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Constancy of Purpose
(Series 1, Part 6, Teaching #6)
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Constancy of Purpose
Do you have to choose to seek to glorify God in all you do by pursuing a virtuous life as your ultimate purpose in life? Of course not. You can choose any purpose you want for your life. You have free will. But it is God’s will for you to choose and fulfill this purpose.
It is the purpose that remains constant whether you become a prisoner of war or win the lottery, whether you build the house of your dreams or watch it burn down, whether you fall in love or lose the one you love, whether you’re healthy or fall ill, whether you’re on the mountaintop or in the valley. This is the purpose that never changes.
In fact, it continues to gain strength through triumphs and trials, because when your purpose is to seek to glorify God in all you do by pursuing a virtuous life, every situation in life—no matter the circumstance—is viewed as an opportunity for growth, sanctification, and the fulfillment of your purpose.
But you must choose it.
And you choose it not once, but daily—through prudence in your decisions, justice in your dealings, fortitude in your trials, and temperance in your desires; through faith that trusts, hope that endures, and charity that loves unconditionally. Your purpose is not fulfilled in theory, but in the steady practice of virtue in the details of your life.
God won’t force your hand. He invites, but never coerces. He calls, but never commands without consent. He wants your heart—not your obligation. You must will it. And even if your life has wandered far from that purpose, it’s never too late to return to it.
The world builds purpose on circumstances. But circumstances shift like sand. Health fades. Success changes. Relationships evolve. Seasons turn. But “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). When your purpose is rooted in Him, it stands like a lighthouse in the storm—steady, guiding, immovable. You may bend, but you do not break.
So be bold. Be who God wills you to be. Heed God’s call, pursue His will, fulfill His purpose. For “He is the ultimate goal of life; from Him we came, and in Him alone do we find our peace” (Ven. Fulton J. Sheen). In Him alone do we find our fulfillment.
When your purpose is rooted in glorifying God, no storm can shake it, no loss can steal it, no trial can undo it. It is a purpose anchored in eternity—constant, unbreakable, and guided by grace.
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Related Scripture
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8 (NRSVue)
“I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” — Psalm 16:8 (NRSVue)
“Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel.” — Philippians 1:27 (GNT)
“However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you…” — 1 Corinthians 7:17 (NRSVue)
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” — Psalm 73:26 (NRSVue)
“For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NRSVue)
“Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,” — Ephesians 5:15 (NRSVue)
“But you have followed my teaching, my conduct, and my purpose in life; you have observed my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance.” — 2 Timothy 3:10 (GNT)
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25 (NRSVue)
“Agree with God, and be at peace; in this way good will come to you.” — Job 22:21 (NRSVue)
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSVue)
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8 (NRSVue)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NRSVue)
“I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!” — John 16:33 (NRSVue)
“Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12 (GNT)
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7 (NRSVue)
Related Quotes
“We must go out to Pure Life, Pure Truth, Pure Love, and that is the definition of God. He is the ultimate goal of life; from Him we came, and in Him alone do we find our peace.” — Ven. Fulton J. Sheen
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — St. John the Baptist
“Love aright and you will never be sad. Embrace God's will and you will be filled with joy and peace.” — St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
“Your journey has molded you for the greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think that you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time.” — Asha Tyson
We must do everything we are obliged to do; give without reckoning, practice virtue whenever opportunity offers, constantly overcome ourselves, prove our love by all the little acts of tenderness and consideration we can muster. In a word, we must produce all the good works that lie within our strength - out of love for God. — St. Therese of Lisieux
Greatness of spirit is to bear finely both good fourtune and bad, honor and disgrace, and not to think highly of luxury or attention or power or victories in contests, and to possess a certain depth and magnitude of spirit. — Aristotle
“God doesn't work on our timetable. He has a plan that He will execute perfectly and for the highest, greatest good of all, and for His ultimate glory.” — Charles R. Swindoll
“When you follow God's will for your life, you can see how yesterday's events prepared you for today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities.” — David Jeremiah
“It's much less demanding to think about God's will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next ten minutes.” — Francis Chan
“It's not about success and failure. It's not about good days and bad days. It's not about wealth or poverty. It's not about health or sickness. It's not even about life or death. It's about glorifying God in whatever circumstance you find yourself in.” — Mark Batterson
“The process of time brings our transformation to fruition. Free yourself to live through the processes God puts you through because at the appointed time He will cause you to bear much fruit — all for purpose of glorifying Him in the world.” — LaShawnda Jones
“Why do you do what you do? Why do you dress the way you dress? Why do you do what you do with your time? Why do you watch what you watch on TV or at the movies or on the computer? Do you have God-glorifying reasons for all of it?” — Tim Conway
“We glorify Christ when we live for God - trusting, loving, and obeying Him.” — Billy Graham
“God doesn't mock us. He never gives us a goal that we cannot accomplish in His strength. I want to assure you, you can glorify God, you MUST glorify God. But you have to determine deep within your heart that you're going to do it His way.” — Charles R. Swindoll
“I question and soul-search constantly into myself to be as certain as I can that I am fulfilling the true meaning of my work, that I am maintaining my sense of purpose, that I am holding fast to my ideals, that I am guiding my people in the right direction.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.” — St. Mother Teresa
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