You Be You: A 7-Day Reading Plan with Jamie IveySample

Making It All Count 

I realize things may look different than you imagined them being at this time in your life. It may not feel as satisfying as you’d hoped, not as satisfying as life seems to be for the people you’re constantly comparing yourself against. But that’s because of how easily we confuse satisfaction and success with a pretend, phantom lifestyle that doesn’t really exist.

I think we have been asking ourselves the wrong questions about our lives. Instead of asking, “Did I do enough today?” what if we asked ourselves, “Did I become more like Jesus today?” Instead of asking, “Was I successful?” what if we asked, “Was I faithful?” Less about us and more about Him. Less about accomplishments and more about our hearts. Less about my glory and more of His glory. Less about comparing our life to their life, and more about comparing our faithfulness to His calling on our lives.

I really, truly believe you can do more than you think you can. I believe it’s possible to come to the end of your days and be absolutely certain, all the way into your bones, that your life mattered. That you made a difference. That you did the best with what God gave you. That you became more like Him that day. That your striving wasn’t for yourself but for a greater purpose than your own.

And I’m here  being your cheerleader, promising you that you can live out God’s will for your life, no matter what season you’re in, no matter how your days are looking right now.

You can do it—because  God  Himself has already put it there inside you. 

Encouraging you today just fires me up—helping you think deeply about all the places you’ve been, all the stories that you alone can share, all the giftings you have to offer, and how God can transform your whole life when you start seeing all these things through the lens of the gospel.

You can do this! You can show up for the life that God has already ordained for you. You have nothing—nothing!—to lose. Everything to gain. It is your day now, my friend—your day, your place, to live the kind of life that you and others can look back on and say, “She used her days well. She was faithful to the end.” I so want that person to be me. And I have a small suspicion you want it for yourself as well. 

PRAY 

Heavenly Father, I want to live a life that matters. I want to be faithful to you and your calling. Help me to trust you and walk in the way that you lead. Give me the strength and discernment I need to do the best with what you’ve given me.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.