for us on the cross? And did we learn to love and trust him? Don't forget this verse:

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

2. "What did you do with what I gave you?"
The what here refers to talents, skills, opportunities, resources etc that God has blessed us. Did we fully used them to glorify His name? Did you use them to fulfill His purpose in your life?

The first question will determine where you spend your eternity. The second question will determine what you will do in eternity.

*Digesting... what a meaningful chapter..*



Vincent *yawning at 2am GMT +1*