Mission Statement + Free Worksheet

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.…

Philippians 3:13-14

At some point everyone has to face the question “Why am I doing this?” When I get part way into a school year, I ask myself that question. I ask it after a few weeks or months of working a job. It’s a question I face on those mornings when I just really don’t want to get up. I think even think about it after a particularly difficult time of serving in ministry.

Sometimes, in the middle of boredom, tiredness, hurt, or feeling incompetent it can be hard to remember my purpose in doing what I do. I don’t try to deny my emotions, but I do need to have a response that is based on fact. In times when I’m low on motivation, I need a decision that’s already been made. That’s why I decided to come up with my personal, definitive answer to this question. I like to call it my mission statement. It’s my purpose for living and should back everything that I do. If I can’t use my mission statement to explain why I’m doing something, I need to seriously question whether I’m really supposed to be doing that thing.

My Mission Statement

• Know God- “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
• Love God- “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
• Live With God- “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
• Glorify God- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”(Ephesians 2:10)

The New City Catechism puts it like this: “God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.”

So why do I go to work and do school? To glorify God by doing my best work and telling others about Him when I get the opportunity.

Why do I pray and study the Bible? To live with God and know Him better. The more I live with and know Him, the more I will love Him too.

Why do I waste time scrolling through social media? Uhhh…

Get it? Good! Now it’s your turn. (Scary, I know) Get your free mission statement worksheet here to put your life purpose in your own words and check how your life lines up.

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3 Facts That Changed My Life

“You’re always smiling. Why are you so happy?”

Three years ago, no one would have asked me that. I was depressed and suicidal and although I managed to hide it pretty well, no one could have accused me of always being happy.

I really wasn’t sure how to answer the question,

1 Prayer, 3 Ways it Will Transform Your Day

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Yesterday, I heard someone pray, “Thank you for this day.” This wasn’t new to me, I’ve prayed it myself almost daily. That’s the problem: when you pray the same thing so many times, it’s easy to forget what it really means.

1. Today is a Gift From God. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Our days are limited and we have no control over how many we get. Of course, we can do our best to take care of our health, but that doesn’t ensure a long life. Only God knows how many days we get, so we thank Him for this one.
2. Today Holds Blessings.
   “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamantations 3 3:22-23) If I don’t see God’s blessings in my life every day, that’s only because I fail to look for them. When I start it my day with genuine gratitude for it, I’m on the right track to see God working in my life.
3. Today Holds Opportunities. “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” (John 4:35) I’m currently growing a vegetable garden and I can tell you with certainty that it is not ready for harvesting today. The hearts of people around me are, though. In this dark world, people are craving good news. Today, I have the opportunity to let people know about the best news!

The Truth About Reading the Bible

I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies

Psalm 119:125

I read my Bible nearly every day, but that doesn’t mean that I understand it every day. I don’t come away from each time with some glittering new insight of the Bible’s message.

Some days I find only a vague idea. A fragment of a thought. An ache to know how to live it. I can’t understand this book on my own, but God never intended for me to.

The psalmist begged God in humility to give understanding. Reading God’s word wasn’t enough for him. He wanted, needed even, to gain understanding.

The moment when the Holy Spirit illuminates a Bible passage is beautiful. There is nothing like it…and I want it to happen more often. The only way I can hear from God, though, is if we are in conversation.

God, please speak to my heart the truth of Your word. I can’t understand the eternal on my own.

Spiritual Disciplines

If I Loved God Like I Say I Do

How lovely is your dwelling place,

Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out
Psalms 84:1-2

God’s presence no longer lives just in a temple or tabernacle; it lives in the hearts of those who have received salvation. The spirit of God is with me always, but my heart and flesh rarely cry out.

If God’s dwelling place is lovely, than everywhere I go holds a little piece of that beauty, because God is there.

Wherever I Go, Dan Bremnes

If my soul yearned for God, I would be in constant conversation with Him. Each person I met and situation I encountered would prompt me to go to Him in silent prayer.

If my heart and flesh cried out to Him, I wouldn’t be able to hold back the praise. I wouldn’t be able to refuse the pull to His word. I wouldn’t want to refuse it.

God, give me a heart that beats for You.

When What You’re Doing Isn’t Working

But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.

Psalm 78:56-57

How often do I do this? How often do I turn my eyes from the One who saves, to idols?

God has done great and mighty things in my life; dying for me, making Himself known to me, comforting, leading, rescuing me from lies.

Yet when I’m sad, I turn to food. When I’m discouraged, I turn to the distractions of social media. When I’m unmotivated, I turn to self-help articles. Those things don’t help. I should know that by now.

Each time, my solutions fail me. Then I remember The Source of my hope. And He takes me back…every time. I don’t deserve it anymore than Israel did. But I’m so thankful.