What’s your Drive?

When I say drive, no, I do not mean what type of car do you have. When I say “What is your Drive?” I mean what controls you? What guides you? What directs you?

I’m reading the book Purpose Driven Life, What on Earth am I Here for? By Rick Warren, and I am really liking it so far. One of the chapters I read was on this topic, it was called “What Drives your Life?”, and I would like to share sections from the chapter that you may be able to ponder on.

“Everyone’s life is driven by something,” Rick states.

“Many people are driven by guilt. They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shape. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future……We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it. God’s purpose is not limited by your past.” God turned Moses who was a murderer into a leader! And a coward named Gideon into a hero, God can do amazing things with our lives!

“Many people are driven by resentment and anger. They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, the rehearse it over and over in their minds…….resentment always hurts you more that it does the person you resent.” Anyone who has hurt us in our past can’t keep hurting us unless we hold on to to the resentment, most of the time, we are the ones hurting ourselves because of our bitterness.

“Many people are driven by fear. Their fears are a result of a traumatic experiences, unrealistic expectations, growing up in a high control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they’re afraid to venture out….Fear us a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love.” John 4:18: Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

“Many people are driven by materialism. Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. This drive to always want more is based on the misconceptions that having more will make me more happy, more important, and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide temporary happiness……It’s also a myth that if I get more, I will be more important…Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things! ” REAL SECURITY IS ONLY FOUND IN WHAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY….YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Last one..

“Many people are driven by the need for approval. They allow the expectations of parents or spouses or children or teachers or friends to control their lives….Others are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it” I really love what he says in this next part….”I don’t know all the keys to success, but one key to failure is to try to please everyone. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God’s purposes for your life.” Matthew 6:24: No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other…

WHAT DRIVES YOUR LIFE? Is it some the sections of the book I mentioned? Guilt? Resentment? Fear? Materialism? Need for approval? Or maybe it’s unnecessary stress, or unused potential, or an unfulfilled life. One things for sure, God should be our drive, and the reason behind everything we do. We may not know what God’s purpose is for us yet, but we can have a drive to make our life a service to him because he created us for a purpose. God will keep showing us that we were created for him.

I know this is long, but it’s something I really felt I should share! Have a wonderful, blessed day!

-Rachel