It is very important to have a target. As a family, you need to identify what is most important to you and identify your goals.

Our family has developed a simple Family Mission Statement that helps us to remember why we are on this planet, and what we hope to achieve. Every major corporation or ministry develops a mission statement to help keep them focused on their ultimate objective.

Ours simply says, “We exist to know, love and serve God, and to love and serve others.”

It is derived from the following Bible verses (among others):

Deut. 10:12-13 (NASB) 

“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

Eccles. 12:13 (KJV) 

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Micah 6:8 (NASB) 

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justice, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Luke 10:27 (NASB) 

And he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.”

We had our Family Mission Statement developed into a large poster that we have on the wall in our living room, so we will see it every day and consider if we are living up to our stated objective. I would highly recommend that you consider doing the same.

Israel Wayne is an Author and Conference Speaker and the Director of Family Renewal, LLC. He is author of the books, Raising Them Up: Parenting for Christians and Pitchin’ A Fit! – Overcoming Angry & Stressed Out Parenting.