12 Bible Verses About Living Life to the Fullest
I’ve been watching the poplar leaves grow on the tree beside our deck this spring. Their tiny faces glanced at me through the finger-smeared glass the day I turned the calendar to May. As I opened my Bible in search of Bible verses about living life to the fullest, the leaves offered a reminder as well.
I reflected on the weeks spent watching them emerge and change: I remembered noticing the first tiny buds. Every day, they grew a bit more, and I didn’t miss it when the tiny leaves finally grew wide and offered shade on a sunny afternoon.
Watching the summer canopy grow was a gentle reminder of how to live life to the fullest: I find greater joy when I remember to slow down and embrace the quiet moments. I find joy when I remember to count God’s hidden gifts.
I reflected on this as I began copying the following Bible verses about living life to the fullest in my journal.
Wherever you are today, I pray these words bless and inspire you as well.
12 Bible Verses About Living Life to the Fullest
1. Psalm 37:4, ESV
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
When God is our great delight, he changes our hearts. We begin to sincerely desire what he desires. As a result, he gives us the desires of our hearts.
We live life to the fullest when we make God our greatest delight.
2. Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The Apostle Paul shared these words from prison. He wasn’t saying that we can accomplish every goal we set. More accurately, he was encouraging us to persevere. We can endure any trial when we lean on Christ for strength.
We live life to the fullest when Jesus becomes our ultimate source of refuge and strength.
3. Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Do you want greater joy? Draw near to God. In his presence, you will find fullness of joy that surpasses any temporal pleasures this earth could ever offer.
4. 2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Fear paralyzes. When we feel fearful, we often escape into unhealthy behaviors, numb ourselves, become paralyzed, or try to overcome fear in our own strength.
Instead of these responses, God’s Word reminds us that God has given us the spirit of power, love, and self-control. Claim this verse when you feel fearful and move in the direction of victory.
5. Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Planning is wise. Yet we all face times when our plans fall apart.
When this happens, we can stand on Proverbs 16:9. God knows what is best for each of us. We can trust that when our plans fall apart, he is still sovereign. He is still working in our lives.
6. Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
We live life to the fullest when we put our whole hearts into the work set before us.
Whatever the Lord sets before you today, work at it with all your heart.
7. Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Are you facing a confusing or discouraging situation?
Trust that God will use this for good in your life. Press close to him. Ask him to help you grow in trust. Cling to the promise that he can use even the greatest tragedies for good.
Bible Verses About Living Life to the Fullest By Following Jesus
8. John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
We live life to the fullest when we let the light of Christ fill our hearts. When we surrender to him and commit to following him, he fills us with light, life, purpose, and joy.
9. Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The world has certain ideas about how to live to the fullest. Meanwhile, God’s Word reminds us that we live to the fullest by asking God to transform our minds so that we can walk in his will.
10. Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
What are you seeking first? Money? Security? Popularity? Comfort?
Jesus reminds us to seek God’s kingdom first, pursuing God’s desires, and all these things will be given to us as well.
11. Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
We fail to live to the fullest when the worries of tomorrow weigh us down. What do you need to let go of as you aim to live fully present today?
12. Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
This verse reminds us that we don’t live for ourselves. We live for Christ. The pathway to the fullest life is always found by following Jesus.
Let’s Apply These Bible Verses About Living Life to the Fullest to Our Lives:
I haven’t found lasting victory in this battle to live present in every moment. However, I’m growing. I’m making progress.
Here are a few tips to help you live to the fullest.
1. Reset your pace with five minutes of stillness every morning.
Commit to five minutes of silence and stillness each morning. Use this time to do one thing: Rest in God’s presence. Focus on God’s delight in you.
Commit to five minutes of silence and stillness each morning. Use this time to do one thing: Rest in God’s presence as you sit in the awareness of his love for you. #rest #Jesus #Godslove Share on X
If possible, turn away from the tasks and messes that tempt you to make to-do lists. Resist the urge to move from your spot. Sit by a window and watch the heavens declare the glory of God. This will force you out of your frenzied pace and set a slower, more intentional, and focused pace for your whole day.
2. Learn how to love your life with a weekly day to rest and play.
God wants the Sabbath to be a gift for you. I grew up with a misunderstanding regarding God’s good intentions for this day of rest. In her memoir, Stranger in the Midst, Nan Fink writes these words about the Jewish Sabbath, or Shabbat:
“Shabbat is like nothing else. Time as we know it does not exist for these twenty-four hours, and the worries of the week soon fall away. A feeling of joy appears. The smallest object, a leaf or a spoon, shimmers in a soft light, and the heart opens. Shabbat is a meditation of unbelievable beauty.”
I want to fall in love with the Sabbath like this, and I believe Nan Fink’s words are relevant to us today.
Do you look forward to a day of rest? Have you made it a priority to carve out a day for rest and play?
It doesn’t have to be Sunday, and if you can’t find a full day, find a half-day.
Use this time to do something you love. Step away from the regular demands of life and enjoy God’s gifts.
We take a day of rest in order to learn to carry this mentality of rest into the remainder of our lives, learning to rest in the Lord, even as we work throughout the week.
3. Turn off social media for one day each week.
Social media can be draining.
Make a commitment to turn it off one day each week. You will feel refreshed. You will also combat the compulsive desire to become overly dependent upon social media.
Instead, use your time for face-to-face interaction with loved ones. Make a phone call. Write a note. Play a board game. Head outside. Read a book. Practice “being all there.”
4. Save space between tasks.
Do you really want to break up with your hurried way of life? Plan ahead and save five extra minutes before leaving the house.
Don’t fill your schedule so full there’s no room to breathe between errands, no time to slow down and talk to a neighbor, and no margin for slow-moving vehicles and traffic jams. (To learn how to leave more margin time in your days, join me here.)
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It is possible to live present to our days and the people God places in our paths. I remind myself of this truth as the hands of the poplar wave above the deck. I would do well to slow my pace and follow their gentle lead.
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