Carpe Mentality: 12 Days to Seizing Your Best Life in Christنموونە

Foundation: The Purpose for Existence

I have lived two lives: one with a weak foundation and the second with a strong foundation. My first life was the first eighteen years of my life: June 1, 1983, to July 15, 2001.

In my first life, I was lost, with no direction or sense of purpose. I felt empty inside. I had no real vision of my purpose or my life going forward. I lived day to day. I could not see myself beyond the present. The pain in my life experiences, I was shoving down so deep I did not realize it was even there. My heart hurt, but I did not know why. I was a hardened young man with a fake, tough exterior. I needed help. Yet I did not even realize it. I felt like something was missing. What? I lacked any purpose in life, therefore felt passionless about life.

It was not until July 15, 2001, that I discovered my firm foundation.

When my first life had the wobbliest of foundations—with no understanding of why I existed—I aimlessly sought the approval of others. I desired to have a connection with an earthly father, who could never really fulfill me. In me, God took a person who was so unbelievably stubborn, cold-hearted, and calloused in almost every way, even at such an early age. He broke me down in order to build me up—exchange the weakest of foundations for the strongest.

In order for you to know your foundation, you need to know the purpose of human existence. I believe God created this playground, which we call Earth, as a stepping stone for the life to come after we pass on from this life. What we do in this life matters to God. You either believe in God or you do not. I am not here to convince you that what I believe is the truth. But I do believe that God created us for a specific reason. By design, we are supposed to be in relationship with God. He desires that connection with you.

These specific reasons are clearly identified in multiple ways. You can see them in a series of historical documents, in the Bible. You can see these reasons in creation. Finally, God’s character and design have been inputted into each one of us. God designed us based on His own nature.

A person who does not know their foundation will have limited (insufficient) reasons for existence. A limited purpose in life. A limited passion. This person will also have limited motivation. Without purpose, passion, and motivation, it will be hard to accomplish anything.

God took a lost and broken individual in me and gave me a second chance. This is only through the power of Jesus. He wants to bless you. He wants you to thrive in this life. He wants to give you a firm foundation that will give you the purpose, passion, and motivation to live an abundant Life. Just think of having at your fingertips the God who created all. He designed it in a way that He would be our ultimate resource.

Regardless of your circumstances, God is near you. He hears you. He loves you. He has changed billions of lives over the centuries. He is calling you to be His own. Regardless of your current lifestyle, choose Him today and forever. He is faithful to restore and heal your brokenness.

If you do not choose Christ today, this devotion is still for you. These authentic habits in the days that follow will allow you to dig into who you really are. Not who or what other people tell you you are but who you were designed to be. Knowing your foundation is only the beginning of this process of discovering your authentic self. Your authentic self is waiting for you.