An Invitation to Live Life to the Fullest
“Jesus came so that you could squeeze out all the joy and beauty and value and importance of every breath and every moment you exist.”
“Living my best life” has become commonplace in today’s social media-infused world. Most of the time it is hashtagged on a photo of Sunday brunch or a day at the beach, often used as humor and exaggeration. As much as eating avocado toast, sipping a cocktail at the beach, or getting VIP seats to a concert are noteworthy experiences, there is more to life than these simple pleasures. Everyone is seeking to live their best life in some way or another. Everyone wants to find happiness, success, and purpose.
I started “living my best life” when I decided to follow Jesus. He calls it “life to the full.” (John 10:10)
Choosing to follow Him is about choosing to live with a bigger purpose than yourself; it’s about sacrifice, service, and love. It’s choosing to love Him so that you can best love others.
I grew up in a faith-filled home. I attended Sunday School before church, Vacation Bible School in the summers, was baptized and went through Confirmation. Jesus’ teachings were ingrained in me at an early age and modeled for me on a daily basis.
But it wasn’t until I committed to learning more about Jesus and building a genuine relationship with Him that I was awakened to an entirely new life. I suddenly had new passions, new dreams, and new opportunities to pursue.
“Everyone follows someone or something. The only question is who or what will we follow. Faith is not a commitment to a cause. It is the acceptance of an invitation to join Jesus on his journey. When you are working on your relationship with God, you are working on a sacred canvas, the art of your life. Followers don’t write their own stories; followers are co-writing God’s story.”
When I decided to follow Jesus, the world made a whole lot more sense. I saw purpose in pain, growth in struggle, and an overarching plan of redemption, where love wins and Heaven is brought to Earth, not the other way around.
When I got serious about following Jesus, I had been drifting and lacking purpose. I knew something needed to change. I needed a better path to follow. It was a decision that has made a domino effect on my life – in my relationships, my character, my work and hobbies.
When we learn about who God is, who we are, and what God is doing in our world, it compels us to join God in what He is doing in and around us.
“God so loved the world that He did not send a committee. God sent Jesus. God got personal, relational, set up His camp among us, became flesh, moved into the neighborhood.”
In Christ, God pursues us. We are rebellious and selfish; we try to run away from Him. But He took the death penalty for our sin, then rose from the dead and provided a way for us to restore our relationship to Himself and see the restoration of creation.
We can choose to reject Him. But we can also choose to follow Him. He came to show us the way to live the best life possible.
“Be overwhelmed by the Presence of God so that you want to bring others to their own encounter. This is the power of the invitation; it causes us to have a revelation. We’re commissioned to go and make disciples. This is the journey of our life.”
I know from my own personal encounter that a relationship with Jesus is the most important factor in shaping your world and guiding your life. I have a passion to help others learn and grow closer to God, to find their true purpose and to maximize their gifts and potential.
Jesus offers significance, security, and satisfaction. He said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6) and explained that the natural progression of faith is belonging (way), believing (truth), and behaving (life). You belong before you believe.
God loves you. God is for you, not against you. He wants to do life with you. He sent Jesus so that we could know Him and follow Him into the fullness of life that He has for us.
Take the first step, in the right direction – toward God. One step at a time. It’s a journey: we are always on the way, learning more about Him, doing His work in the world, and accessing the full life He speaks of. It’s not always easy, but Jesus promises to always be with us.
When you encounter His love, that love flows in you and out of you and into others. This is life to the full.
“Our lives are not problems to be solved but journeys to be taken with Jesus as our friend and finest guide.”