“If you
haven’t chosen what you’re living for, you’re living life by default, acting
out the scripts handed to you by family, other people’s agendas, and the
pressures of circumstances.”
-Linda
Dillow (Calm My Anxious Heart)
I read Calm My Anxious Heart a year ago, and I
loved it. It challenged me to think about how I was living my life day to day.
I didn’t want to live in reaction to my circumstances, and I wanted to be wise
in the things I chose to do as well as the things I chose not to do. I wanted
focus in my life, so I created a mission statement.
I started
out by writing down verses that really captured my heart over the last few
years [2 Corinthians 12:10; Exodus 33:14; 1 Timothy 6:15; Philippians 3:7-9;
Psalm 51:10-13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 2:12; 1
Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Hebrews 10:23; James 5:16; Revelation
21:4] Then I looked for common themes among these verses. I also thought about
the different responsibilities God had entrusted to me (such as being on staff
with Cru, discipling women, and being married) as well as what passions He had
given me. After praying through these things, I felt like God had given me a
picture of how He wanted me to live my life for Him through the mission
statement below.
For the sake
of Christ I want to:
oGrow
through learning continually, thinking deeply, and the studying of God’s Word
oDemonstrate
my eternal perspective by being content and restful, living out of my
weaknesses, and embracing suffering
oDevelop
others by teaching, encouraging them in their strengths, sharing my life, and
challenging them to grow
oA
wife and mother that puts her family first by encouraging them towards Christ,
loving and serving sacrificially, and creating beauty and warmth in our home
oAll
of this on the foundation of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord, who is always faithful to me, and the hope that one day He will wipe away
every tear from my eyes
I would love
to hear what passions God has laid on your heart. How has He uniquely gifted you to express the Gospel to others? I’m
praying that the following verse will be true of you and me as we reflect our
beautiful Savior to the world!
Live life
then with a due sense of responsibility not as women who do not know the
meaning [and purpose] of life, but as those who do. Make the best use of
your time, despite all the evils of these days. Don’t be vague but grasp firmly
what you know to be the will of the Lord.