What’s the theme of your life? Have you thought about it? Some people target a theme and work toward it for years. Others simply live – and notice a theme forms over time. Interestingly, if you engage some strategy, you can maneuver – and even change – your life theme.
Hope and opportunity are always available to help you move forward. Let’s explore.
Theme Of Your Life – A Personal Memory
How I’d enjoy sitting with a group of my readers/listeners to hear your thoughts about your life theme! Then, we’d reflect on how these themes have helped us move forward.
Themes often develop from focus, skill sets, personality, and events. Looking back over my years, I remember a specific event.
A certain career opportunity opened, and I really wanted it. I remember asking companions and writers for letters of recommendation. They all said, “yes!” Their eagerness to represent me was encouraging. Interestingly, the credibility and commendations of the theme of my life and skillsets were weighted by their own accomplishments, position, excellent character, writing skills, and professional perspective. Needless to say, I was honored.
I share this small memory to use as a thread through this material.
Now, let’s explore the theme of your life by referencing a well-loved Scripture. Perhaps you’ll notice fresh ideas to apply to the theme of your life.
Tear Into It – The Theme Of Your Life
There are always four categories we explore in Scripture Dissection:
- What Does It Say?
- What Does It Mean?
- Make It Personal
- Make A Commitment.
1. What Does It Say?
Did you know God has a theme of your life? Incidentally, it’s always good!
So, let’s tear into a well-known verse you’ve likely memorized. When you take it to heart, it’s a game-changer.
Jer. 29:11 – ” ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.’ “
That’s what this verse says.
2. What Does It Mean?
Since God has a design for your life, He also knows the theme(s) of your life. However, God writes His commendations for you with invisible ink. Uniquely, He writes on your heart . . . if you let Him.
So, let’s consider individual phrases of today’s verse.
- ” ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord.
- ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
- Plans to give you hope and a future.’ “
God Knows
1. I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
How interesting! God already knows the plans He has for you. Additionally, He knows the theme(s) of your life. Certainly, you don’t know all that – yet. But God who loves you knows.
You don’t have to flounder each day. Plus, you don’t have to be worried, afraid, or burdened. Why? Because God who loves you knows. His love is your safety mechanism. Plus, His investment in you is your guarantee. You can trust Him because He is good.
Further, the second phrase ensures God has your well-being in mind.
2. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Have you considered –
- God wants to prosper you?
- Of course, He does not want to harm you.
Many people never accept these two promises. Instead, they think they’re on their own. To prosper is their own problem to solve. Additionally, in this world of harm, they conclude they need to protect themselves.
However, the person who completely trusts God realizes God will prosper them. Plus, He will never harm them. Any suffering results from a fallen world. Nevertheless, God will work through any suffering toward good in your life.
3. Plans to give you hope and a future.’ “
God’s intentions toward you include hope and a future. Opportunity is in front of you. Of course, you still need to work hard and do your part. I love this idea from Oswald Chambers –
“I can’t do what God does, and He won’t do what I can!”
Equally, I like the phrase – “God works. You work.” In other words, God has a part, and you have a part.
This’s what those verses means.
3. Make It Personal
Each day develops the theme of your life. Actually, how you engage details every moment determines your personal credibility as others observe your life. Essentially, you enable them to witness a believable, visible theme of your life. Similar to my companions who wrote visible letters of commendation for me.
Simply said, how you live matters. Your attitudes and what you think, speak, and do is important. Others notice. So, it’s not just a physical letter that makes a difference in being commended. It’s what inspires the letter – the theme of your life.
God Validates The Theme Of Your Life
Did you know you don’t need others’ approval? Actually, your best commendation comes from God, Himself. His validation of your worth is more valuable than anyone’s. The testimony of others can be helpful and encouraging (so choose companions carefully). However, there’s only one commendation that really matters.
Incidentally, have you given your pen to God to write freely over your life? Do you trust His intentions toward you?
Your life can be a letter written by God. However, you decide if His version will be the theme of your life . . . or if you will reject His theme.
So, will you welcome His –
- Original design for you?
- Creativity in your life’s theme?
- Companionship as your most trusted advisor?
Your story reveals your perspective of yourself. Of course, your story also portrays what’s going on in your mind and heart. Thankfully, if you invite God’s Spirit to write into your life, you have the best version of your life theme.
These concepts reflect the theme of your life:
- Beliefs you adopt.
- Messages you allow into your heart.
- Conclusions about God and His promises.
Question: What beliefs, messages, and conclusions are being written into your life theme?
Partner With God For The Theme Of Your Life
God wants you to partner with Him as He oversees the theme of your life. Remember:
“I can’t do what God does, and He won’t do what I can!” (O. Chambers)
“God works. You work.”
Strategically, God’s view of your life theme matters. Afterall, He –
- Created you.
- Loves you deeply.
- Commends you to others.
- Has honorable purposes for the theme of your life.
Habits And Patterns
Have you considered your habits and patterns affect the theme of your life? It’s true! Just as I shared my memory that threads through this content, so your habits and patterns thread through your life theme.
Interestingly, your habits and patterns portray credibility – or not – of your theme. When you partner with God as you establish godly habits and patterns, the weight of God’s accomplishments, power, and excellent character adds credibility to your observable habits and patterns.
Remarkably, God honors a great variety of creative expressions in every person’s life themes. His chief concern – glorify Christ. So, you have room to be “creatively you” even as you stay in God’s guidelines.
Do your habits and patterns please God?
With God’s validation and your partnership through habits and patterns – you make today’s verse personal.
Really Hard Times
It’s possible your theme includes really hard times. Indeed, that’s disappointing. Regardless, you’re not alone. So many great people have suffered as their life theme developed.
So, what do you do? I suggest go directly to our verse. ” ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” (Jer. 29:11)
Actually, this Scripture supports your unique and creative life theme when you claim it by faith. Literally, it weaves your every suffering into God’s commendation of the theme of your life.
God will prosper you. Further, He will not harm you. Most important, He gives you hope and a future. God works. You work. Even in really hard times.
4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions
What is the theme of your life? What threads run through it?- Do you trust the plans God has for you?
- Specifically, do you believe He wants to prosper you and not harm you?
- Further, do you believe God gives you hope and a future – even though it will look different than you picture?
- How can you cooperate with God today as He uniquely writes into the current chapter of your life theme?
- What theme do you need to let God develop? Will you partner with Him in your habits and patterns – even in really hard times?
- Will you claim Jer. 29:11 for your life theme – even as it weaves through your own unique life theme?
* Portions of this content come from our book – e-Pistles For An i-Generation: Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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