Andy Bunch

(Note this is part 1 of 2 on this topic. Here’s the link to the second part when it posts.)

Like most human beings, we Christians want to figure out how to live abundantly. We want an amazing relationship with a loving spouse, to make money doing something we’re good at and that helps people, we want to be physically healthy and emotionally strong enough to deal with life without losing our positivity. 

This won’t seem very exotic, but the answer is living by faith. 

Now there is more to it, give me a second to explain. 

Sometimes we’ve heard the same thing in religious circles so much that it loses it’s impact. For example, the term Christian means being like Christ. At a 50,000 foot level every Christian has the purpose of becoming transformed to the image of Christ. 

I don’t know about you but I’ve heard pastors say that and wanted to gag. I want to be me. I want to have a special purpose on Earth. I feel like a puzzle piece in search of the puzzle that’s missing me–a place where what makes me come alive meets the needs of those around me in a way that just by being me I can point them to God. That excites me. Jesus was awesome, but trying to emulate him doesn’t excite me. I actually hope, and this feels awful to say but it’s true, I’m not that excited to be crucified for something I didn’t do.

I know I know…

I’m grateful that Jesus did that and I do want to love the way he loved, but being Christlike means something other than walking around in sandals, telling stories, getting crucified etc. Christ means anointed and Jesus exemplified a spirit-filled life. One of purpose. He was an adult son of God who saw what the father was up to and did likewise on Earth–which was how he brought God’s Kingdom to Earth. 

God probably has a slightly different purpose for me, even though the effect will be bringing His Kingdom to Earth. 

Why am I rabbit trailing about purpose?

Because the shortcut answer to how to have abundant life is to pursue your purpose. 

Let that sink in. 

It’s never about losing weight, going to bed on time, communicating with your spouse, etc. those might be things you need to do to work on that particular area of life, but think of the those things like branches on a tree. You won’t find success in those branches until you have a healthy trunk–which is pursuing your purpose with God. 

There’s several ways to look for your purpose. I love teaching those ways, but step one isn’t examining your passions or writing your story etc.

The Foundation for Finding your Purpose

So the oversimplified way to state this is learning to live by faith, which sounds really religious. It conjures to mind 30 day fasts and casting out demons or worse–don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t be friends with those who do. So gross. 

Living by faith is something we Christians talk about when we’re going to preach on avoiding sin. 

Here’s what I mean. God’s love looks like something. He’s your partner. He’s your power. He’s your provision. He’s your portion. 

What if you believed that God was providing for you abundantly. Would it be easier to eat less if you really know God was going to feed you again very soon? Would it be easier to be patient with your relationships if you knew there was enough time, money, energy to still get everything done you need to do. 

What does it look like to partner with God in every area of your life? What’s it like to actually treat your job as if you’re working for Jesus instead of that Jerk who calls himself your boss? What if stewardship isn’t just gritting your teeth and forcing yourself to be responsible. What if you really felt like you don’t own any of your stuff it’s just on loan from God for you to enjoy and innvest (without fear of losing it)? 

There is so much to learning to live by faith, it’s about changing the lens through which you view yourself and everything else. 

Think of it this way, God wants to give you everything you ask for (all your heart desires), but first he has to bring you to a place where you ask for the right things (not things that woud destroy you). 

What if religion has completely failed to train you what you should ask for because religion has it’s own agenda? 

God is faithful to complete the good work he’s begun in you. 

So what is Step One?

You need context. You need to know who God is for you outside of religion. You need to know…
who you are,
where you are,
how you got here,
where you want to go and
a little about what might get you there. 

Then you need to surrender everything to God and be willing to take some baby steps. Let’s talk, use the contact form on the website or email me…