Never Going Back

By Amanda Brown

“For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do… It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus. May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends.” Galatians 6:14-18 (MSG)

Do you ever wonder what you're supposed to do with the new life Jesus has given you? The moment you said yes to Jesus, everything changed—so, now what? As our faith grows in our journey with God, He continues to show us that He’s not just saved us from something, He’s calling us to something: To go forward in our lives with boldness as we confidently declare our reason for freedom.

If we look back, we can see where our pre-Jesus lives weren’t working. Many of us have struggled (and still struggle) with a habit of people-pleasing, which drives us to keep up a pace that reflects a need to prove our worth rather than living as a reflection of a worthy King. But Jesus has set us apart; we don’t have to keep up with a life we were never meant to live. We have the favor of Christ upon us, and we are a new creation. 

At Flatirons, we believe the most loving thing we can do for others is to go to them and invite them to come and see who Jesus is and what He has done for them. Your freedom isn’t just for you—it’s meant to help set others free, too. As followers of Christ, we are carriers of light, and the light of Jesus permeates into the world through us. Can you imagine what would happen if we actually believed we were free, lived like it, and declared it to the world? That kind of courage would change everything! 

Your life’s mission is given to you by God; your job might change, and your season might shift, but your purpose? That stays the same—you were set free to help others find freedom, too. So, wherever God has you right now…start there.

Challenge/Activity:
Writing the mission statement of my life

1. Set a timer for five minutes and journal your answers to the prompts below. Just write down what comes to mind first. 

1. What three values are most important to me? (e.g. kindness, growth, integrity)

2. What activities or moments make me feel most alive? (e.g. deep conversation, being outdoors)

3. What kind of person do I want to be known as? (e.g. generous, faithful)

4. What impact do I want to have on the world around me? (e.g. I want to be a voice for the overlooked)

5. If I could accomplish one thing in life, what would it be? (e.g. To have loved well)

6. Using what you wrote above, respond to this sentence starter. (Be specific, simple and direct.) 

2. Using what you wrote above, respond to this sentence starter. (Be specific, simple, and direct.)

The mission of my life is to…

E.g. The mission of my life is to love others, especially the voiceless, so they are known and know Jesus. 

3. Reread your statement, asking yourself:

• Does this reflect who I am and who I want to become?

• Is it inspiring to me?

• Is it clear and easy to remember?

4. Final Mission Statement - Write your final mission statement on a separate piece of paper or card, and keep it in a place where you’ll see it regularly. Create a habit of checking in with yourself, and with God, about your alignment with your mission statement.