What motivates you to get up in the morning? Is it a much hoped for breakfast, exercise to energize the day, kids knocking on your door needing their Mom? Does necessity get you out of bed in the morning or do you jump out of bed with purpose and anticipation for what the day may hold?
This is a question that has been on my mind for a few weeks now. I know all the pat answers, be a mother to my children, be a serving wife. Give of myself to my family and my church. What does it say about me if that is not enough? I have searched for this purpose in work, in my children, in my marriage, in relationships with others. Some days I am excited about these aspects of my life and full of enthusiasm in pursuing them but more often I have a sense that God has something more, a bigger picture out there waiting to be realized.
At this phase in my journey in comes the book of Philippians. It is a book of Joy, about Joy and finding Joy in tough situations. How, one might ask? Change your perspective and look at the big picture. Philippians gives good clues at what that big picture perspective in life is.
Philippians 1:18 " But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,"
Christ is preached! Am I doing that in my life? What does that look like in the every day? Paul suffered beatings, traveling hardships and ultimately house arrest and then death. For what? To preach the gospel of Christ and bring glory to Him, in whatever form that may be through what ever means necessary. That is the big picture, the purpose, a new perspective.
What that looks like in your life is different then what it looks like in my life. So my journey continues as I search for how to be effective in God's kingdom, bring glory to Him and share His truth through and with all the mayhem of everyday life.
