VG1 - What Drives Your Life

Victory Group Topic #1
What Drives Your Life?

I observed that the basic motive for success is the driving force of envy and jealousy! Ecclesiastes 4:4 (LB) The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder-a waif, a nothing, a no man. Thomas Carlyle Everyone's life is driven by something.
Many people are driven by guilt.

The Bible says, "What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! ... What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record." Psalm 32:1 When Cain sinned, his guilt disconnected him from God's presence, and God said, "You will be a restless wanderer on the earth Genesis 4:12 We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. 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, and he can do amazing things with the rest of your life, too. God specializes in giving people a fresh start.
Many people are driven by resentment and anger.

Listen: 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. You are only hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake, learn from it, and then let it go. The Bible says, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do." Job 5:2
Many people are driven by fear.

Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they're afraid to venture out. Instead they play it safe, avoiding risks and trying to maintain the status quo. Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love. The Bible says, "Well formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life fear of death, fear of judgment-is one not yet fully formed in love." 1 John 4:18
Many people are driven by materialism.

Possessions only provide temporary happiness. Because things do not change, we eventually become bored with them and then want newer, bigger, better versions. Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things!
Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you-your relationship with God.
Many people are driven by the need for approval.

Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. I don't know all the keys to success, but one key to failure is to try to please everyone. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God's purposes for your life. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters." Matthew 6:24 There are other forces that can drive your life but all lead to the same dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life. Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless. Nothing matters more than knowing God's purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them.
THE BENEFITS OF PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIVING

There are five great benefits of living a purpose-driven life:
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life.

Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. In the Bible, many different people expressed this hopelessness. Isaiah complained, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in pain and for nothing." Isaiah 49:4 Job said, "My life drags by-day after hopeless day" and "I give up; I am tired of living. Leave me alone. My life makes no sense." Job 7:6 The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose. Wonderful changes are going to happen in your life as you begin to live it on purpose. God says, "I know what I am planning for you.... `I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future."" Jeremiah 29:11 You may feel you are facing an impossible situation, but the Bible says, "God ... is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of-infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes." Ephesians 3:20
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.

"Does this activity help me fulfill one of God's purposes for my life?" Without a clear purpose you have no foundation on which you base decisions, allocate your time, and use your resources. You will tend to make choices based on circumstances, pressures, and your mood at that moment. It is impossible to do everything people want you to do. Purpose-driven living leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule. The Bible says, "A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life. Proverbs 13:7 It also leads to peace of mind: "You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
Knowing your purpose focuses your life.

It concentrates your effort and energy on what's important. You become effective by being selective.
Without a clear purpose, you will keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, or other externals-hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, Maybe this time it will be different, but it doesn't solve your real problem-a lack of focus and purpose. The Bible says, "Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants." Ephesians 5:17 There is nothing quite as potent as a focused life, one lived on purpose. The men and women who have made the greatest difference in history were the most focused. For instance, the apostle Paul almost single-handedly spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. His secret was a focused life. He said, "I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.' Philippians 3:13 If you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Prune away even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. You can be busy without a purpose, but what's the point? Paul said, "Let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us."' Philippians 3:15
Knowing your purpose motivates your life.

Purpose always produces passion. Nothing energizes like a clear purpose. On the other hand, passion dissipates when you lack a purpose. Just getting out of bed becomes a major chore. It is usually meaningless work, not overwork, that wears us down, saps our strength, and robs our joy.
Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity.

Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal. A wiser use of time is to build an eternal legacy. You weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity. One day you will stand before God, and he will do an audit of your life, a final exam, before you enter eternity. The Bible says, "Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God.... Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God." Romans 14:10-12 Fortunately, God wants us to pass this test, so he has given us the questions in advance. From the Bible we can surmise that God will ask us two crucial questions: First, "What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?" God won't ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him? Jesus said, 'clam the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Second, "What did you do with what I gave you?" What did you do with your lifeall the gifts, talents, opportunities, energy, relationships, and resources God gave you? Did you spend them on yourself, or did you use them for the purposes God made you for?" 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?

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Victory Group Topic #1

What Drives Your Life?

Many people are driven by guilt.

Many people are driven by resentment and anger.

Many people are driven by fear.

Many people are driven by materialism.

Many people are driven by the need for approval.

THE BENEFITS OF PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIVING

Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life.

Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.

Knowing your purpose focuses your life.

Knowing your purpose motivates your life.

Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity.

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