Living with Joy and Purpose





“I’m trying my best to walk in the way of integrity, especially in my own home. But I need your help!”





Psalm 101:2 The Passion Translation





You are a woman who loves God and desires to walk with Him. You want to lead a life of purpose. You want your life to reflect the love of God to others. You want God to shine through you.





And He does – He shines brightly through you! But you don’t feel it. You can’t see it. And you don’t know it. A lot of days, you feel like you’re just struggling to stay focused on the things that need to get done in your day. You feel like you’re being carried by the wind of the pace of life. You’re running through you’re life, but you feel like your life is lacking purpose, aim, or meaning.





Self-doubt, perfectionism, distraction, insecurity, comparison, or fear run your heart – they’re steering the boat. They’re in the front seat.





Joy, peace, faith, steadfastness, hope, and grace – got lost somewhere in the backseat of your heart.





But it doesn’t have to be that way.





What can we gather from Scripture to help us rearrange our hearts so that Jesus is front and center and our lives flow with joy and purpose?





David was a man after God’s own heart, but he was also flawed, imperfect, remorseful, and at times really frustrated with himself. He strived to follow God, but often, he went back and forth between following God with all his heart and feeling like he was messing up again. The Psalms are David’s anthems of crying out to the Lord, praising the One who showered him with grace, and renewing His desire to walk with the Lord.





I love David’s honesty in Psalm 101:2. The Passion Translation puts it this way, “I’m trying my best to walk in the way of integrity, especially in my own home. But I need your help!”





The NIV translation puts it this way, “I will be careful to lead a blameless life – when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.”





David’s desire to lead a blameless (pure, virtuous, good) life was a good desire. But His realization that He needed God’s help was the key that lead to the life He wanted to live.





David reminds us that we need God’s help.





We need God’s help to live lives of joy, peace, faith, steadfastness, hope, and grace. We need God’s help to rise above self-doubt, perfectionism, distraction, insecurity, comparison, or fear.





We need to let God drive the boat.





So how do we do that?





This psalm shows us that we can tell God our desire to live a life that pleases Him. And we can ask Him for His help.





You have that desire in you to walk with God. You so desire to glorify Him with your beautiful life. But so many things seem to bog you down and get in the way of living life with God in a way that feels purposeful and joyful.





Dear sister, today,





Know that He’s already shining through you no matter your mess-ups or hang-ups.Linger with Him – tell Him about your desires for how you want to live, and then, like David, ask Him for the help to do that.Trust that He will show you how to live one day at a time.



A prayer for your heart:





Lord, remind this gal who is reading these words today that You live in her and You are shining through her even on the days when she feels like she’s stumbling. We praise You for Your grace – grace to walk and stumble and fall and get back up. Grace to run in faith, rest when we’re tired, and switch directions when we feel You pulling on our hearts. May this gal feel a fresh wave of your grace today as she brings You her desire to walk in faith with You. Release her from self-doubt, perfectionism, distraction, insecurity, comparison, or fear and fill her with all the precious jewels of Your Spirit: joy, peace, faith, steadfastness, hope, grace, and more. Like David, may she daily ask You for the help that she needs to walk with You. Thank You that we need You, Lord.





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In what ways do you need God’s help today? Hit reply, and I would love to encourage you. If this devo encouraged you today, would you consider passing it along to a friend?





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Published on April 17, 2020 11:13
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