“What you do for yourself depends on what you think of yourself. And what you think of yourself depends on what you know of yourself. And what you know of yourself depends on what you have been told.”

~

My question to you is: Do you really know who you are and what you’re capable of? For the next few weeks I will be writing on the topic of “Personal Mission Statement.”

 The Problem

We live in a popularity based- performance based world where we’re concerned about how many likes we get on social media; or we want a certain job, car, or brand. Technology is great and by it knowledge has increased and will continue to do so (Daniel 12:4), but it’s also a breeding ground for people to want worldly things, as opposed to knowing who they genuinely are. This generation is obsessed with labels. We have other people’s names on our backs and on our feet, except our own. What people know of themselves comes from what they have been told of themselves, and sometimes what they have been told is worldly poor advice. Do you know who you are and what wonderful things you can do in the world- outside of what people are telling you about yourself?

If we live for human validation or the validation of things, we will falter under human rejection or the loss of things. Validation that comes from stuff is never of God. Popularity based, performance based, or possession based thoughts often leads people to sell themselves. Figuratively speaking people will be prone to sell their “birthright” [by birthright I mean destiny or potential] for “a bowl of soup.” Like the way Esau sold his destiny to Jacob for a bowl of soup.

The Solution- A Renewing of Your Thoughts

As people, we must operate from a place of “being”, not “doing.” If you love writing, or you love law, or you love motivating people you must “be” that thing first before you start “doing.” Being a writer, practicing law, or motivating people should move you. So, if you lose a following, you won’t be depressed, because “the being” is what truly motivates you, not the people or possessions that come from your “doing.” It’s “the doing” that gets you the number of likes on social media, and if that drives you then that’s your god, not God. As followers of Jesus, we must operate in our “being,” which is of greater substance- our being is our gifting and talents, which is from God.

A couple of years ago I removed the Facebook app from my phone’s menu. I got tired of looking at other people’s lives. I was motivated by the “doing” of seeing how many likes I received from a photo upload, than realizing the gifting that’s on my life is far greater than the “doing”- the “likes.” Now, if I need to go on Facebook on my phone, I have to log on through my phone’s Internet browser, which is more work, so half of the time I don’t even bother. Likes by people don’t define “my being.”

“If you try to find out who you are by doing things, you will never find out who you are by being. You have to start with being.” –T.D. Jakes

As T.D. Jakes pointed out in a recent sermon: the difference between “doing” and “being” determines the direction of your destiny. I, you, we- will never have peace if we’re constantly seeking a status to find out who we are. It’s only when we know who we are in Christ, and recognize the gifting that God has put on our lives (the being) that we can climb to a higher status (the doing).

“You can’t climb up to find yourself. You have to find yourself so you can climb up.” –T.D. Jakes

A first step in finding out who you are is going to the Bible to read who God tells you who you are in Him. Next, if you have an inkling of your talent- maybe you realize you’re good with numbers, writing, or that you enjoy science- whatever it is then tap into that and explore it. Ask those closest to you what they see you as. And continue to seek God (Matthew 6:33) to bring you more into deeper revelation on what He’s put you on this earth to do. Create and write down your “personal mission statement” as you have a greater sense of your gifting and talent.

I took a professional development course this past year where the instructor had us think about our personal mission statement. Writing it down and going back to it from time to time is helpful for me to stay on my path.

Once you know who you are (your being), you will have a clearer vision on how to move toward your destiny (your doing).

Happy Friday

**Inspiration from this post came from words of T.D. Jakes.