This chapter talks about what drives you (obviously). It gives some examples people are driven by is a problem, pressure, or a dead line. Also some people can be driven by a painful memory, a haunting fear, or an unconscious belief.
I think it's really interesting reading this and thinking of what drives me. Is it fear? Is it something that I'm unconscious about? It really makes me start to wonder what makes me thrive to do something. I honestly never really thought of it before!
I like how this chapter said "God's purpose is not limited by your past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero.." It goes to show that your past doesn't dictate who you are. One thing that I tell people a lot is "when someone tries to remind you about your past, just laugh at them and remind them of your future."
This chapter also said something that will probably stick with me for a long while. "Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. That is so freakin' true! How much pain to I harbor from my past. One thing that I hurt from the most is people peacing out on me when times get rough. Casey, someone whom I looked up to very much as a big brother (although he is no relation to me) and as a mentor, just up and walked out of my life when I needed a him most. He thought that I wasn't real with him, when I was. I was actually the realist with him then I was with a lot of people in my life. I trusted him so much. I still hurt from the memory of him leaving me. It's been probably more than 2 years now, but the wound is still fresh. I've tried getting back in touch with him, but he won't return my calls or texts. I think that's one thing that has probably hurt me the most is people walking off on me, Especially Casey, but I let it hurt me still 'cause I wont let go of it. I'm afraid to... or maybe I just don't know how.
I really haven't heard a good quote that stuck with me, but in this I read that "those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it." I think that will be one of my motto's for a while!
But yeah, reading the part about the benefits of having a purpose-driven life kinda makes me realize that I don't really know my purpose in life just yet. Which is cool, I'm not really getting down on myself just yet, but I know I will find it sooner or later (hopefully sooner than later though haha).
I also like the analogy this chapter uses about being focused on your purpose. "With a magnifying glass, the rays of sun can be focused to set grass or pater on fire. When light is focused even more as a laser beam, it can cut through steel." I also think that is true to our lives. There is nothing weaker than a life with no purpose, but for the lives with purpose, that person will be strong and sucessful!
What I really liked reading, for it was a good reminder, was that I wasn't put on this earth to be remembered. I was put here to prepare myself for eternity. The story that went along with it was, "In college, James Dobson's goal was to become the school's tennis champion. He felt proud when his trophy was prominently placed in the school's trophy cabinet. Years later, someone mailed him that trophy. They had found it in a trashcan when the school was remodeled. Jim said, 'Given enough time, all your trophies will be trashed by someone else!'" That really spoke to me. Although I never really cared about my name going down in history, I do care what people think of me a lot, which doesn't even matter! It's not what others think or say about my life, what's important is what God thinks and says about me!
(Sorry that was a longer chapter so I had more to write about)
Day Three- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace.
Verse to Remember: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." - Isaiah 26:3 (TEV)
Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?
My Answer: I think my family *ahem* friends would say my driving force in my life would be music (I asked a friend, lol). Which is very true. I think God used music to get me to notice Him. It's through music that I keep sane as well. However, what I would like my drive focus to be, and if your reading this it should be a no brainer, is God. I want Him to be the reason why I sing, the reason why I write, the reason why I breath. I definitely want him to be my main drive!
