To live life by design is to simply follow God's blueprint for one's life. "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). Living life by design is to discover God's purpose for one and to commit to accomplishing that purpose. It is simply to follow the path that God has earmarked for you (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 9:11).
Living life by design is also to constantly and consistently follow God's principles. This is different from when you live life always depending on chance occurences. When you live by design you can almost always predict what the outcome will be. When you live by chance, you live in the realm of maybe or maybe not. God showed His ways(His principles) to Moses and His acts (miracles) to the Israelites(Psalm 103:7). Moses was always creating miracles because He was operating divine principles while the Israelites always had to wait for miracles, and when the miracle creator(Moses) wasn't forthcoming in the wilderness they resorted to other gods - the molten calf - because they refused to learn God's ways(His principles).
To live by design the following is imperative:
1. Become a life long learner of God's principles:God told Joshua to meditate on His Word day and night, and then he(Joshua) will make his way prosperous and have good success (Joshua 1:8). Apostle Paul told Timothy, "Meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all" (1 Timothy 4:15).
2. Vision: Can be defined as the blueprint of the future implanted by God in a man's heart(Ecclesiastes 3:11). The Holy Spirit within us reveals glimpses of our future to us as we engage Him actively in prayers and meditation (John 16:13-14, 1 John 2:20,27). The visions and dreams of today are the realities of tomorrow.
3. Obedience to God's Word: Many who live by chance do so because they fail to commit and hang their entire life on the Word of God. They think God's laws are grievous and hard, and they choose to follow their own lustful ways. God supplies His grace to us to enable us live by His principles.
4. Redeeming Time: Time is our most precious resource in this world simply because it is irreplaceable. Once a day is gone, it is gone forever! And no one has forever to live in this world. Every man's opportunity is limited to his lifespan. Life is too short to engage it in frivolities and wantonness. The Bible tells us to buy up each opportunity because the days are evil(Ephesians 5:15-16, Amplified).
CONCLUSION: Our lives are a gift from God, what we do with our lives is our gift back to Him. Live purposefully, make God your life partner by accepting Christ into your life if you have not done so. Your effectiveness is multiplied as you make God your partner.
