Creating your personal mission statement

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Creating a personal mission statement is not very difficult, but it will take some time to fully think through God's plan for your life and craft something that energizes you to live life to the fullest. In God's Word we read that "life is a vapor." Life is extremely short, so now is the time to invest a few hours to determine the mission God wants you to pursue.

Who should have a mission statement? Mission statements aren't just for businesses anymore! Everyone should have a mission statement, especially born again believers in Jesus Christ.

What a mission statement is not:

1. A list of goals
2. A statement of a career path
3. A to-do list
   

What should be included in a mission statement?

1. God's mission for your life.
2. A statement of service to others.
3. How your God-given time, spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, personality, experiences, and money fit into your overall mission.
4. Your passion. What gets you fired up to get out of bed in the morning?
   
5. Your community. Who were you meant to serve?
   
6. Your contribution to the world.

What resources are available to craft a strong mission statement? Here are a list of books I can recommend as excellent resources as you discover God's plan for your life:

1. Jesus CEO, Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership by Laurie Beth Jones
2. The Path, Creating Your Mission Statement For Work And For Life by Laurie Beth Jones
3. Game Plan, Winning Strategies for the Second Half of Your Life by Bob Buford
4. Half Time, Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance by Bob Buford
5. Your Best Life Now, 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential by Joel Osteen
6. The Success Journey, The Process of Living Your Dreams by John C. Maxwell
7. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Where should I write my mission statement? Anywhere you desire! Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can be alone with your thoughts. Once you have you completed your mission statement, post it in 2-3 places where you can view it on a regular basis.

When should I write my mission statement? There's no better time than NOW! The sooner you have a handle on God's plan for your life, the sooner you have a direction in which to head. As you work on your mission statement, be sure to focus on the task before you when you are at your best energy and concentration level.

How do I go about writing my mission statement?

1. Set aside 30 minutes to an hour a day for a couple of weeks to generate your thoughts and ideas.
2. Spend time in God's Word and prayer, asking God to reveal to you what His plan is for your life.
   
3. Utilize morning pages or a journal to get your thoughts and ideas down on paper.
4. List your spiritual gifts.
5. List your God-given talents and abilities.
6. Determine what you are truly passion about.
7. Focus on a statement of service to others.
   
8. Figure out who your target audience or community is.
9. Determine why your mission is important.

Why should I spend time writing a mission statement? God wants you to be tuned into His plan for your life. Spending time now in determining your mission is time well invested to create a clear direction for the rest of your life.

The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasums, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at best know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. -Theodore Roosevelt