I’m a firm believer in finding your purpose and pursuing it with intensity and passion. I also believe that God has given each of us a purpose. He has given us personalities and spiritual gifts that feed this purpose and help us go hard after it. Our purpose is a God-given dream that envelops our life. Our mission is part of our purpose. It is the little steps along the way that coincide with our purpose.

To illustrate, it is like a Marine who goes on a mission. When the mission is complete he comes back for a new mission. Yet, his purpose as a Marine has not changed. He is still a Marine, with certain duties and expectations, but the mission has taken him somewhere different, somewhere new, facing new challenges, fighting the enemy.

Recently, I have gotten into running. In fact, it is a little bit of an addiction for me. (Must be the endorphin release!) I have a friend who is a runner and he has encouraged me each step of my personal journey with it. And, as I continue to run, I come across others who also inspire my journey with running.

Last week I picked up a book by Ryan Hall (Fastest American Half Marathoner) called Run the Mile You’re In. If you like to read, this is a really good book! One thing he talks consistently about is finding your purpose and pursuing it with all that you have. That might mean letting some other things in life go. Things that seem good.

Focus. That is the word that comes to mind. It’s time to focus. Focus on our purpose. Focus so intently, pursue so earnestly, that other things that don’t fall in the trajectory of that purpose are released. And as you pursue that purpose, that God-given dream, make sure you have tough resilience because the enemy will fight you harder than ever before.

No, running is not my purpose. However, I do think it is currently part of my mission towards my purpose. Running is about health – physical and emotional – two areas the enemy has controlled in my life for too long. Running is about preparing my temple, my body, for the next step of the journey, whatever that may be. It is about being well long enough to fulfill His purpose for my life. And to be honest, I enjoy it. It is peaceful, quiet, and provides opportunity to reflect, pray, listen.

So, what is your purpose? What is the God-given dream that God has revealed to your heart? Where is your passion?

If you know, are you going after it hard, or are you distracted by other things? We can be good at many things, but in order to be great at something, we have to let all the other good things go. Jesus is worth a focused pursuit. He is the GREAT in our purpose. Don’t let the mundane things in life interrupt your focus.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears (reverences) the Lord, she shall be praised. ~Proverbs 31:25-26, 30