What is it that drives you? Webster says drive means to guide, control, and direct. Everyone’s life is driven by something. What is the driving force in your life? Maybe you have a problem, a deadline, or a certain pressure that drives you. You might have a painful memory, a fear of something, or some other circumstance or emotion that drives you. Maybe you’re driven by a desire for material things. I like what Solomon says here:

Ecclesiastes 4:4

4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

Are you driven by jealousy and envy? Do you want to have more than your neighbor? The word translated vanity above means emptiness or nothingness. It’s a perfect description of what you get when you chase after what your neighbor has! Don’t let comparisons with others control you:

2 Corinthians 10:12

12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

What about guilt? Many people spend their entire lives consumed with guilt over some past sins, or trying to make up for them. They worry about pleasing everyone around them, and feel guilty when they don’t. What does Jesus have to say about this?

John 12:43

43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

You can even feel guilty over things you didn’t do, that you should have!

James 4:17

17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

What about resentment or anger? Do you hold onto a grudge against someone? Do you keep thinking about what someone did to you, or do you think like Paul commands here:

Philippians 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

When you think on negative things, you are a prisoner of your past. God’s purpose for your life is not limited by your past! God turned a murderer named Moses into a great spiritual leader, and a real coward named Gideon into a great military leader. He can do great things with your life, too!

God specializes in fresh starts! He holds nothing against you. Instead of thinking on your mistakes and pain from the past, think on the forgiveness you have in Jesus Christ. There’s real happiness in understanding the forgiveness of God:

Psalms 32:1

1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

Whose sin is covered!

What should drive you?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Don’t let things in your past, or what you see in the world around you, drive your life. Keep your eternal perspective!