Any Goals for the New Year?
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
Psalm 20:4
Each new-year seems to be a time when people make resolutions, such a starting an exercise program. Every January the number of people I see exercising at the YMCA significantly increases, but by summer the number of people exercising is greatly reduced. How can we make a new-year resolution and continue it throughout the year? When making a new-year resolution it’s always useful to see how significantly it will change your schedule and how much time it will take. Significant changes to our daily schedules can be difficult.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans (Proverbs 16:3). If we pray and search our hearts for a new-year resolution, then he will reveal a plan that should be appealing and fulfilling. Every plan we make must reap some reward, and these rewards can be set up in sub-goals so we can see our progress and increase our motivation. Without evidence of progress it is difficult to continue with any plan.
If we make plans for spiritual growth the Lord will definitely be pleased, and if we pray for success and direction in fulfilling the plan, he will motivate us toward success. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps (Proverbs 15:22). Ask the Lord for guidance for each step of the plan and know that he will perfectly guide you because it is for his glory and for your spiritual growth.
A new-year resolution may be to read and study the New Testament, or to complete a course on ministry to people in addiction, grief, or anger. Whatever new-year resolution the Lord puts on your heart, I recommend you break the goal into a series of sub-goals, and celebrate the achievement of each sub-goal. Always celebrate spiritual growth with a thankful heart because spiritual growth is a change in us that makes us more Christ-like.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, (Romans 8:29). When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are predestined to conform to the image of his Son. That means God will use every step of life to make us more like his Son, as he renews our minds and changes our spiritual hearts. When you make plans with sub-goals, track your progress, and pray for guidance, you will have the blessings of being more like Jesus in your thoughts and in your heart.
Today, January 1, 2019; make a new-year resolution for spiritual growth. Your spiritual growth is of great benefit to you and to others. Pray and divide the plan into sub-goals. Review it with close brothers or sisters in the Church to help you to motivate you to continue the plan. When others encourage us to continue, it erases negativity and creates motivation.
Let’s Pray: Lord put on my heart a spiritual plan that you desire for me and keep me motivated to continue the plan all year. Lord I know any plan you have for me will be for your glory and a great blessing for me. In Jesus name, Amen