“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain.

As I started to write this post, I wanted to make it all about me. About my life and lessons learned. About failures that led to a different kind of success. About me, me, me. Can I tell you, that you and I are created for a purpose that exceeds “me” and is about “we” and “thee.” Thankfully, my Dad in Heaven has gifted me with the appointment to help men and young men find their purpose in this life based upon who He says they are.

Let me state that after salvation, accepting who God says you are is the most freeing event that will occur in your life. I have been so blessed through Fight Club Men (www.fightclubmen.org) to meet with men collectively and individually and the universal ‘ball and chain’ that I find, is their lack of recognizing, accepting and walking into who God says they are and the very specific and 100% unique purpose that He has for their lives. He has a beautifully unique purpose for your life. Just like your DNA, His purpose for you is unlike any other’s.

“God, if this is all there is, I want out!” Ten words that I audibly cried out in January 2004 as I sat intending to kill myself, in yet another too large house, with too many lies, too many awards hung on the wall, too many clothes, cars, toys and the all-too familiar silence of loneliness and emptiness. The result of a life lived pursuing everything the World defined as “success.” I will never forget and for eternity will be grateful for the beautiful and audible eleven words that the Holy Spirit rescued me by saying, “this is not the plan that I have for your life.”

“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

So how does God define you? Let me encourage you to recognize that He gifts us with a job and career to care for our families and those in our paths, but these do not define us. Our heart, our actions, our priorities, our joy, our faith to follow Him in every season defines who we are. Our surrender to His plan and purpose for our lives, fulfills us and causes our cup to runneth over.

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” Psalm 23:5

1 John 5:4 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” tells us specifically who we are. We are new creations, created for impact and leading through our faith and the example that Jesus provided us. Companies list their employees on the liability side of their Balance Sheet. An accounting ‘principle.’ Peter Drucker, management consultant, educator and author, believed that “employees are assets not liabilities” and should be listed as assets. God’s greatest asset in this World is you and me. Our greatest asset is the Father who created us and who abides within us through the Spirit. God lists you as an “asset” in His Balance Sheet – the only identity that truly matters.

What if today and every day for the rest of your life, you look in the mirror first thing in the morning and say, “God made me for impact. For purpose. For unrestrained joy and expectation. For the desperate person in whose path I will cross today.” Would this small affirmation change the trajectory of your day? Of your life? Do it! This is specifically how and why God created you and me. Not for ourselves. Not for selfish ambitions and fleeting happiness tied up in meaningless materialistic things that become the clutter of our lives. He created us for purpose greater than ourselves.

I have been blessed beyond blessed to meet and walk alongside hundreds of men over the past three years, since God appointed me to encourage men to walk in the light of truth and the freedom of transparency. I marvel as I see the joy that emerges when men reject the trap of the World’s definition of who they are and trust in the truth of how God defines them and reveals His purpose for their life. I have the privilege to teach and share life with men who are emerging from temporary seasons of drug, alcohol, pornography and other addictions and I stand in awe at the Savior’s amazing healing and replacing of emptiness with expectation and purpose. I learn much more than I teach and I am blessed infinitely more than I bless. The truth is this: God does not define us as the World does. Because He loves us beyond our ability to comprehend, He allows us to walk paths of brokenness, for us to use these life experiences as hope and understanding for the people He will place in our path. He knows exactly how marvelous you are and so desires for you to accept the magnificence of who you are to Him.

Today and every day, you matter. Life is made up of millions of seemingly insignificant experiences, woven together for impact. For love, joy, peace, understanding – purpose. Today, walk freely and confidently into the purpose of your existence. You are carried and covered by the undefeated Omnipotent Creator of you.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Peter Drucker