I was listening to the Made for This podcast by Jennie Allen on one of my daily walks about how to make decisions. She began talking about creating a personal and/or family mission statement to drive your decisions.
This idea clicked with me right away. I work in the nonprofit field and our mission drives everything we do and every decision we make. It helps us stay aligned with our values and ensure we are staying focused on how we want to change the world.
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Why is it important to have a personal mission statement?
Basically, it’s finding a mission that fuels your soul and is built upon your core beliefs and values. A personal mission statement should be kept short to one sentence. It defines your personal purpose and why it’s important to you. Once written out, you can base your goals and decisions around it. Ultimately, it will help you to become more satisfied in your everyday life because you will see that what you are doing is a part of something greater.
Sets clear boundaries
A personal mission statement should set clear boundaries to avoid distractions and free yourself up to focus on what matters most to you.
As mentioned above, it will help you make tough decisions because you will know which boundaries to operate. For the longest time, I would say yes to things but then find myself overwhelmed because it didn’t align with my heart and goals. So before you commit to something and invest your time and energy, you can ask “does this align with my mission statement?” If the answer is no, then find somewhere else that will be a better investment of your time.
Achieve your goals
A personal mission statement will help drive your goals and achieve them. This will keep you from drowning in your daily to-do lists because you have a purpose and intention behind your goals. You will be more confident because you know that everything you are doing is in alignment with God’s greater purpose.
Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Achieving your goals should never be about your own personal praise but should always reflect the glory of God. Keep doing amazing work. You are pleasing God when you are fulfilling your mission-aligned purpose.
Holds You Accountable
Writing down your mission statement and sharing it with a close friend or family member can help hold you accountable. It is a great way to check in to make sure that what you are doing is still on mission and on purpose.
How to write a personal mission statement
Having a personal mission statement can give you confidence that everything you are doing is working towards God’s will and purpose for your life. Once you define your mission statement, you can have the freedom to fully and bravely live it out.
Here are some questions to help you determine what to include:
- What’s important in my life? What do I value?
- What are you passionate about?
- What legacy do you want to leave?
- What do you hope to accomplish?
- What makes you light up with excitement?
- What is God calling you to do?
- What are your gifts and talents?
- How can you show Christ and share the gospel?
Personal Mission Statement Examples
Your personal mission statement will be a guiding light for your life. Jesus has the greatest personal mission statement example. He came to save and seek out the lost as well as selflessly serve them by giving his life and making the truth known. Jesus did all that he was sent to do here on earth and kept true to his God-given purpose and mission.
God gave Paul a personal mission to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8). He also gave his disciples the greatest commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
Matthew 20:28: “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
To give you some inspiration, here are some examples of personal mission statements.
“Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.” — Habitat for Humanity
“To create content that educates, informs and inspires.” — Public Broadcasting System (PBS)
“To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” — Oprah Winfrey
This is my personal mission statement: “To help women find their purpose and achieve great things for the kingdom.”
Prayer for Mission Statement
As you grow and learn, your mission might evolve. That is perfectly OKAY! God doesn’t want us to remain stagnant. You should continue to pray about what God has called you to do for His kingdom.
“Lord, I feel like I am wandering aimlessly through life without a purpose. I pray that you give me purpose and direction. Help me to understand who you are and what you want me to do with my life. I praise you for being a good and all-knowing God who has made all things new. Lord, where would you have me go, what would you have me do, what would you have me say and to whom? Let this be my guiding prayer as I write out my personal mission statement and glorify your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
