Most of us have that one drawer in our house filled with random odds and ends—scissors, nails, tape, old receipts, etc. In our house, it’s labeled the “junk drawer.” I must say there have been times I’ve looked at that drawer and thought, “This is how my whole life feels right about now.”
We all have those moments when life feels a bit frantic and stressful. Sometimes it’s confusing, and we find ourselves living each day reactively–just doing what we know to do to get by. But there’s a better way to live.
Proverbs 17:24 says, “An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.”
God has designed us to live a life “aimed at wise action,” understanding His ultimate plan for our lives and knowing what we’re to do to fulfill it. Just think of an archer. In order to shoot his arrow so that it hits the bull’s-eye, he must first identify his target. Once he knows what he needs to hit, then he can do so.
It’s the same way with us. Once we know the target we need to hit—the purpose God has called us to–we can accurately aim our actions to fulfill them. So, let’s talk practically. How do we find our purpose? Then, how do we complete it? It really comes down to two things: Vision and discipline.
We gain a vision for our lives by seeking God. If we will ask Him what His plans are for our lives, He will establish a clear picture for us. It might not be everything all at once, but if we seek Him, we can be certain that we will find Him. God is not the author of confusion, but the dispeller of it.
The second thing we must do is live with discipline day in and day out. It’s one thing to dream huge dreams, but it’s another to get up every day and say, “I’m going to do what it takes to make God’s dream for my life become a reality.” Only when you do can you hit the bullseye.
On my staff, we often quote the famous phrase, “Plan the work; work the plan.” I started saying this years ago, when I realized we were dreaming big, but not doing what it took to see those dreams transform into reality. When we began taking both vision and discipline seriously, we began making progress.
See, vision without discipline only leads to fantasy. Discipline without vision only leads to drudgery. But when vision is coupled with discipline, it will lead you into your destiny.
So in this faith-journey, I encourage you to seek God like never before. Ask Him to show you the purposes to which He has called you. Write down your vision and the objectives it will take to make that vision materialize. Then, every day, focus on getting one step closer to fulfilling that plan. You were created for greatness. Don’t settle for less!
