Living on Purpose: Preparing Our Hearts for the Resurrection

Sometimes, when we're deep in the rhythm of the week—juggling work, family, and the endless to-do list—it’s easy to forget the grand arc of our journey. It’s easy to treat life like it’s going to keep going, indefinitely. We get caught up in the immediate, the tangible, the *now*.

But the Spirit has a way of nudging us toward the eternal perspective. Recently, I was pondering a talk that really hit home, one that spoke to the inevitable end of our earthly sojourn. It wasn't a scary talk, but a deeply convicting one, reminding us that preparation isn't just for the day we pass from this life, but for the life that awaits us!

The speaker shared insights from hospice work, revealing what the dying often regret most. And honestly, reading that list felt like a mirror held up to my own heart. The regrets weren't about missed investments or unread books; they were about connection, expression, and purpose. "I wish I had told them I love them," "I wish I had lived my life on purpose rather than just wasting my life."

Living on Purpose: The Art of Preparation

What struck me most was the concept of "Lent as practice." It’s not just about fasting or penance; it’s a spiritual practice—a rehearsal for the ultimate letting go. It’s about stripping away the "extra things" that distract us from the essential.

Think about it through the lens of our covenants. Our goal, as Latter-day Saints, isn't just to *exist* until the end; it's to *live* in preparation for the Resurrection and to enter into the Father's house. That requires a conscious shift in focus—a commitment to live purposefully, rather than accidentally.

“We have to turn away from those extra things, we turn our attention to other people to invest in them, and most of all or we turn our hearts in our everything to God to say at the end of my life I will have nothing I will have nothing so for you God.”

This is the heart of missionary preparation, isn't it? It’s not just memorizing scripture verses for a missionary discussion; it’s about *being* the message. It's about making our relationships—with our families, our ward members, our investigators—our highest priority. It’s about learning to say "yes" to the things that matter eternally.

Being an Internet Missionary Today

For us rogue disciples, this message is crystal clear. We don't wait for a mission call to start living on purpose. We are called to be Internet missionaries right where we are—in our homes, our workplaces, and our online communities. How do we practice this "letting go" of distraction and "holding on" to the Spirit?

One practical skill I’ve been focusing on lately is slowing down during my personal study time. Instead of just reading through my assigned scriptures, I’m pausing to ask: *What does this passage require me to let go of today?* Does it require me to let go of a small grievance? A tendency toward comparison? A habit of distraction?

If you're feeling the pull to deepen your discipleship, I highly recommend diving into the teachings on purpose found in the Iron Rod. If you haven't already, take some time to look through the recommended readings in LivingBook. It’s a wonderful resource for keeping our focus fixed on Christ.

Where to Go Next

If this talk resonated with you, I invite you to join us for our weekly Disciple Challenge this coming Sunday. We’ll be discussing how to apply the principle of "letting go" in our immediate spheres of influence. It’s a low-pressure, high-Spirit way to keep the momentum going.

Remember, brothers and sisters, we are disciples *anywhere*, *all the time*. Let’s make sure our lives testify of the glorious life waiting for us!