Who do you really want to be?
Who do you really want to be? Many of you are acquainted with the famous writer Stephen Covey. He wrote a book which appeared on the best-sellers list for a number of years, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” That book is still popular today, because it helps you focus on the person you wish to be.
On pg. 106 Stephen Covey says, “The most effective way I know to begin with the end in mind [in other words, the kind of person I want to become] is to develop a personal mission statement as to what you want to be.”
That means, write out a list of items that you really want to be then practice those things tomorrow, the next day, the day after that, continue it every day that you live. If, heaven forbid, you die on that future day, you’ll be close to the person that you wanted to be! After all, you can’t change the past…it is set in concrete. But you can change who you are tomorrow by clearly defining a goal and then targeting that goal with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I took Covey’s advice and wrote my own mission statement. It is on my desk protected by a sheet of glass. I see it every day that I am at my desk. It serves as a constant reminder that I need to become someone of greater value than I am today.
Evangelist B. R. Lakin often said, “I want to live my life in such a way that my family won’t have to apologize for me when I am dead.” He succeeded. His words are good advice for all of us! But his goal is not very specific, is it? Maybe you could jot down a few specific ideas right now on your note pad, let it simmer until the next time you sit down at this spot then perhaps add some more items at that time. Before long you’ll have something specific…and something achievable, too.
Don’t be like the old man who died! This old man was lying in the casket. His wife and son were sitting on the front row of the audience. The preacher began talking about the old man…salt of the earth…dependable…friendly…best neighbor you could ever have.
Finally, the old man’s wife leaned over and said, “Son, sneak up there, look in the casket, and see if that’s really our old man, because that can’t be who the preacher’s talking about!”
How will your life end? If it ended today, would you be satisfied with the kind of person you are right now? Are you the person your spouse needs? Your children need? Your church needs? Your Lord needs? Remember: If you aim at NOTHING you will hit your target and produce NOTHING. But if you aim at something…you get the idea!
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
Tom Swartzwelder was born again at the age of nine in an old-fashioned revival meeting. Tom received his B.A. from Tennessee Temple University and his M. Div from Luther Rice Seminary. He has pastored for nearly forty years in both bi-vocational and full-time roles. He provides practical how-to-do-ministry resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ at http://www.godsgreenhouse.net. Tom’s latest book is “God Speaks–Today!”
Yes, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Mathew 5;14-16)