Archive for the ‘choosing the right path’ Category
Living with Purpose and Intention
Life is short, but it is also sacred. Each sunrise is a gift from God, a chance to breathe in His goodness and breathe out His love into the world around us. The question we face daily is not simply – How will I get through this day? But, how will I live this day? Will I drift through it distracted and self-focused, or will I live with purpose, intention, and the heart of one who walks with God?
Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Scripture reminds us that time is precious. When we live with intention, we don’t waste the hours God has entrusted to us. We turn ordinary moments into opportunities to reflect His character.
Living with purpose does not always mean doing something grand in the eyes of the world. It can be as simple as offering a kind word, listening when someone feels unheard, or choosing to forgive when bitterness would be easier. Every choice has weight. When we walk with God, our choices become eternal investments in His kingdom.
Jesus set the perfect example. He never hurried past people, never treated someone as an interruption. Every encounter mattered. The woman at the well, the blind man by the roadside, the children who ran to Him—He gave them time, dignity, and love. To live with intention is to follow His pattern, to notice the needs around us and respond with compassion.
Micah 6:8 frames our calling beautifully: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Living with purpose is not about chasing recognition, wealth, or comfort. It is about aligning our daily steps with God’s desires—justice, mercy, and humility.
When we commit to being people who help others, we find that joy follows close behind. Proverbs 11:25 says: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” God designed us in such a way that giving ourselves away actually fills us. In helping others, our own souls are nourished.
Of course, living with intention requires more than good intentions. It requires abiding in Christ. On our own, we will grow weary, distracted, and self-centered. But when we stay rooted in God’s Word, strengthened by prayer, and sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, we are empowered to live each day with focus and grace.
Ask yourself today: How can I make this moment count? Who can I bless? How can I reflect God’s love right where I am? Purposeful living doesn’t wait for tomorrow—it begins right now.
Prayer
Lord, help me not to drift through my days but to live with purpose. Show me the people who need encouragement, kindness, and hope. Teach me to walk humbly with You, to act justly, and to love mercy. Let my life be an intentional reflection of Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional on Psalm 27: Waiting Through the Wounds
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
It is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.” – Psalm 27:1–2
Psalm 27 is a psalm of courage and honesty. David declares that God is his light, salvation, and stronghold. Yet in the same breath, he acknowledges the presence of the “wicked” — those who oppose, threaten, or wound him.
When we hear “wicked,” we might imagine powerful enemies or obvious evil. But sometimes, the wounds come from closer to home. The “wicked” can be a co-worker who undermines you, a church member who whispers about you, or even a family member whose words cut deeper than any stranger’s. They may not be evil in how we often think, but their actions are unjust. They hurt. They confuse. They betray.
And in those moments, the cry of the heart is the same as David’s: “Lord, where is the justice? Where are You in this?”
I remember a season of my life when I had to wait eight long years for God to answer a desperate prayer. At first, I believed wholeheartedly that God would come through immediately. I thought He would arrive like a knight in shining armor, sweep in, and rescue me. But as time played out, I had to face the reality that help was on the way — just not on my timetable.
During those years, I shed many tears. Anxiety sometimes overwhelmed me. Other times, I stood firm on God’s promises. And layered in with that waiting was pain from people around me. Not strangers — but those I thought would stand by me. Some ignored my struggles. Others judged me unfairly. Words spoken in gossip or criticism felt like arrows.
Psalm 27 gave me language for those moments. David reminds us that even when others fail us, even when those we love the most let us down, God remains our stronghold. He doesn’t turn away. He doesn’t fold the file and move on to the next case. He sees. He stays.
Looking back, I can now say with confidence: God did not leave me. He stayed with me through it all. And when the answer finally came, it wasn’t in the way I wanted — it was in the way I needed. It took eight years, but He proved Himself faithful.
Psalm 27 closes with this exhortation:
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Waiting is not passive. It is courage in action. It’s refusing to let bitterness take root when people hurt you. It’s choosing to believe that God sees the injustice, even if He hasn’t intervened yet. It’s leaning into His presence when the waiting grows long and lonely.
David never pretended life was easy, and neither should we. But like David, we can stand firm in this: God is our light when darkness surrounds us. He is our salvation when anxiety rises. He is our stronghold when betrayal stings. And He will never abandon us, no matter how long the wait.
The “wicked” may not always look like enemies on a battlefield — sometimes they are the faces we sit beside in pews or the voices around our dinner table. But no matter who wounds us, God remains our defender. His justice may not come on our timetable, but His presence is sure. He is with us in the tears, in the waiting, and in the eventual breakthrough.
Prayer
Lord, You are my light when people misunderstand me. You are my salvation when I feel helpless against the words and actions of others. You are my stronghold when I feel abandoned or betrayed. Help me to wait on You with courage. Teach me to trust that Your justice is certain, even when it feels delayed. Remind me of the times You have come through before, and given me strength to believe You will do it again. Amen.
notesbynora 