Who wouldn’t want to live fully alive? We all want to be the best version of ourselves that we could possibly be, to achieve all that we were created to do. God has equipped each of us with a unique blend of passions, talents, and gifts. The reason we have been so blessed to receive these things is so we might accomplish all He has purposed us to do. To not utilize our gifts, to shrink back from obstacles, or to turn away from what we fear results in living a life less than the one we are capable of living. None of us want to reach the end of our life knowing we could have done more. So how do we live life fully alive? I think there are three keys…
- Know your why. If you don’t know why you are doing what you do, you will never be fulfilled. Why do you get up in the morning? What is it that drives you? As followers of Christ, I submit to you that our primary “why” must be to bring honor and glory to our Lord and King; every other ‘why’ should stem from that. Why do we feed the hungry? Because Jesus said to do so. Why do we work at a job we hate? To have the money to care for the needs of others. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus and realize He is the reason for everything we do, our lives will be much less stressful. We’ll not be without pain or obstacles, but we will find rest in knowing why we do what we do.
- Face your fears. Fear keeps us from doing many things we know we should do. There is the fear of failure, the fear of looking stupid, and even the fear of dying. Some might have the opportunity to reach thousands for Christ, but fail to do so because they fear speaking in public. Still others may fear confrontation and therefore never challenge the atheist who spews lies in your school or workplace. Whatever your fear, know that you serve a God who loves you beyond measure. You have been so immersed in His love that it will ooze from your pores if you let it. The great thing about love is that it cannot coexist with fear (1 John 4:18). When we are fearful, it is a sure sign that our eyes are on us and not on Christ. Love drives out fear. When you are afraid, focus on Jesus and press on. The abundance of life and unlimited possibilities lie just beyond your fear.
- Do the work. Just because we know our why and have faced our fears, it doesn’t mean we are now magically living life to its fullest. We were created to do amazing work for Christ (Ephesians 2:10). Our fulfillment is found in doing the work that matters. There is no feeling like handing out cash to someone in need, or digging a well for a village that previously had no source of clean water, or walking with a single mom as she tries to figure out her life. All of our experiences will be different because we are uniquely equipped to handle what God puts in our path. To live fully alive, we must get our hands dirty and live out the commands of Christ.
You can live life fully alive. It only takes a little discipline and an unwavering faith in God. We cannot find true and lasting happiness in any other way. Christ died so that we could live life to its fullest; anything less disrespects His sacrifice for us. He gave everything for us. How can we do anything except give everything we have back to Him? Know your why. Face your fears. Do the work. Live fully alive.
Do you know your ‘why’? Are there fears that hold you back? What keeps you from doing the work? Please join the conversation by leaving a comment below.