Discovering Divine Purpose Through Biblical Attention
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As I begin this 40-day journey through Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life, I find myself confronted with truths that challenge everything I may have thought I knew about life’s purpose and freedom. Today’s chapter introduced me to two verses that have completely shifted my perspective on what it means to live with intention.
The Foundation of Divine Purpose
Warren shares Ephesians 1:11, which declares. “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” This verse strikes at the heart of human existence- we are not accidents wandering through life trying to create meaning from nothing. Instead, we are intentional creations with a predetermined purpose, crafted by a God who orchestrates all things according to His perfect will.
This revelation is both humbling and liberating (which Warren stated earlier in the chapter that purpose comes through revelation- we’re on a good track here notes to self). Humbling because it reminds us that we are not the authors of our own stories- as much as we would like to believe we are, and liberating because it means we don’t have to carry the crushing weight of figuring everything out on our own. Refreshing.
The Path to True Freedom
The second verse that captured my attention comes from Romans 8:6: “ Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end: attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. “The contrast her couldn’t be more clear- self-obsession leads to death, while God-focused attention leads to abundant life.
But what does it really mean to give our attention to God? The etymology of the word “attention” gives fascinating insight into this concept.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “attention” derives from the Latin word “attentiõn-em,” which comes from the verb “attendere,” meaning “to attend, give heed to.” This verb is beautifully composed of two parts: “ad” (to, toward) and “tenere” (to hold, stretch). The Online Etymology Dictionary reveals that the original meaning is “to stretch toward.”
This etymology paints a picture of what Biblical attention looks like. When we give our attention to God, we’re not passively glancing in His direction. Instead, we’re actively stretching our mind, hearts and our entire being toward Him. We’re reaching beyond ourselves, extending our focus beyond our limited perspective to embrace His infinite wisdom.
The word “attention” evolved from this beautiful concept of “stretching” one’s mind or energies toward something- whether a task, a person, or in case, our Creator. This isn’t a casual glance or a fleeting thought’; it’s a deliberate, sustained effort to align ourselves with God’s heart and purposes.
Freedom Through Divine Focus
When we successfully stretch our focus toward God and what He outlines as His purpose for our lives, something beautiful transpires- we begin to live more freely and openly in truth. This freedom isn’t the world’s definition of freedom, which often means doing whatever we want without consequences. Instead, its the liberation that comes from knowing and walking in our true identity and calling.
This reminds me of Jesus’ words in John 8:36 “ If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” True freedom isn’t found in self-determination or unlimited choices. It’s found in surrender to the One who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves.
The Liberation of Divine Purpose
When I contemplate this notion of living freely within God’s purpose, I experience something I can only describe as relief. There’s an incredible sense of freedom that washes over me when I realize I no long need to look to myself for answers that can only come from my Creator. The pressure to figure out my life’s meaning, to create my own purpose, to validate my own existence- all of that weight lifts when I remember that God has all the answers I need to live in his perfect purpose.
This isn’t about becoming passive or losing our individuality. Rather, it’s about recognizing that our truest selves emerge when we align with God’s design for our lives. Like a key that only functions properly in the right lock, we only function at our highest capacity when we’re operation within God’s intended purpose for us.
A Daily Reminder
The verse that is the anchor through this reflection is Colossians 1:1b (MSG): “ Everything starts in him and find its purpose in him”. This simple truth serves as a daily reminder that purpose isn’t something I need to manufacture- it’s something I need to discover through relationship with God.
Confronting the Noise
This brings me to Warren’s challenging question: “In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?”
My initial response is honest:” I’m not sure.” We live in a world that constantly bombards us with messages about self-fulfillment, personal achievement, and individual happiness. Social media algorithms feed us endless content designed to make us focus on ourselves- our image, our success, our desires, our comfort.
However, I do know one thing with certainty: staying immersed in God’s Word reveals more of His character to me, which naturally deepens my relationship with Him. The more time I spend in Scripture, the clearer His voice becomes amid the chaos of worldly noise.
A Step Forward
This realization is leading me to consider something deeper and more challenging. Maybe the most significant form of advertising in my life isn’t traditional media- it’s social media. Since I don’t watch much television, the majority of my mental input comes through social platforms that constantly promote self-focus and comparison.
I’m seriously considering a social media fast during this 40-day journey. Not as a legalistic exercise, but as a practical way to create space for God’s voice to become the loudest influence in my life. When we remove the constant stream of self-focused content, we create room for God-focused reflection.
The Journey Continues
As I move forward in this purpose-discovery journey. I’m learning that finding God’s purpose isn’t about adding more to my already busy life. Instead, it’s about subtraction-removing the distraction and self-obsession that keep me from stretching toward Him with my full attention.
The path to divine purpose requires the courage to turn away from the mirror and toward the cross, from self-examination to God-examination, from asking “What do I want?” to “What does God want?”
This is where true freedom begins- in the beautiful surrender of stretching ourselves completely toward our Creator and trusting Him to reveal the purpose for which we were made.
