Table of Contents
Section 1: Created for Joy – Days 1-5 [Free / PLM+]
Section 2: Walking with God – Days 6-10 [PLM+]
Section 3: Overflowing into Others – Days 11-17 [PLM+]
Section 4: Living Fully, Daily – Days 18-24 [PLM+]
Section 5: Becoming Fully Alive – Days 25-31 [PLM+]
Conclusion: Living Joyfully, Living On Purpose [PLM+]
Preface
“On Purpose…” is a book that I almost didn’t start writing. I almost abandoned this project, not because I didn’t believe in the message, but because I wasn’t sure I was ready to carry it.
“On Purpose” has been on my idea development list for months. I vacillated between feeling inspired about the book and feeling unsure about moving forward. Writing a book about following God’s will—while grieving, while exhausted, while unsure of what was next—felt like too much, too soon, too bold.
Denton, my father-in-law, died recently.
He was the man who first introduced me to chaplain ministry, the one who showed me what it meant to stand beside others in sacred moments. His death wasn’t just personal—it was foundational.
In that raw space we call grief, I almost walked away from this manuscript. I told myself maybe I’d circle back later. Maybe when I was stronger. Clearer. Braver.
But then, something unexpected happened:
A whisper, the still small voice of God that shouted within me: “Write this now. Not in spite of the grief, but through it.”
And I realized: this is exactly what the journey of following God looks like. My experience is exactly why “On Purpose…” is the perfect book to write right now.
I didn’t need clarity before action—but faith in motion.
I don’t have to know all the answers—but just say yes to what’s in front of me.
I shouldn’t wait for the right moment—but trust that the act of showing up makes the moment right.
So I began. Slowly. Honestly. Tired, but open.
This book is the result.
“On Purpose…” is not a declaration from someone who’s figured it all out.
It’s a trail of breadcrumbs from someone who is still finding his way—by following the small invitations God places in his path.
If you’re asking, “What does God want me to do next?”
If you’re afraid to move without full clarity…
If you feel like your life is too messy, too late, or too small to have a divine purpose—you are exactly who this book is for.
You don’t need to see the whole path.
You just need to take the next true step.
Let’s begin there.
—Brent
Start Here: A Joyful Journey
What if the will of God wasn’t something to fear, but something to receive with joyful expectation?
What if your purpose wasn’t a path you had to figure out, but a life you were meant to live—starting now?
For many people, the idea of God’s will brings anxiety instead of peace. I’ve met countless sincere believers who carry a quiet dread about discovering God’s plan:
“What if He calls me to something I hate?”
“What if I missed my one chance?”
“What if I’m too late?”
But here’s what Scripture reveals over and over again:
God’s will is not a trap.
It’s not about punishment, perfection, or pressure.
God’s will is joy.
His plan is life.
His desire is for you to live abundantly, freely, and on purpose.
This book is not a roadmap to help you “figure out” your calling in five easy steps. It’s a guided journey back to the heart of God—a God who doesn’t hide His will behind puzzles and riddles but reveals it through relationship.
You don’t need to strive for significance.
You were created with intention.
You are being led—even when you feel lost.
And your purpose begins not in striving, but in joy.
How This Devotional Flows
This book unfolds in five movements, each building upon the last:
Section 1: Created for Joy (Days 1–5)
You were designed for delight. God’s primary will for your life is that you live with joy, freedom, and wholeness. Before we talk about purpose, we must root ourselves in this truth: life with God begins in abundance, not lack.
Section 2: Walking with God (Days 6–10)
Purpose is not a one-time revelation—it’s a daily walk. This section explores how seeking God, noticing His presence, and staying close to Him begins to clarify your next steps.
Section 3: Overflowing into Others (Days 11–17)
True purpose always overflows. As joy begins to fill your life, it starts to touch others. Through biblical stories and real-life reflection, you’ll see how God’s call often moves through compassion, courage, and relational impact.
Section 4: Living Fully, Daily (Days 18–24)
This is where joy meets daily life. Whether it’s in work, rest, small acts of love, or moments of beauty, this section helps you live purposefully—right where you are.
Section 5: Becoming Fully Alive (Days 25–31)
This final section brings everything together. You’ll see how your gifts, your wounds, your story, and your Spirit-led courage all shape the unique way you were made to shine. You were not just made to exist. You were made to be fully, joyfully alive.
You won’t find pressure here. You’ll find permission.
To breathe.
To be present.
To live from love instead of fear.
To stop waiting for purpose to arrive—and start walking in it now.
Let this be the beginning of a new kind of journey.
One that starts with joy.
One that honors your design.
One that walks with God…
on purpose.
Section 1: Created for Joy
Day 1: The Life You Were Meant to Live
Scripture: John 10:10
“The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.”
When you think about God’s will for your life, what feelings come up?
Excitement?
Fear?
Uncertainty?
For many, the idea of finding and doing God’s will is heavy, confusing, or even frightening—as if it’s a trap or a test. Many people believe that finding God’s will is difficult and a struggle. But Jesus clears all of that away in one simple sentence: “I came that they may have life… and have it abundantly.”
This is where purpose begins.
Not with pressure, not with perfection—but with life.
The life Jesus offers isn’t about religious performance or self-denial for its own sake. It’s a life of overflow—of connection, freedom, healing, and joy. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy. But it does mean it’s always good.
Good for your soul. Good for your relationships. Good for the world.
Before God calls you to any task, title, or mission, He calls you to live.
Not just survive.
Not just serve.
But truly, abundantly live.
You don’t need to be afraid of God’s will or struggle to find it outside of yourself. The life He wants for you is better than anything you can imagine. Let joy be your guide. You were made for this.
Centering Prayer
Jesus…
Thank You for offering me abundant life.
Help me release the fear that Your will is something I should dread.
Let joy rise in me as I remember: Your purpose for me begins with life, not burden.
Let me walk in that life today. Amen.
Practice for Today
Take a few minutes to reflect on this question:
Where in my life do I already feel most alive, most joyful, most free?
Write down whatever comes to mind—don’t overthink it.
Then say aloud: “God’s will for me includes joy. I am allowed to enjoy my life.”
Journaling Prompt
What fears have I carried about God’s will for my life?
Where might those fears have come from?
What would change if I believed God’s will begins with joy?
Closing Blessing
Walk today with freedom and full breath
for you are meant to live in joy and freedom.
Know that the God who created you delights in you.
You were not made to live in fear.
You were made to live on purpose—with joy.
Pray as You Go
Breathe in: You came to give me life…
Breathe out: …life abundant and free.
Day 2: Rejoice! God’s Will Includes You
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.”
“What is God’s will for my life?”
Paul’s answer is surprisingly clear:
Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks.
This is God’s will for you. Everything else is overflow.
Rejoice! Not just in the good times.
Pray! Not just when you feel like it.
Give thanks as a way of life—because you are in Christ, and Christ is in you.
Joy is not a reaction to your circumstances.
It is a response to the reality of God’s presence in and around you.
Gratitude and joy align your heart with heaven. They remind you that God is already working, already present, already leading.
If you want to begin living on purpose, start here:
• Rejoice always. Not because everything is perfect, but because you are deeply, unshakably loved.
• Pray constantly. Because communion with God isn’t an event—it’s a lifestyle.
• Give thanks in all circumstances. Because gratitude opens your eyes to what God is doing and where He is leading.
God’s will for your life is not some distant assignment.
What is God’s will for you? To live each day joyfully, prayerfully, thankfully—with Him.
Centering Prayer
God…
You have already told me what You want from me.
Joy. Prayer. Gratitude.
Help me receive this simple and powerful invitation.
Let my life reflect Your joy today. Amen.
Practice for Today
Choose joy on purpose today.
When something goes right—rejoice.
When something frustrates you—pray.
When something feels small—give thanks.
Watch what happens when you practice joy as a discipline, not a reward.
Journaling Prompt
Where have I been searching for God’s will in complicated or distant places?
What would shift if I believed that joy, prayer, and gratitude are the beginning of living with purpose?
Closing Blessing
Rejoice with boldness.
Pray like someone who knows God is near.
Give thanks as if everything in your life is a gift waiting to be unwrapped.
Do not wait for clarity to obey—step into joy now.
This is the will of God for your life.
Pray as You Go
Breathe in: This is Your will…
Breathe out: …joy, prayer, and gratitude.
Day 3: Designed for Delight
Scripture: Genesis 2:8-9
“Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food…”
Before there was a plan, there was a garden. Before commandments or callings, there was delight.
The first home God gave humanity wasn’t a battleground or a burden—it was Eden, which means “delight” or “pleasure.” God didn’t create us in the middle of a battlefield or bureaucracy. He placed us in a garden filled with beauty, abundance, and joy.
This is more than setting. It’s theology.
You were not created for exhaustion.
You were not created to strive endlessly for purpose.
You were created for life with God—rooted in joy, overflowing with meaning, immersed in beauty.
Yes, work was part of Eden. But this work sprang from joy—done in the presence of God, in harmony with creation, and without shame or fear. That’s the pattern. That’s the original design.
We may live east of Eden now, but our purpose hasn’t changed.
Your spirit still longs for delight, for beauty, for walking with God in the cool of the day.
And that longing is not a weakness.
It’s a clue to your purpose.
Centering Prayer
God of Eden,
Thank You for reminding me that I was created for delight.
Help me shed the lie that I must prove my worth through busyness.
Teach me to live in rhythm with joy, beauty, and rest—just like in the beginning. Amen.
Practice for Today
Step outside today, even briefly.
Notice something beautiful: a tree, a breeze, a flower, the sky.
Let your heart whisper:
“I was made for this. This was made for me.”
Journaling Prompt
What does the word “delight” stir in me?
Where have I disconnected joy from my sense of purpose or calling?
What would it look like to live as if I were designed for joy?
Closing Blessing
Return to delight.
Reject the lie that your worth is measured by your productivity.
Live as one planted by God in a garden of beauty and abundance.
Receive joy as your origin and your inheritance.
This is your beginning.
Walk in it.
Pray as You Go
Breathe in: I was made for joy…
Breathe out: …and planted in delight.
Day 4: The Joy of Being Found
Scripture: Luke 15:22-24
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet... for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.”
The moment you realize you’ve been wandering is the very moment joy starts coming back.
Not because you have all the answers.
Not because you’ve cleaned up your act.
But because God has never stopped seeing you as His child.
Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son not to shame us, but to reveal the heart of the Father. This is a God who runs—not from our mess, but toward us. He restores before we can explain. He celebrates before we can prove we’ve changed.
The son didn’t return home with a new life plan. He came back empty, tired, and unsure if he’d be accepted. But the father ran to him, clothed him, fed him, and restored his identity before a word of apology could leave his mouth.
This is how joy returns:
By letting yourself be found, instead of searching.
By receiving your belovedness, not earning it.
Before you are called to do anything, God celebrates who you are.
You don’t have to fear returning to God. He already sees you. Already loves you. Already has the robe, the ring, and the party ready.
Centering Prayer
Loving Father,
Thank You for running toward me when searching leads me astray.
Help me receive the joy of being found—not for what I’ve done, or what I will do, but for who I am to You.
Restore my heart with the simple truth: I am already home. Amen.
Practice for Today
Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine the Father running toward you.
What does His face look like?
How does it feel to be embraced, clothed, and restored before you’ve said a word?
Then whisper:
“I am found. I am home. I am loved.”
Journaling Prompt
Have I ever felt too far from God to return?
What would it mean to believe that joy begins not when I “figure it all out,” but when I let myself be found?
Closing Blessing
Stop running.
Let yourself be seen.
Step into the embrace of the One
who has never stopped watching for your return.
You are not forgotten.
You are not disqualified.
You are found—and joy is your inheritance.
Pray as You Go
Breathe in: You see me…
Breathe out: …and run to welcome me.
Day 5: Purpose is the Fruit, Not the Root
Scripture: John 15:4,11
“Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me... These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
Reflection
Purpose is not something you achieve.
It’s something that grows naturally when you’re rooted in the right place.
Jesus didn’t say, “Go and bear fruit so I’ll remain in you.”
He said, “Remain in me... and you will bear much fruit.”
So many of us reverse that order.
We try to do more in hopes of finally being enough.
We push ourselves to be productive, hoping that fruitfulness will lead to purpose, and purpose to joy.
But Jesus flips that:
Start with connection.
Stay close. Abide. Live from your union with Him.
Then—and only then—comes fruit. Then comes direction. Then comes joy made full.
You weren’t made to manufacture purpose.
You were made to remain.
Joy is not the result of productivity.
Joy is the result of presence—God’s presence alive in you.
And when joy grows, so does everything else.
Centering Prayer
Jesus,
Help me stop striving for purpose like it’s something outside of me.
Remind me that You are the vine—I am the branch.
Let fruitfulness flow naturally as I remain in You.
Make my joy full and let my life bring You glory. Amen.
Practice for Today
Where have you been striving to produce instead of remaining in God’s presence?
Today, pause your effort and refocus on connection.
Take 3 minutes to simply sit quietly with Jesus—no agenda, just presence.
Say:
“I am the branch. You are the vine. I choose to remain.”
Journaling Prompt
Where in my life am I trying to earn significance through performance?
How might my purpose change if I lived from connection instead of ambition?
Closing Blessing
Remain.
Stay connected.
Stop chasing purpose and start abiding in presence.
Let joy rise from your rootedness.
Let fruit grow from your stillness.
You were never meant to force it—you were made to bear it.
Pray as You Go
Breathe in: You are the vine…
Breathe out: …and I will remain.