In my self-care for the special-needs mom series I wrote about Your Life Purpose and talked about having a personal mission statement. Here are more tips for doing that and my personal mission statement.
Your purpose as a believer in Christ is the same as my purpose: bring glory to God and enjoy Him forever. We do that by following the greatest commandment—love God and love others. But how that plays out in my life is different from how that plays out in your life. Our purpose is different from our mission.
My mission aligns with my passions and positions in life, what I enjoy and my roles.
When I focus in on my mission, I think of the opportunities I have that no one else could have, either because they are lacking my skills, experiences, or relationships. No one has my history. No one else is Lee’s wife. No one else is David and James’s mom. No one else has walked the path we’ve walked. This path points to my mission.
Here are some questions I asked myself when praying about my mission.
1. What are my passions? What could I talk about for hours?
2. What are my strengths and weaknesses? What’s my personality type?
3. What are my favorite Bible verses? Which biblical characters do I relate to most?
4. What characteristics best describe me? How would my best friend describe me?
5. What are my core values? What will never change about me, no matter what season I’m in?
My answers:
I am a pastor/church planter’s wife. I am a special-needs and homeschooling mom. I love to read and write. I’m an INTJ, enneagram 1. I am similar to Paul, with the spiritual gifts of teaching and faith, and the continual need to give grace to others and remember I’m the chief of sinners. I stink at small talk but am very interested in people’s stories and what makes them who they are. My greatest sanctifying gifts from God are my husband who makes me kinder and my boys who make me gentler. My guiding verses are:
- “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 (God has helped me see that if it’s from Him (and all things are), it’s a good and perfect gift. Even struggles and suffering.)
- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Cor. 1:3-5 (God will use my experiences to encourage others in similar circumstances.)
- “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.” Psalm 145:4-6 (My life is a testimony to the power and faithfulness of God. I want to point others to Him. I preach the gospel to myself and I preach it to others.)
My purpose statement:
I give praise to God for what He’s done in my life and how He is using me to accomplish the purposes He has for me. I am a disciple, a mentor/teacher, a connector, and a community-builder. As I grow in godliness, I encourage others to grow as well. I seek to build a community of faith for special-needs parents so they know they are never alone. I build this community both through my writing and through my local church.
My family’s purpose statement:
As the Peoples family, we commit to serve and worship God. We will encourage and equip our children to impact their generation for Christ by sharing His love. Our home will be a place of safety, honesty, respect, and love for family members and friends.
As you pray about your purpose and passions, remember God equipped you to fulfill His purposes for you. You live out your purpose by living the life He has called you to live.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” -Hebrews 13:20-21
