‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).

Do you believe that God has plans for your life? That He wants you to excel and thrive as you maximize use of your interests, gifts, and abilities? We at Faith-Centered Mentoring and More believe He does, AND we think those life plans can include many possibilities. We also believe we need to do our part to determine what those possibilities are and to act on them with God’s guidance.

One key step toward laying out your life plan is to identify your personal vision or visions. (We say visions because we think God allows choices on your part.) If you have more than one in mind, start working on one…and add others later.

A compelling vision along with goals to reach it can help you thrive, be more satisfied with your life, and get the most out of your mentoring relationships. In fact, if you don’t identify your vision, other people will attempt to plan and direct your life for you.

If you’re a mentor, having your own vision is an example for your mentees. If you’re looking for mentors, your thought-out vision and goals will help you know for what to ask. If you already have a mentor or two, updating your vision can help guide your mentoring partnerships and get them back on track if they’re off course or have lost momentum.

Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life (2002), challenges us to go beyond typical secular advice on vision. Instead of starting with you, what you enjoy, and what you’re good at, start with God’s clear purposes for you that appear in scripture. Warren identifies these as:

1. Giving God pleasure (accepting His love and delight, worshipping Him with passion, and becoming His friend)
   
   
2. Being part of God’s Family (making relationships a priority)
   
   
3. Becoming like Christ (strengthening your character through truth, trouble, and temptation)
   
   
4. Serving God (using your talents, overcoming weakness)
   
   
5. Telling others about Christ

What could your vision include? Becoming closer to God? Going into paid or volunteer ministry? Making a vital change in an area such as health, technology, the arts, or the environment? Raising happy, well-adjusted children? Writing a book? Owning a business? Using a new spiritual discipline? Being fit and healthy? Strengthening a character marker? Helping others with their spiritual development?

What are you good at? What do you love to do? What aren’t you good at now but would like to be? All of these important questions are part of identifying your personal vision.

Asking God to Help

This may seem obvious, but ask God for help with this project. For example, ask Him to give you His wisdom, guidance from the Holy Spirit, time to do the research and writing, clear and creative thinking, the information you need, and the people who might help. Write this prayer in a journal so you can follow up to see how God answered.

Conducting Research on Yourself

Before you write goals or even think about a specific vision, take time to research what you care most about, desire, and can do. The Personal Vision exercise below will help you do this. The tool is adapted from many sources and is designed to help you think and dream a little.