I watched a home improvement show the other day, in awe as the host “re-purposed” several ordinary items and made them beautiful. A couple of those things definitely belonged on the trash heap, in my humble opinion. But when she’d finished, those items became a focal point of great interest, on the walls of the home she was redecorating. The total effect–beautiful.

That set me thinking again about purpose. Earlier this year, I wrote about purpose in our lives. Purpose gives you direction. Purpose gets you out of bed in the morning, dressed, and on the road. Sometimes that purpose is earning an income. Other times, that purpose is serving others.

Re-purposing your life can mean a course-correction. The day comes, when we may have to reevaluate our lives, because we sense that something’s “just not right.” Maybe it involves a job loss or people leaving our lives. These are moments of conflict that require concentration and planning. Jump too quickly, and you could make a disastrous mistake. A knee-jerk reaction isn’t the answer.

My first step is to pray. I spend time in quiet meditation and ask God to show me my purpose. Am I on the right track, or have I veered too far from the original plan?

A course correction can be painful. Re-purposing that ordinary junk took some pretty intensive labor, but in the end, the beauty of the object was undeniable. It was worth the labor and the time. What is required to re-purpose our lives? Time–in prayer, meditation, study, training–sometimes, a complete overhaul. Work those muscles. Clean the house. Get rid of all the junk that weighs down your life.

With a clean slate, redecorate. Find what is salvageable and re-purpose it. It’s amazing how energized I feel when my house is freshly cleaned.

If you’re feeling “stuck” — make a change that will freshen your spirit and strengthen your heart. Go for a long walk. Don’t rush, just take your time and use that time to reevaluate your purpose. Pray and ask God to show you what to do to bring about a change in your life. Then listen. Don’t talk, just listen.

Sometimes re-purposing is laborious. It’s uncomfortable. You have to change position, or even move your residence. Other times, you can take whatever life has brought your way and turn it into something truly beautiful and cherished. Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” will take something that looks like junk, clean it up, display it on the mantle, and it becomes a focal point. A treasure. It’s been re-purposed. It has worth.

Whatever you do, don’t give up. Sit still and wait, or keep moving forward, but don’t stop. God has a purpose for you. Maybe you just need to clean yourself up and find a new purpose, so you can “shine…like stars in the sky…” (Philippians 2:16).

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. — Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV