The Satisfying Life

“Those . . called according to (God’s) purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

“Purpose combines the fullest measure of personal satisfaction with the highest level of success.”

My thoughts today are about “the satisfying life.”

At some point, everyone must choose a direction for their life. The direction itself is not so much the real question, as is how and why you chose that direction. Ultimately, the most satisfying life is not of your own making; it is the product of a true, inner sense of purpose and meaning, committing to something much bigger and far reaching than yourself – something beyond your own desires and plans – the calling and will of God for your life. If you are occupied primarily with charting your own satisfying happiness without God at its center, you will fall short of your goal.

The choices affecting the direction of one’s life are usually decided by what you perceive your destination to be, but won’t your efforts be misdirected if the destination you desire is less worthy than it could have been? Allow me an oversimplification, but a necessary one – if God’s will and purpose are not your first and foremost consideration, anything else will likely be a wrong direction that leads eventually to an inadequate, unsatisfying objective. You can successfully get what you went after in life and still find that’s not what you thought it would be. Too many people settle for a life too small; don’t be one of those.

Jesus set a very high, but authentic standard with these words, “I always do those things that are pleasing to (the Father) . . I brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.” John 8:29 NLT/17:4 NIV. To the degree you will govern your life with those goals, you will achieve the highest level of true success with the fullest measure of personal satisfaction. Read Psalm 16:11 NIV/1 Thessalonians 4:1 NIV. You can choose your destination; only God can set your destiny.

When I have spoken with groups of young collegians, I often ask these life-questions: “When you get where you’re going, where will you be? When you’ve done it your way, what will the results be? When you get what you want, what will you have?” Before you do the hard work to set a clear goal for your life and spend an irreplaceable lifetime achieving it, be sure it is the right goal – a life lived “according to God’s purpose,” fulfilling His calling and assignment. See 2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT.

“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.” (William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar). The purpose of God, to which you are called, is such “a tide in the affairs of men.” Don’t live life in the shallows!

Ultimate success is not found in the hollow applause or elusive approval of others, but rather in your hearing God say when you stand before Him, “Well done, good and faithful servant . . come and share your Master’s happiness.” Matthew 25:21 NIV.

My prayer for you today is that you choose the path He has chosen for you.