WMA: Begin with the End in Mind

By Judy Wallace

Along with science, my other teaching duties at Bald Knob included a gifted and talented (GT) program for the upper grades. In high school, the students’ needs were covered by advanced classes, but in junior high, the GT classes were more creative in nature.

One of the first assignments I would give my students was to have them write their own obituaries. Some may have thought this was a rather morbid assignment. I saw it as a way for them to clarify the values, visions and goals they had for their lives. What did they want to accomplish in their lifetime? How did they want to be remembered? How would they go about bringing these things to fruition? Whatever their answers were to these questions, they had to plan for and put them into action, one step at a time. Our first step was to define what I was asking for.

• Values — In today’s vernacular, values can be thought of as our worldview. The Christian worldview is that all men are born with a sin nature and we are headed to Hell, which is what we deserve; but God provided a way to eternal life through our repentance and belief in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our values are equated with these beliefs and form the foundation for how we live our lives. These must be based on the truths set forth in His Word if we are to glorify Him. What standards and beliefs do you go by to build your life on?

• Visions — Businesses and organizations state aims they want to achieve. An aim is something intended or desired to be obtained, a purpose to be worked toward. These are often given in the form of a Mission Statement that is collaborated on by the parties involved. I had a vision for my life from the time I was in the third grade. I wanted to become a teacher. I think that purpose was planted in my heart by God Himself. Why? It never left my focus and, even with my parents thinking I should follow a different path, my heart was set on teaching. What is the purpose God has chosen for your life? Are you pursuing it?

• Goals — The results or achievements we want to see in our lives are the goals we have worked toward. Our efforts are meaningless unless they have been directed by God and achieved through the strength and direction of the Holy Spirit. Self-sufficiency and self-reliance will not cut it! We are helpless without God. What is it that you, with God’s leadership, want to accomplish in your life? Are you submitting to God and doing it?

What does this have to do with Legacy? We must consistently dwell in our Father’s presence, stay in His Word and obey what He shows us. Our values will align with His. He will set in our hearts the visions He has for our lives and will, step-by-step, show us the what, when and where of His Purpose for our lives. If we are to leave a legacy, we must have a legacy. Begin now with the end in mind!

• Scripture — I Peter 1:16; II Peter 3:11; Rom. 8:28-29; Deut. 6:1-15 ; Joshua 1:7-9; Phil. 2:1-11.

• Response — Using one of these Scriptures, write your own mission statement. What values, visions and goals for your life can you see in the Scripture you chose? How would this Scripture, if followed, develop a godly legacy for your life?

• Prayer — Father, I love You and ask that You continuously draw my heart, soul and mind to You. You know me better than I know myself, so “search me and know me and see if there be any wicked way in me” (Psa. 139:23). You know my sin of self-dependency. Help me to see how often and how desperately I fail. Help me immediately repent, submit and make me right in Your eyes. I pray that, at the end of my life, it can be said of me, “She loved God, and it showed.”

— These articles are shared via the National WMA web page blog that can be accessed at nationalwma.org/blogs.