To live your best life you need two things – purpose and persistence. And if you ask him, God will help you develop them.

(1) Let’s look at purpose. On the historic monument commemorating the life of author Jack London, who wrote the classic White Fang, are these words:

‘I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than that it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of a man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.’

To make a difference in this world you must discover your God-given assignment and commit yourself to it 100 per cent.

Paul did that. ‘My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God’ (Acts 20:24 NLT).

(2) Let’s look at persistence. In 1923, sprinter Eric Liddell was taking part in a quarter-mile race in Stoke-on-Trent, during which he tripped and fell.

By the time he got up, the other runners were well ahead of him, leaving him unlikely to win. But, determined, he carried on, overtaking the leader in the last few yards and winning the race.

The following year he went on to become a gold medallist. His determination and refusal to give up are the essence of purpose and persistence.

That’s our Word for today!