Nothing about this life is fair. Everyone gets the short end of the stick sometimes. We have all reacted at times in a less-than-stellar way to the wrong stimulus, leaving an un-Christian example for others who may have witnessed it. What if this becomes our legacy?

I was raised in a Christian household from birth and was baptized 15 years ago. I wake up every day intending to be the best Christian, father and loving husband possible, yet I don’t seem able to be consistent! Why do I keep missing the mark? What am I missing? Why do I still reflect the agony of Paul in Romans 7:15, “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” Let me provide an example of what happened very recently to illustrate such an experience.

The Phone Call

I had just discovered that auto charges had been piling up for three months on a credit card I had cancelled. After a 40-minute online chat one night, the issue wasn’t resolved, so I called American Express the next morning. After being passed on to three different people and wasting 45 minutes on the phone; and while maintaining a measured (what I considered) Christian-sounding tone, I began to politely describe that “these people” could not even listen to my true issues, much less repeat them back to me. Talking as a parent would to a stubborn three-year-old, I spelled out the solution to the problem. The agent and her supervisor agreed to resolve it this way and we finally ended the call.

Later, at breakfast, my wife mentioned the phone call to me and then asked me a question that struck like an arrow to my heart. “Honey, do you think that person on the phone knows you as the Christian man that I know?” My silence was only overpowered by the sounds of the food I was chewing! Swallowing a lot more than the just the morsels of food in my mouth, I answered, “No, probably not at all.”

Why had I once again forgotten who I am: an ambassador for Christ? Every reason boils down to one root cause. When I examine my life, day by day, and journal it, I find that moments like this for me, deal with a single core issue: waking up without purpose. The word of God contains a great deal of wisdom on how to live life with purpose, and in Proverbs 29:18, we see that “Where there is no vision, the people perish,” (King James Version). A lack of focus grants me (and possibly you) a license to react to situations, become emotional and go with the flow; it turns true love and concern into a politeness in some ethical, formulative manner. To then continue down the primrose path. It permits us to whitewash ourselves with the “well, I didn’t get angry, so I didn’t sin” paintbrush.

But . . . is there more to my example than simply not sinning? Do vital components of “not sinning” exist that bear attention? Is it possible to not hate one’s fellow man and yet not express love toward him either? Is “not hating” enough? I didn’t express anger or present an upset tone to the American Express team. However, did I show respect, kindness and understanding? Did the people with whom I spoke feel loved—or judged; maybe even chastised or humiliated?

Here are some steps I take to wake up with purpose:

1. Plan Each Day Beforehand

Waking up with purpose requires preparing the intent to accomplish that purpose. This happens days, weeks and even months, beforehand. We must restructure our lives—jobs, school and family time—around it. Matthew 6:33 is our cornerstone scripture, for “seeking first” means putting God’s purpose as the priority every day, not just when other things allow. It is the biggest, maybe hardest step to take.

• Start with a daily planner and write time with God first in your schedule. Change whatever you have to, so that God is your priority.
• Mix it in: make sure you also plan little moments through the rest of your day for quick prayer meditation moments or more.

2. Rise and Shine

We are to shine our lights (Matthew 5:17). Once the day’s routine has been set, take time to consider your purpose and how it aligns with God’s purpose.

• Focus time with God on finding out what gifts He has given you and how to use them for His purpose today!
• Ask others what they feel that God has gifted you with and you can remove obstacles to being a shining light. Then make a plan to grow in those areas, so you can use your talents more effectively.
• Take time to develop your why. Why has God called you? How has your life changed? Who could be inspired from your journey to God and with God?

3. Practice Equals Excellence

• Waking up every day with purpose means setting a focus on being an ambassador for Christ today! Discernment is developed through practice (Hebrews 5:14).
• Be alert and attentive to those around you. Focus on what you can do for others, not what they can do for you. As you serve others, remember that you are also serving Christ (Matthew 25:37-40).
• Be such a unique light of peace and hope that people are drawn to ask you about your life (1 Peter 3:15). Be ready to share your why with them. Realize that the knowledge of God’s way is what the world desperately needs to find peace and purpose.

We are ambassadors of Christ! This is our work—and our focus—today. Plan each morning to wake up with purpose and watch how the person you want to be shows up more and more. Be consistent with the above steps. This is the way to avoid any “American Express” brain freeze moments.

Go forth and prosper! Begin every day with purpose in your mind and see the impact as life blossoms around you with purpose!