“Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Prov. 16:3 CSB
We’ve survived the holidays, hopefully we’ve had a day of rest in our created Sabbath. Now our thoughts are turning to the New Year, and the anticipation for all that we are hoping for in the days ahead.
Approximately 10 years ago, I changed how I approach the upcoming year. I used to make resolutions, and break them by day three. Now I make goals, I find a scripture that will be my focus for the year, and within it’s words, I find my one word for the year. Then I write it out and place it somewhere I will see it daily to remind me what I am working on for the year. I’ve found it is much more effective than making New Year’s Resolutions. Over the last few days of 2019, I’m going to share my process with all of you, and invite you to join me.
I have four categories of goals: Spiritual, Marriage, Financial, Physical. I write out one goal for each category. My Spiritual one is always whatever my verse and word are for the year. For instance, this was my verse this year:
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4 NIV.
My word for this year was Perseverance. My spiritual goal was to persevere this year, which may sound easy, but it was not. This past year I started working on my Masters. Not only did I have to persevere in my efforts to go back to school, but I had committed to writing daily devotions for this group. I had no idea on Jan. 1st, 2019 what either of those things meant for my life. Now I do, because I persevered. That perseverance did come with suffering, it did produce perseverance, build my character and give me hope.
My marriage goal was to read through the Bible together with my husband, we have now done that. My physical goal was to take 2 exercise classes a week. My financial goal was to come in on budget each month. I did not do 2 exercise classes each week, but I have started walking 5 days a week. I came in on budget almost every month, I missed twice. I can look back over my goals, my 2019 and quantitatively tell you how I did. We’re going to close out 2019 by setting our goals for 2020.
I’m resting in anticipation today. How can you find rest today?
