Haphazard. Ever-changing. Putting flexibility to the test. Uncertain. And the now-dreaded word, unprecedented. For most of us, 2020 repeated these words, thoughts, and feelings far too often. It’s time for that to change.

Two days from the writing of this post, we will awaken to a new year, new prospects, new goals, and yes, new calendars, begging to be filled with the activities, appointments, meetings, obligations, and gatherings that we perhaps once dreaded but came to long for in 2020. However, writing it out, planning it, and doing it—whatever the “it” is for you—all require something further.

I believe that if we want to finish 2021 with a sense of accomplishment, we must begin the year with purpose. To do this, we will need to start each day on purpose, with purpose, and for a purpose.

• Living on purpose – intentionally choosing our actions

This is the act of purpose. Purpose requires us to make choices—to live with intentionality. And those choices may or may not be easy ones. We will most likely make some wrong ones, but then we will choose to change, to correct, to learn, to grow. And we will choose to keep choosing—and that will propel us forward, strengthening our purpose.

• Living with purpose – tenaciously executing our choices

This is the how of purpose. It too requires a choice: to take our intentionality and submerge it in a vat of courage. When we live with purpose, we look to the future with hope. We have a determination that enables us to carry out our plans, goals, and desires with a blend of graciousness and boldness.

• Living for a purpose – confidently fulfilling our calling

This is the why of purpose. Though it is true that our why must be the basis for what we do, it is also important to realize that our why must provide the summary for what we did—for the choices we made and the purpose we fulfilled. As a woman of faith, I find great confidence in knowing that God has a purpose for me, and that He will accomplish that purpose in me and through me. That knowledge provides the impetus that guides me as I daily seek His great wisdom to make choices and take action.

“I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2, ESV).

My prayer, as we enter 2021, is that each of us will choose to live on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose!

Joe and I chose to use purpose as our “word of the year” for 2021. (Hence, the rare posting from the front of my 2021 bullet journal.) Have you chosen your word yet? We’d love to hear the word you are purposefully choosing to focus on this coming year. Feel free to share it in the comments below.