Make a Life Plan for 2026
Description
Ask Pastor JohnEpisode 2216Transcript: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/make-a-life-plan-for-2026
Notes
00:03 Welcome to Year 14
- Gratitude for listeners' support and involvement in the podcast
- Encouragement to prioritize personal mission statements in 2026
00:27 Bible Reading Plan for 2026
- Using the Navigator's Bible reading plan
- Commitment: 4 readings per day, 10-15 minutes daily
- 300 days of readings with monthly breaks
- Today's readings: Genesis 1-2, Psalm 1, Matthew 1, Acts 1
- Invitation to read the entire Bible alongside the podcast
01:41 Personal Mission Statements
01:41 Importance of Mission Statements
- Previous episode covered Christian resolutions biblically
- Today's focus: Creating life plans grounded in God's purpose
- The question from listener Paul about practical implementation
02:08 Listener's Concerns
- Difficulty in crafting a personal mission statement
- Questions about approach: strengths vs. roles vs. spiritual needs
- Balancing specificity without becoming overwhelming
03:02 God is a Planner
- God has purposes and goals throughout Scripture
- Isaiah 46.10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.
- Isaiah 14.24 - "As I have planned, so shall it be"
- Acts 4.27 - All events ordained according to God's plan
- Salvation and eternal joy depend on God's planning nature
05:11 Discovering God's Ultimate Purpose
- Critical questions: What is God's ultimate goal?
- 05:30: How can I join Him in His ultimate plan and purpose?
- 06:26: How do I do everything I'm doing so that I can contribute to that purpose?
- For this purpose a mission statement can be quite helpful.
- God has millions of sub-goals but reveals His main purpose
- Personal motivation since age 22 to understand and join God's ultimate plan
- The desire to align personal purpose with God's purposes
06:54: Caution: Life is too variable for our mission statement to be too detailed
For a Christian framework of mission statements, see: "Well Done" Statement.
- Mission statements remind me regularly about what matters
- The things of God which do not change.
08:54 Crafting Your Mission Statement
08:54 Keep It General and High-Level
- Include specific details makes statements short-lived
- Life changes: jobs, family, health, circumstances
- Lasting mission statements must be biblical and unchanging
- Focus on the "big picture" of life
08:44 Finding God's Core Purpose
- God is infinitely full of every perfection
- God's ultimate aim: communicate His fullness to creation
- God's purpose is to be "seen, savored, and shown" as infinitely glorious
- Isaiah 43:6-7 - We are created for God's glory
- Self-communication is God's highest virtue and most loving act
10:43 The Lord's Prayer as Model
- "Hallowed be your name" is foundational
- Prayer should be: Make me a means of communicating God's beauty and worth
- Others should hallow God's name because you exist
- This is the essence of biblical personal mission statements
11:45 Living Out God's Glory
- Scripture offers countless ways to glorify God:
- Whether eating or drinking, do all to God's glory
- Give thanks to the glory of God
- Confess Jesus to God's glory
- Do good deeds that God may be glorified
- Welcome others to God's glory
- Be generous to the poor for God's glory
- Everything done with body, mind, and heart should display God's greatness
12:46 The Common Denominator: Faith and Service
- 12:31: The questions should be Is there anything that is in common between these things that turn them into God glorifying acts? The answer is found in:
- 13:00 1 Peter 4.11 - Serve in God's strength so He is glorified
- Reliance on God's sufficiency makes works glorify God
- 13:49 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 - Do all work as work of faith by God's power
- 13:00 1 Peter 4.11 - Serve in God's strength so He is glorified
- Key principle: Live by faith in God's promises in service of love
14:25 Building Your Mission Statement Framework
- 14:22: ā Build your life mission statement by thinking about God's glory before thinking your own gifting and calling.
- 15:01: Then when you have built your life mission statement built on those purposes of God then you can find the specifics within your current season of life.
- Steps:
- Step 1: God is infinitely glorious
- Step 2: God means to communicate that glory to His people
- Step 3: Join God in that purpose through absolutely everything
- Step 4: Act in humble reliance on God's grace and power through Jesus
- Step 5: Serve others to make God look great
- Step 6: Create short-term mission statements for specific seasons that draw particulars into the overarching statement
15:30 Example Mission Statement
- Appreciate God as a planner
- Rely on His grace in all endeavors
- Display God's infinite glory through seeing, savoring, and showing Him
- Delight in God while fulfilling His ultimate purpose of being glorified
- Work out this aim in each season of life
15:57 Daily Scripture Engagement
- Non-negotiable daily habit for all Christians
- Scripture functions to: save, sanctify, strengthen, protect, fill with joy and peace
- Nourishes spiritual life and equips overcoming sin, Satan, and falsehood
- Essential for fulfilling your calling in the world
16:28 Next Episode Preview
- Focus: Maximizing daily time in God's Word
- How Scripture accomplishes its sanctifying work in your life
- Action item: Download Navigator's Bible reading plan PDF and begin today
Make a Life Plan for 2026
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Description
Notes
00:03 Welcome to Year 14
00:27 Bible Reading Plan for 2026
01:41 Personal Mission Statements
01:41 Importance of Mission Statements
02:08 Listener's Concerns
03:02 God is a Planner
05:11 Discovering God's Ultimate Purpose
06:54: Caution: Life is too variable for our mission statement to be too detailed
08:54 Crafting Your Mission Statement
08:54 Keep It General and High-Level
08:44 Finding God's Core Purpose
10:43 The Lord's Prayer as Model
11:45 Living Out God's Glory
12:46 The Common Denominator: Faith and Service
14:25 Building Your Mission Statement Framework
15:30 Example Mission Statement
15:57 Daily Scripture Engagement
16:28 Next Episode Preview