The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

Understanding what pleases God and how to live a life that brings Him joy is the focus of this section. The author references Noah as an exemplary figure whose life pleased God. In Noah’s time, when the world was morally bankrupt, Noah stood out as someone who brought pleasure to God, prompting God to preserve humanity through Noah’s family.

Warren delineates five acts of worship that please God, drawing lessons from Noah’s life. The first is loving God supremely, highlighted by Noah’s consistent following of God’s will and close relationship with Him. The second is complete trust in God, even in seemingly illogical situations, as exemplified by Noah building an ark on dry land based on faith alone.

The third act is wholehearted obedience, with Noah’s strict adherence to God’s detailed instructions for building the ark serving as an example. This obedience is portrayed as joyous and enthusiastic, emphasizing that delayed or partial obedience equates to disobedience.

The fourth act is continual praise and thanksgiving to God. Noah’s life is depicted as one filled with gratitude, with his first act after the flood being to offer sacrifices to God. This act of worship is shown to bring joy to both God and the worshipper.

The final act is utilizing one’s abilities for God’s glory. God enjoys watching every detail of human life and takes pleasure in people using their unique talents and abilities. The author stresses that every activity, except sin, can be done for God’s pleasure and should be embraced as an act of worship. The overarching theme is that living in a way that pleases God should be the primary goal of life, with trust, obedience, praise, and the use of talents being key aspects of this pursuit.

According to the author, surrender is considered the essence of worship. Surrender is defined as giving oneself entirely to God to be used for His righteous purposes. This notion of surrender is illustrated through the example of Jesus, who, before his crucifixion, prayed for God’s will to be done rather than His own. This demonstrates that surrender is not passive resignation but an active engagement in obedience and trust. It involves accepting whatever God plans, including difficulties, if they serve His purposes.

Surrender is portrayed as both challenging and rewarding. It brings peace, freedom, and God’s power into one’s life. The author highlights the paradox of victory through surrender, indicating that surrendering to God empowers one to overcome fears and temptations. Fully surrendered people are the ones God uses. Mary, the mother of Jesus, exemplifies this surrender by accepting God’s plan without hesitation.

According to the author, surrender is the only viable way to live. Choosing to surrender to God, rather than to other entities or one’s own ego, is presented as the most sensible and responsible act. Surrender is not just an emotional response but a rational decision, aligning one’s life with God’s purposes and leading to the most fulfilling existence.

This section discusses the concept of developing a friendship with God. God yearns for a close, intimate relationship with people, similar to the relationship He had with Adam and Eve in Eden, free from rituals and religion. This ideal relationship was lost after the Fall, but through Christ’s sacrifice, humanity regained the opportunity for a direct relationship with God.

Friendship with God is accessible only because of Christ’s grace and sacrifice, and this friendship extends to all three persons of the Trinity. Christ’s words emphasize this close relationship: “I no longer call you servants […] Instead, I have called you friends” (88). The concept of friendship with God implies a close, trusted relationship, contrasting with the Old Testament’s more common theme of fear of God.

This section states that developing friendship with God requires constant conversation and sharing all life experiences with Him. This continuous communion goes beyond scheduled devotional times, encompassing every aspect of daily life. Warren suggests that practicing the presence of God in every activity, as exemplified by Brother Lawrence, is a way to maintain an ongoing dialogue with God.

The author considers knowing and loving God to be humanity’s greatest privilege and God’s greatest pleasure. To grow this friendship, individuals are encouraged to include God in every activity and conversation, fostering a relationship built on trust and love. This approach to friendship with God is meant to transform routine activities into acts of communion and worship.

Warren discusses the practice of nurturing a personal relationship with God, akin to a true friendship. Such a relationship necessitates active effort and genuine engagement; one is as close to God as they choose to be. The importance of prayer and meditation are stressed as crucial practices for communication with God. The scriptures reference that a serious quest for God will not result in disappointment. Obedience to God, even when His ways are incomprehensible, is emphasized as a key aspect of deepening this friendship. This obedience is compared to that expected in a royal friendship, where privileges are accompanied by adherence to the king’s commands. The sharing of secrets is presented as a hallmark of friendship, encouraging consideration of God’s Word throughout the day. It is stated that understanding God’s “secrets” comes from frequent contemplation of His Word. The author highlights two of the six secrets of friendship with God, constant conversation and continual meditation, emphasizing a lifestyle of ongoing awareness of God’s presence​​​​.

The discussion begins with the assertion that God desires complete dedication in worship, emphasizing that halfhearted commitment, partial obedience, and the leftovers of time and money are insufficient for true worship. Warren criticizes thoughtless and routine worship practices and encourages engagement of the mind and heart in worship. Real worship, it is argued, is connected to the Word and includes sacrifices like thanksgiving, praise, humility, repentance, offerings, prayer, serving others, and sharing with those in need. Worship is not for self-satisfaction but for bringing glory and pleasure to the Creator. The author outlines the four characteristics of worship that please God: accuracy, authenticity, understanding of Scripture, and sincerity. Worship is described as an act of will, requiring effort and energy, and is not always convenient or comfortable. Worship should be emotional and doctrinal, involving both heart and head. The day concludes by highlighting that true worship entails offering oneself entirely to God, an act of personal surrender akin to consecration, dying to self, and yielding to the Spirit​​​​.

Experiencing periods where God seems distant is a common spiritual challenge. Even figures like David who known for their close relationship with God have expressed feelings of abandonment by God, questioning why He seems far away and unresponsive. These moments, often described as spiritual dryness or “the dark night of the soul” (110), are not necessarily indicative of God’s absence or displeasure. Despite appearances, the author says that God reassures humankind with the promise of never leaving or forsaking.

These periods are tests of faith, serving to mature and deepen one’s relationship with God. They are not always related to sin or disobedience. Rather, they challenge individuals to continue to love, trust, obey, and worship God, even in the absence of tangible evidence of His presence. The deepest level of worship emerges during these times––praising God amid pain, trusting Him during trials, and loving Him despite feeling distant.

During such times, reliance should be on the promises of God rather than emotions. Spiritual maturity develops as one learns to trust in God’s Word and character, regardless of circumstances. The endurance of figures like Job, who remained faithful even when nothing made sense, exemplifies this deep trust. This period of spiritual gloom, though disconcerting and painful, is an integral part of faith development. It is a normal and necessary phase, essential for spiritual growth, where the true depth of one’s faith and worship is revealed​​​​.