How to Live to the Max

How to Live to the Max

How to live to the max
Do you know how to live to the max? Isn’t that every person’s dream? Yet so many of us fail miserably. We don’t really know how to go about it. Life lived to the max seems like an enigma. Should it be this difficult? Of course not. How then do we mess up our lives so badly? Most likely we look in the wrong places or drift into easy life. How can we then learn to live to the max? Let’s find out!

Let’s start with a prayer by Kurt Bubna from his uplifiting book Epic Grace, Chronicles of a Recovering Idiot:

“Father, I pray that I will wake before I die. Wake me from any lethargy. Wake me from any monotony. Wake me from a life of mediocrity. Wake me from the lie that there’s nothing I can significantly contribute to this life or to the lives of others. Wake me up to what really matters.”

Yes, we need to wake up to what really matters if we want to live to the max. Going with the flow is not living to the max. And that is not freedom either. What to do then?

As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you’re proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end.

But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. (Romans 6: 20-23, MSG)

Somehow we forget that our Creator knows what’s best for us. We look for fulfillment anywhere else but God. Until we are ready to turn back to God, we are not living well no matter how hard we try.

Meaningless life is not God’s intention to us. God wants to give life and more life to us. As Kurt writes “Life is meant to be epic! As epic as the grace of God in your life is his desire for you to live a life of adventure. His plan for you is an overflowing life lived to the max. We were made for so much more. Whatever time you and I have left, let’s live it with purpose and with gusto.”

Now we are getting somewhere.

Kurt continues “No matter what comes my way, no matter what I know or don’t know about my future – I know the one who knows all things, and it is well with my soul. Whatever else happens, I’m going to live to make every moment count for something bigger and grater than myself. I’m going to pursue something eternal and something reflective of God’s astounding and epic grace!”

When we live in God’s grace, it is well with our soul.
When we abide in Christ, it is well with our soul.
When we listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, it is well with our soul.

This is what abundant life really is all about: When we live with God, all is well with our soul.

But life with God is not just about being. It is also about doing. Not to earn salvation but to live to the max. Because that’s when we are most satisfied. And that’s what God has planned for each of us: an epic life with God.

When we are secure in God’s love, we dare to love others.
When we are safe in God’s arms, we dare to go out of our comfort zone.
When we are saturated with God’s grace, we live forgiveness and extend grace to others.

And this really is the concept of epic life or the notion for living to the max: Be healed and put together through grace and then go after your God-given dreams and share love and grace while you are at it. Sounds too simple? Maybe. But it works. How to go about it? It’s always wise to start with a dialogue with God and go from there. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. (Isaiah 30:21, NLT)

 

Here’s – with the words of Kurt Bubna – what I hope and pray for you:

“May you know the splendor of God’s grace, the depth of his love, and the magnificence of his kindness more and more in your life…for it truly is epic.
May you experience God’s favor and blessing in a way that continually surprises and delights you as you discover and walk in your God-given purpose.
May you always remember that, despite your obvious failings, God is drawn to you (you’re a grace magnet) and will never fail or forsake you.
And you shine as a trophy of his grace in declaration to a watching world that God is good…all the time.
Amen – make it so, Lord Jesus”

Q4U: Are you living to the max? What does help you to do so?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you fully embrace grace and live to the max!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

Image courtesy of Kevin Carden, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere , Three Word Wednesday and #tellhisstory.

This post is the last part of #EpicGraceWednesdays. I’ve blogged through Kurt Bubna’s Epic Grace. Now it’s time for you to read this inspiring book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review (or any review for that matter). The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  

8 thoughts on “How to Live to the Max

  1. Wow! That sounds like an amazing book! I put it on my “to-read” list. So glad I linked up behind you today at Tell His Story!

  2. Hi M
    Living to the Max?
    I go for living each day with in hope, hope is a gift that keeps on giving. It’s a gift that keeps on trusting that the God who made all things is still at work in my life. That for me is living to the max: knowing that God has all things in hand that’s where I find hope.
    Peace and thanks

    John

    1. Thanks, John, for sharing your thoughts. Yes, when we live with God, all is well. Too often we just forget God in the process and soon we drift away from meaningfulness. When we stick to God no matter of what we are in the center of God’s will. That really is a very comforting and uplifting thought. May God continue to bless, keep, heal and use you according to his plan!

  3. wow, knock my socks off, GOOD 😉 thx, for sharing, Mari~Anna! our lives should be & most definitely ARE, when we as believers, chose to be EPIC in HIM!!! <3

  4. I got some goosebumps reading this today. Good stuff. Just saw sweet magnolia’s comment… yep, “knock my socks off, GOOD.” I really need to read this book. I know…I keep saying that don’t I. :))) Seriously, great post!! So glad you shared this with TWW.
    Blessings,
    Beth

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