Another helpful thing to consider when reflecting on your Mission is your personal SHAPE.
SHAPE is a concept developed by Rick Warren and it includes consideration of five things:
- Spiritual Gifts – what spiritual gifts has God given to you?
- Heart – what are your passions, interests, and motivations?
- Abilities – what are you good at?
- Personality – what type of personality do you have?
- Experience – what is your life experience, as well as your education?
These five things work together to form your unique SHAPE. After all, our purpose in life isn't so much something we decide, as it is something we discover. God has SHAPEd each one of us for a unique purpose. We could do a variety of different things with our life but we will be most fulfilled and most effective when we give ourself to the purpose for which God has created us.
Take time today to reflect on your own SHAPE.
"God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." [Rom 12:6-8. NLT]
"God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. [Eph.2:8-10. NLT]
"God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen." [1 Peter 4:10-11. NLT]