Anyway, I've been going through some things that have caused me to slow down and really look at my life. Nothing too serious. I've just hit a phase where I am re-evaluating and making changes. It has been a great season.
One thing I'm trying to do is simplify.
I am a planner. I am a doer. I jump into things full force with guns blazing. I go strong for a while and then I slowly start to fade. I'm an all or nothing woman. That is a gift but it is also a curse. Because of my tendency to go full speed ahead I often take too much on resulting in quantity and not quality.
Through scripture and prayer God showed me that I do not have to do all of the time.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10
Growing up I had a lot of responsibility. More than any child should. Because of that, I learned to be ten steps ahead in all situations. I have carried that with me into adulthood. But God says that He saved me by grace. Not because of my ability to be prepared. Not because I'm always on top of things. Simply because of His grace. And it is by faith that I walk that salvation out. Everything I have is from God and for God. I don't want to squander what He's given me. But if I don't slow down enough to look around it will pass me by and I will not have fully lived out God's plan for my life.
So I've decided that I need to be intentional.
One way to do that is to create a personal mission statement. When I first heard of the idea of creating a personal mission statement, I thought it was over the top - something that Super Christians or crazy organized people did. But the more I thought about it, the more the idea appealed to me. So I went on a quiet retreat and spent some time in prayer to develop my mission statement. I did that last summer and unfortunately have only glanced at it twice since. I pulled it out today and am planning to sit down (with coffee, of course) and read over it. I'm going to be intentional about my time, my family, my children, my health, and my walk. Right now, this is how I feel:
"For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." Romans 7:15 (NASB)
I know that if I did what I should be doing, I would have freedom - freedom from guilt, freedom with my time, and freedom in my thinking. You know what it's like to procrastinate or not do something you know you should be doing. It hangs over your head. It sticks in your mind and you walk around feeling crappy. If we would just do what we should be doing, we'd be free from that crappy feeling. But "just doing" is easier said than done. That's where the mission statement comes in. It is like a target on the wall - something to focus on so you can be intentional and not waste time on things that don't matter.
There is a process to creating a personal mission statement. I used the Passionate Homemaking blog to work through the process and come up with my finished product. (see links below. Unfortunately, Blogger linking is not working... again.) I actually really liked Lindsay's and used hers almost verbatim.
But simply having a mission statement isn't enough. Take the next steps to develop how you will walk it out. Then study it, pray over it, and make it workable for your life. And remember that it is by grace you have been saved! Don't put too much pressure on the doing. Ask God to show you what He wants for your life, day by day, minute by minute. He created you with a purpose. He will direct your steps.
I saw this on Pinterest and it really spoke to me:
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| So true! |
What works in your life to keep you on target? Or, do you feel like you need something to help you get that target in focus? If so, I pray a blessing over your endeavor.
Thanks for stopping by,
Heather
PS – if you’re interested in developing a family mission statement, check out the link below. (I’ve also done this.)
Personal Mission Statement: www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/01/developing-a-personal-mission-statement.html
Family Mission Statement:
www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/07/developing-a-family-mission-statement.html
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