CHANGEUP TONIC

Friday, January 31, 2025
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Florida, USA
KINGDOM MINDSET: LIVING WITH A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

avid Livingstone stood at the edge of an African village, weary but unwavering. His body bore the scars of countless journeys through uncharted territories, yet his spirit remained unbroken. He had left behind the comfort of England, the applause of society, and the security of a predictable life to bring the gospel to lands where no missionary had dared to go. Fever had wracked his body, hunger had gnawed at his strength, and hostile tribes had threatened his mission, yet he pressed on. When asked why he endured such hardships, his response was simple: "I will go anywhere, provided it is forward."

Half a century later, in another part of the world, a young woman named Mother Teresa walked the streets of Calcutta, tending to the abandoned, the sick, and the dying. She held the fragile hands of lepers, whispered prayers over the forsaken, and spent her life among those whom society had discarded. When asked why she chose to live this way, her reply was profound: "I am a pencil in the hand of God."

Two lives. Two callings. Two radically different paths. Yet, one singular truth united them: they were governed by a kingdom mindset. They did not live for personal gain, comfort, or recognition. Their lives were consumed by a purpose far greater than themselves. While the world pursued wealth, fame, and self-preservation, they sought only to fulfill the divine assignment imprinted on their souls.

There is a deep chasm between existing and truly living. To exist is to wake up, work, eat, sleep, and repeat-a cycle that satisfies the flesh but starves the soul. To live, however, is to walk in the awareness that you were created for something beyond yourself, that every breath is an opportunity to advance a cause higher than mere survival. Jesus did not come to offer mere existence; He came to offer abundant life-a life of divine purpose, kingdom impact, and eternal significance.

A kingdom mindset is not merely positive thinking or self-improvement. It is the radical reorientation of one's heart and mind to align with God's eternal agenda. It is seeing the world through the lens of heaven, making decisions based not on personal gain but on kingdom advancement. It is living with the deep conviction that your resources, time, and abilities are not truly yours but are entrusted to you by the King for the fulfillment of His divine will.

But this mindset does not come naturally. The world teaches us to chase success, to hoard possessions, to seek validation in titles and achievements. The gravitational pull of self-preservation is strong, and many spend their entire lives climbing ladders that lead nowhere. Yet, something shifts when a person begins to see beyond the temporary, beyond the fleeting applause of men, and begins to seek the approval of heaven.

Consider the nameless missionary who, after decades of serving in a foreign land, returned home to find no crowd waiting for him. No celebration. No recognition. Meanwhile, on the same ship, a famous dignitary received a hero's welcome. The missionary, momentarily disheartened, prayed in silence, "Lord, I have spent my life for You, yet there is no one here to welcome me home." In that quiet moment, God's voice whispered, "You are not home yet."

This is the essence of a kingdom mindset-the understanding that true reward is not found on earth but in eternity. Those who live with this perspective do not measure their success by the applause of men but by the quiet assurance that they are fulfilling their divine mandate. They do not fear loss, suffering, or obscurity because they know that heaven records what the world ignores.

But how does one cultivate this mindset in a world that constantly pulls in the opposite direction? It begins with surrender-laying down every ambition that does not align with God's will. It requires a daily renewal of the mind, choosing faith over fear, obedience over convenience, and purpose over pleasure. It means seeing wealth as a tool, not a trophy; influence as a responsibility, not a privilege; and life itself as a temporary assignment, not a personal playground.

History is filled with men and women who embraced this reality-those who refused to be enslaved by earthly pursuits and instead gave themselves wholly to a kingdom cause. Some were celebrated, others were forgotten by history, but all were known by heaven. And in the end, that is all that matters.

The question remains: will you live like the masses, chasing shadows and accumulating treasures that time will erase? Or will you rise with a kingdom mindset, embracing the life God has designed for you? The choice is yours, but the call is clear. Heaven is looking for those who will say, like Isaiah, "Here am I; send me." The world may not understand your pursuit, the journey may be costly, but the reward-eternal glory in the presence of the King-is beyond measure.

Live for the kingdom. Live for eternity. Live with purpose. For in the end, nothing else will matter.

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