Reach Inspiration Relentless Love

Reach Book Review The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

Author: Rick Warren, Reviewed by Danny Tanyi

What on earth am I here for? What is God’s purpose for my life? Many years ago, I began asking myself these questions. Then, I picked up this book and many eternal truths were explained in an easily digestible manner. Rick Warren explains that it all starts with God. The purpose for our lives is greater than our own personal fulfilment, peace of mind, family, career, and our wildest ambitions. We were born by His purpose and for His purpose. We need to see life as God sees it, from His point of view.

The book is divided into 40 short chapters: each with a ‘Thinking about my purpose’ section, which contains a point to ponder, a verse to remember, and a question to consider. These features engage the readers onto a spiritual journey - with a summary of the principle in each chapter, bible verse that teaches a truth from the chapter, and question to help us think of the implications of what we just read and how it applies to us personally. This book emphasises that there is more to life than the here and now, it reminds the readers to look beyond the temporary, to focus on what will last forever, to live like a temporary resident and not get too attached to the things of this world, and to live in light of eternity.

Rick Warren explains that there are many things that drive people’s lives, but God should be the one who drives our lives. We must surrender our fears, regrets, problems and future plans to Him. We are to love Him supremely, trust Him completely, obey Him sincerely, praise and thank Him whole-heartedly.

Rick Warren shows us how God has revealed His purposes for our lives through the Bible. God is the starting point and the source of our lives. We must turn to God’s Word to discover our purpose. As we read this book, we understand that we were formed for God’s family, created to become like Christ, shaped for serving God, made for a mission, and that we bring glory to God by worshipping Him.

This brief review barely scratches the surface of the spiritual truths in this book. It was a guide to a spiritual journey for me, helping me better understand what brings God glory, what pleases God, and how to build intimacy with God.

What is your purpose in life? Do you want to know what on earth are you here for? Do you want to have an abundant and fulfilled life? This book is a great starting point to direct you to the biblical truths.

On July 27, 2012, I felt so depressed that all I wanted to do was to curl up in my Relentless Love bed to sleep it off. But I couldn’t ignore His persistent nudging, “Get up and write!” Grudgingly, I sat up, grabbed a pen and paper. Then the words just came… By Sharon Benedicto From the beginning I was in God’s mind… His hands carefully and lovingly formed me in my mother’s womb, His longing and desire for me was insurmountable! With great pleasure, He watched over me. A love song, He sang over me. Day and night and night and day – He filled the womb with His voice, singing His heart out for me.

With restless feet, He danced and pranced around me. Swaying left to right and right to left, with such delight that His heartbeat overwhelmed Him. When He thought of me and what I could become in Him, His moves became fancier and more excited.

Then the most awaited day arrived, my day of birth. He jumped in exhilaration that He almost couldn’t contain Himself. He sang and danced with His angels, a burst of unique orchestral sound played loud and proud in the heavenlies! With outstretched arms He called out to me, “Sharon! Sharon, here I am! Here I am! I am here!”

I looked at Him but I did not see Him. He kept calling out to me but I did not hear Him. I walked past Him and turned to a corner. He followed and tried to catch my attention but I was far too occupied with where I was heading. He stood still with immense pain in His heart. Disappointment and a crushing sensation came over Him. A raging anger arose steadily from within Him, with thoughts of endangerment and compassion for me, He said, “I must rescue her, she doesn’t know that it is toward death that she is heading.”

His heart grieved and His anger flared up each time He saw me being beaten up, cruelly and hopelessly to the ground, by the taunting and laughing enemies! Furiously, He battled with them. He persevered and endured excruciating death blows on His already bloodied and weak body.