Today and for the next few days, we will anchor our meditations with the story of William Wilberforce. He was born in 1759; and when he was only nine, his father died. His mother sent him to stay in a place near London with an aunt and uncle who were of evangelical persuasion. This move exposed William to the way of the Lord quite early; he came to faith at 12 years of age. Though there was a shaky moment in his faith when he entered St. John’s College at Cambridge in 1776, he soon found himself back in the hand of the Lord before long. At some point, Wilberforce contemplated about entering the pulpit ministry. However, after a long period of self-introspection and prayer he came to this conclusion: “God had set before me two objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.’’ This became the compass of his life. He would later be known as the abolitionist and philanthropist.
“Making a mark begins with having a consuming passion. Until one has identified what to do, there is no chance of living a life of significance. Great lives are known for their passion. “
Making a mark begins with having a consuming passion. Another word for this is a consuming purpose. Until one has identified what to do, there is no chance of living a life of significance. Identifying a passionate cause will save you from distractions. It will help you conserve energy and channel resources to what matters. Great lives are known for their passion. How then can one identify a cause to follow? Wilberforce attained his through a long period of self-examination and prayer. That was how Nehemiah also arrived at what to do. Chapter one of Nehemiah began with his fasting and intercession. In the course of prayer, the Lord impressed what to do in his heart. If you are in doubt of what you ought to do with your life, go to God in prayer. Over time, the purpose of your life will be as clear as crystal.