Be God’s MVP In 2011

Almost everyone is at least tempted to make some sort of New Year’s resolution the first week of the year. Unfortunately, studies show that only a meager percentage of us follow through. 

I find that our resolutions are too small—too focused on us and now and not focused enough on the big picture of our life—God, others, and eternal impact. 

What we need is the bigger picture of God’s calling in our life. For years I have taught church members, students, pastors, and counselors a process of developing a personal and ministry MVP-C Statement. Briefly, here’s how you could apply this concept to your New Year’s resolution. 

M Is for Mission

The “M” in an MVP-C Statement is for your mission from God. We must base our mission on clear biblical directives. A mission statement clearly defines what God’s Word says about how I fulfill my calling from God. 

So, whatever your resolution is, have you backed it with the Word? Put another way, Does God have your back? Go back to your resolution and put meat on it by examining and applying specific biblical principles related to your resolution. 

V Is for Vision

The “V” in an MVP-C Statement is for your unique God-given vision or dream. It is your DNA or finger-print. It is the way God designed youto fulfill your mission differently from anyone else on the planet. 

As an example, my calling and mission from God is to write, speak, and consult about biblical counseling and spiritual formation. Now other people do the same. But what is the DNA of how God designed me to do it? After much prayerful pondering, I now state my vision as: 

Writing, speaking, and consulting about Christ-centered, church-based, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation that equips God’s people to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth. 

So, as you reflect on your 2011 resolution, have you sought God’s unique design for how you will fulfill it this year. He has fearfully and wonderfully made you. In what special and specific way will you fulfill God’s dream for your life in 2011? 

P is for Passion

The “P” in an MVP-C Statement stands for your passion. In a passion statement we attempt to summarize in one brief, pithy, memorable phrase our focus. For me, my passion is one picture: 

Coach. 

In everything I do, I am a coach. I live to equip others. I love to coach others to speak the truth in love. So my passion is also one phrase: 

Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth. 

So, as you activate your 2011 resolution, what one phrase can you post on your laptop, link to your Twitter and Facebook pages, put on your fridge . . . that reminds you constantly why you do what you do in 2011? 

C is for Commission

I know, you are saying, “Wait, what’s with the hyphenated C in MVP-C Statement?” God calls us to be MVPs—Most Valuable People. But, even more, He calls us to be MVP-Cs—Most Valuable People for Christ! 

The “C” in an MVP-C Statement is for commission. This puts skin on the bones and makes the rubber meet the road so we walk the talk (okay, enough clichés already!). The major part of a commission statement is the MAP: Ministry Action Plan. This describes howyou will achieve your M, V, and P. It keeps you accountable and moving forward. 

For me, my MAP focuses on specific goals and objectives, plans and timelines for writing, speaking, and consulting in 2011. I map out, Lord willing, how I will fulfill my unique calling from God. 

So, for you, what’s your roadMAP for your 2011mission, vision, and passion statement? How will you get where God wants you to go? When you arrive, how will you assess whether you have met your goals? Create a MAP—a Ministry Action Plan that outlines specifically the steps on your 2011 journey—your goals, objectives, plans, and timelines on your “To Serve God” list (which is much better than a “To Do” list). 

Make a Re-SOUL-ution in 2011

I pray that when December 31, 2011 rolls around, we can all look back with awe and amazement because God will have empowered us to live out our 2011 resolutions for His glory. Dream big. Remember, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:15-23).