True fulfillment 

What would it take for you to get true fulfillment?

What does a fulfilled life look like to you?

Fulfillment is defined as the feeling of being happy and satisfied with your life because you are doing interesting, useful, or important things. 

“Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure.” 

Tony Robbins

In this tech-savvy, information-driven world, I feel like we’ve pursued something so outside of us, when it really has nothing to do with that. Instead of an empty pursuit to gain more, get more, increase, and grow, and “build our lives,” there’s a sweet truth, a simple truth, we can find and take part in found in Matthew 16:24-25, which says:

If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me … whoever loses his life for Me will find it.

The paradox is that in denying yourself, you will get true fulfillment. It’s not about dismissing or depressing yourself, but being okay with just being; okay with existing and having the peace that you’re already enough because He is enough. He paid the price to restore your identity.

And everything else will get added (Matthew 6:33). 

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Psalm 33:4

We often get jumbled up and feel cluttered in our minds and lives when none of that was required of us. All that was required was simple obedience and faith. Yet we try to jump through loops and hoops instead of putting one foot in front of the other to follow God. We try to take shortcuts instead of linking arms with the Father and abiding in Him. And we rely on ourselves and our goal-setting and motivation, instead of the simplicity of enjoying the salvation He gave. 

Psalm 33:4 reminds us that God’s word is right and true, and He is faithful in all He does. If that is so, why do we run from it? Why do we conjure up our own works instead of walking by faith? One who works must get his dues, but one who believes gets graced with gifts (Romans 4:4-5).

What a paradox. But it’s the gospel. 

Why is it not enough to merely exist and bask in the truth of the Lord? In His salvation and love and peace and joy? If we FIND our life after laying it down in Christ, why don’t we lay it down? True fulfillment comes when you strip everything away until you have nothing. It’s denying yourself, your old self, and dying to the flesh and its wordly desires, so you can live to God.

It’s the paradox of the gospel. 

It’s not about “getting” in this life, but about being. “And that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8).

His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), so you don’t need to pretend and pursue this unattainable, external perfection anymore. I feel like the Lord doesn’t want you to worry about an inaccessible life this world provides, because He came to give His life abundantly. He came to give you life abundantly [through Him]. 

You’re not a doing. You’re not a program. You’re a being.

So, be. 

“It is contentment that gives true fulfillment.”

Anonymous

Honestly, this world is filled with too much knowledge and information. It’s time to strip back on all of that. It’s time to get rid of our quick access to self-help and self-medication and turn to the Lord for complete help and health. 

Proverbs 3:7-8 says, Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

How much more straightforward can that get?

Let’s take it back to the beginning. Let’s simplify! Enjoy! And take the peace that God gave you when you were justified through faith!

Read through Romans 5 and meditate on the freedom Christ gave you. Let it be a refreshment to your mind, body, soul, and spirit. Have an amazing day ❤