How to Live Life to the Fullest

How often do you wake up feeling like there is a burden on your back? A burden consisting of your never-ending to do list, insecurities, the things you wish you could do, regrets, guilt, lack of motivation, and the list goes on.

What would you give to be able to wake up with actual joy, excitement, motivation, and deep gratitude? What would you give to feel so light and free from the things that are constantly running around your mind?

I know that reality might seem impossible, but it isn't. I have and continue to experience living in that freedom as I walk with God, and you can too. Maybe you don't believe in God, but I still highly encourage you to read this post. You can still gain some knowledge or insight you didn't have before.

The topics of this post include:

• What Makes Living Life to the Fullest Possible

• How Do You Live Life to the Fullest

• How to Have a Close Relationship with God

• Don’t Wait to Be Full

• Take Action: 4 Steps to Living Life to the Fullest

• A Little Encouragement as You Continue Your Day

What Makes Living Life to the Fullest Possible?

The answer is Jesus. Jesus died on the cross so that all people can live their lives to the fullest — in total freedom from their sins and burdens.

'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. '

Romans 3:23-24

Jesus didn't die on the cross for us to continue to live in our sins; in fact, when you know and believe that Jesus died on the cross, but still live in guilt and shame (not accepting God's forgiveness) you are being prideful. You may feel like you are doing the right thing because you deserve punishment, you deserve to feel guilty and shameful, and you don’t forgiveness. And although our sin does deserve death, Jesus took our punishment! It is prideful to live that way because you are choosing to walk in your plans instead of God's.

Would you deny a gift from a friend? Then why deny this amazing gift that your Creator wants you to have?

To live a full life, you have to accept God's forgiveness and that will bring joy, excitement, and true freedom.

How Do You Live Life to the Fullest?

You can only live life to the fullest if you have a stable relationship with God.

I say that from experience. When I am growing my relationship with God, I have joy, and I don't feel weighed down. But when I begin to make compromises (skip Bible reading time, don't pray, lie, sit in sin etc.), I fall into sin and my relationship with God grows apart. That’s when my life starts to feel like it is falling apart.

So what makes compromise happen in the first place? The answer: facing a problem (no matter how small or big) and trying to figure it out on your own.

You cannot live a full life without God.

How to Have a Close Relationship with God

1. ALWAYS go to God first. God is always the solution.

This is something I have been working on. It is so easy to try to distract yourself from your problems, whether you are feeling sad, have a huge work assignment, or are in a conflict with someone, but that will NEVER solve them. Laying your anxiety and stress down at the feet of Jesus and asking Him for guidance will solve them.

Stop trying to solve everything on your own when you have a God who loves you and wants to help you.

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. '

Philippians 4:6-7

2. Find your validation in God

You will never be enough or fully confident when following the world's standards. And if you are insecure, then you cannot live life to the fullest. The issue is that the world's standards are always changing, and it is impossible to keep up.

God accepts you as you are and right where you are. It isn't how much you do that determines God's love for you.

'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. '

Ephesians 2:8-10

God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY, and your identity is found in the fact that you are His child. There is no other place that you can find true validation and identity.

'See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. '

1 John 3:1

I have definitely dealt with feeling insecure, especially while in middle school and after covid. I didn't have the confidence to go talk to people, and then afterwards, I would always overthink what I said. My issue was trying to find validation in the world's eyes (my accomplishments, looks, popularity, etc.), but when I started going to God to find validation, I eventually found myself free from those insecurities.

Now, I’m not afraid to go talk to people, and I am free to be who God created me to be without worrying about what others are thinking. All of this is because God gives me confidence. Of course, I'm not perfect and occasionally I fall back into my old insecurities, but that’s when it is important to go to God right away and be renewed by Him again.

'Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. '

2 Corinthians 3:4-5

3. Don't sit in sin.

Sin separates us from God, so it is impossible to be close to God when you don't go to Him for forgiveness.

The longer sin sits, the more it grows:

'Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. '

James 1:15

When you sin, and go to God truly sorry, He will forgive you. He loves you and cares more about your heart posture than whatever sin you committed.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. '

1 John 1:9

'Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'

Hebrews 4:16

'Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:1

'Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. '

Lamentations 3:22-23

4. Read the Bible EVERYDAY

God speaks is through His Word. By reading the Bible, you are creating an opportunity for you to hear from God. Reading the Bible also teaches us about the character God and how to live for Him. All these things grow your relationship with God.

'We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. '

1 John 2:3-4

The Bible also says how the Word is our Spiritual food. To be Spiritually filled, you need to hear and read the Bible.

'Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” '

Matthew 4:4

5. Pray continually

You can't grow closer to someone you don't talk to. It is the same way with God. That's why it is so important to always be praying.

You can talk to God about EVERYTHING at ANYTIME. No matter how big or small something is, talk to God about it, whether good or bad. He cares about it all.

'Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. '

Luke 18:1

'And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. '

Ephesians 6:18

	Think about this: How cool is it that we are able to go to the God of ALL, and the Creator of the world and just talk to Him!?

Don’t Wait to Be Full

You don't have to wait until you tie up loose ends or get some things together to live a fulfilled life; you can start living that way today!

Oftentimes, when we think of living life to the fullest, we think of traveling the world, having an amazing job and house, or chasing our dreams and doing everything we want. Those things, however, will never fully fill you.

A full life is about being filled by God which leads to having joy, confidence, love, and freedom from Him.

When you are filled by God, it doesn't matter what your circumstances are. Your fulfillment is no longer based on where you are, but on who God is. Once you start living that way, you will start walking in the plans God has for you and see amazing things happen.

Take Action: 4 Steps to Start Living Life to the Fullest

1. Make a list every little or big thing that is weighing you down:

• Worries, emotions, guilt, insecurities, confusions, brokenness, sins, etc.

• Include everything that you have been trying to control but just can't.

2. Go to God and confess your sins to Him and accept His forgiveness and surrender every item on that list you made to Him.

Let go of trying to control those things. And if it helps, talk through each one with Him; He is listening.

'Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. '

1 Peter 5:7

You don't have to carry that burden anymore. All you have to do is walk with God.

' “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”'

Matthew 11:28-30

3. Ask God to help you find validation and fulfillment in Him alone.

• Ask God to help you see what you have been trying to find validation in and give that to Him.

• Pray for Him to fill you instead.

4. Praise God for removing those burdens and giving you freedom.

'Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. '

Psalms 95:1

Reminder: If you don't feel completely freed right away, don't be discouraged. Sometimes in order to be filled, we have to let go of some things, and sometimes it takes multiple prayers, time, and growth for us to truly let go.

A Little Encouragement as You Continue Your Day

Living a full life doesn't mean your life will be perfect. You will still face conflicts, have hardships, make mistakes, face loss, and have a long to-do list. The difference is that through all these things, you will have joy, peace, and freedom.

Keep an eternal mindset; this world is such a small part of eternity.

Don't let things of this world distract you from the fact that as a Christian, you will get to spend eternity in heaven with Jesus!

'It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. '

Galatians 5:1

Jesus is always with you, and He loves you so much more than I can put into words. So go right now and start living your life to the fullest with Him!