Skip to content ↓

Purpose Driven Life – Beginning The Journey

Articles Collection cover image

Rick Warren is courageous. I don’t think I would have the courage to write a book, knowing full well it would be read by millions, which sought to answer life’s greatest question. Yet Warren claims that The Purpose Driven Life will do just that. It will answer the question of “What on earth am I here for?” The introduction claims “This is more than a book; it is a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey that will enable you to discover the answer to life’s most important question: What on earth am I here for?” By the end of the journey, he says, I will know God’s purpose for my life and will understand how all the pieces of my life fit together. This perspective will reduce my stress, simplify my decisions, increase my satisfaction, and, most important, prepare me for eternity. (Page 9)

Warren’s basis for the 40 day study is that it is a biblical model. He provides several examples of the spiritual significance in the Bible of 40 day time periods. He urges that I read only one chapter per day.

He then outlines four features which should help me:

  1. A Point To Ponder. This is a “nugget of truth that summarizes a principle of purpose-driven living that [I] can reflect on during the day.” I intend to spend time pondering these and possibly writing about them in this blog.
  2. A Verse To Remember. At this point I do not intend to memorize all of the Scripture verses. I will likely concentrate on a few, though. I will only memorize them in my translation of the Bible. I see little value in memorizing a variety of translations.
  3. A Question To Consider. These are questions that will help me “think about the implications of what [I] have read and how it applies to [me] personally.” I will spend time thinking and very possibly writing about these.
  4. Discussion Questions. Though Warren recommends taking this journey with someone else, I will not be going through this book with a friend. Many of my good friends have read the book and I may share thoughts with them and ask for their thoughts, but this will primarily be a solo effort.

Warren asks that I sign a covenant with him that I will go through the book a day at a time and finish it. I choose not to sign the covenant.

And with that I am ready to dive into the first chapter.

How can I be anything but excited as I embark on this journey? I cannot deny a bit of skepticism, based mostly on the incredible promises Warren makes about this journey. If this really is to reduce my stress, increase my satisfaction, etc, it is going to be a great ride!


  • What God Wants You To Forget

    What God Wants You To Forget

    We are never far from reminding God of our credentials, of providing him with a curriculum vitae that lays out all we are, all we have been through, and all we have accomplished for his sake. We are never far from making the subtle turn from grace to merit, from what is freely given to…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 27)

    A La Carte: New music / Millennials and GenZ / Scotland’s new hate crime law / Cate Blanchett, Easter is for you / Why the Reformed pray for revival / What truly happened to Jesus on the cross? / and more.

  • New and Notable Books

    New and Notable Christian Books for March 2024

    As you know, I like to do my best to sort through the new Christian books that are released each month to see what stands out as being not only new, but also particularly notable. I received quite a number of new titles in March and narrowed the list down to the ones below. I…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 26)

    A La Carte: God delivers from the suffering he ordains / The beautiful partnership of family and church / The end of religious liberty / On whales, menopause, and thanks to God / Ordinary women, extravagant gifts / and more.

  • Marriage: A Dance of Beauty and Chaos

    This sponsored post was provided by Burke Care, and written by Jen Arend, which invites you to schedule care today with a certified biblical counselor. As the music swells, she begins her descent down the aisle. All eyes are on her, especially her groom. She is radiant, majestic, and filled with beauty. Her gaze meets his tear-filled…

  • Does God Care How You Cook Your Goat?

    Does God Care How You Cook Your Goat?

    It is one of those biblical commands that has always perplexed me. If it appeared just one time in Scripture I might be tempted to pass it by. But it appears no less than three times, in Exodus 23:19, Exodus 34:26, and Deuteronomy 14:21. The repetition tells me that God is quite concerned that his…