Well Happy New Year Everyone! Can you believe we are already in 2019!?
So, as we do at the beginning of every year, we sit down and write a lengthy list of goals we want to achieve this year. More than likely we give up by the 2nd or 3rd week of the year. Most of the time, we have good intentions however our motivation diminishes when we realize how much work we have to put in to keeping those goals. It can be frustrating and defeating. You begin to feel like at failure sometimes. We begin to feel like we can't accomplish anything. The problem is, we create goals and then try to follow them without realizing there are some things we need to do beforehand. We want to be able to achieve the goals we set. Correct? So with that, here are 5 things you should do BEFORE creating goals.
1. Get a journal!
I say this all the time. Buy a journal. You can easily go to the 99c Store and get one. It doesn't have to be super elaborate, just something to write down your thoughts, feelings, and goals. It is a great way to track your progress as well. You can print out motivation images and color in it. Whatever you need to do so you are motivated to use it, please do it!
2. Be Grateful!
What does gratitude have to do with goal setting? Well I'm glad you asked. There are times that we set our sights on things that we may already have. For instance, we want a new car because we don't like our car anymore. Why not step back and see what God has already blessed you with before you start striving for things you already have. Take time every day for the next 3 days (at least) to write down 5-10 things you are grateful for. Each day make them different. It forces us to stop and slow down and realize how blessed we are. This honestly can be a really hard thing to do. I know it was with me. We would rather complain about what we don't have instead of focusing on what we do have. We need to allow the Father to transform our hearts so we are not complaining. In a sense we are telling God, what you've done for me isn't good enough. Yes God can give us the desires of our heart, but they need to be godly desires. Desires that will life His name on high. Not desires that will feed our temporary, fleshly desires.
3. PRAY!
So with being grateful we must pray! Pray? Yes! Pray! We create these goals and aspirations without checking in the God to make sure that is what He wants us to do. If we know for a fact that this is what God wants us to do right now, then we will probably have more motivation and drive to get it accomplished. We have to remember that "as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [His] ways higher than [our] ways and [His] thoughts are higher than [our] thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).
He has a far greater plan for us than we can ever think or imagine. We could be trying to achieve goals that God never wanted us to achieve. So when we try to get ahead of God by creating goals that we were never meant to accomplish, that could be a lot of wasted time in what He actually wants you to do. So ask God what goals He wants you to make this year. Right some goals down. Pray on each one. If you feel peace about it, then go ahead and do it. If there is some uneasiness about it, then that is probably the Lord telling you to not do it. We are afraid to ask because it could be something we really want to do and we don't want to hear the Father tell us "no", however, it'll be far better in the long run. Just remember, it's not rejections, it's protection.
"He is the vine and we are the branches. If we remain in Him, He will remain in us and we will bear much fruit." (John 15:5) We cannot strive to be successful without God. He is the one who created us and designed our life. He knows what He wants us to do. When we are obedient to Him, He will want to bless us. If we continuously live according to our own desires and flesh, we are basically telling God that we don't need Him.
4. Accountability
Do you have any accountability in place before you start trying to work on your goal? I was asking someone about their goals once and they told me they don't like to tell people because that means that have to follow through with what they said. I understood what he was talking about. It can add pressure when you tell people your plans or goals and it can be upsetting or embarrassing if you don't achieve those goals. You do, however, need to tell the right people, not just anyone. These people are those who you trust to help you along in the process, not just judge you for not being able to achieve your goals. Accountability is designed to help you, not hurt you. If you do feel like accountability is negative, have the Father change your heart and show you people in your life that you can trust and that will help you.
5. Don't Stress! Have Fun!
Have fun with creating goals. If they don't get accomplished in the time that you are hoping, don't stress. IF it is apart of the Lord's plan, He will make sure it'll happen.
I pray you all see the importance of what I'm trying to convey here. Set new year's resolutions, but have the right mindset about it and make sure they are lead by God and not our own fleshly desires. If you all have any questions, comments, concerns, let me know! I will talk to y'all later!
BYYYEE!!!
~Meghan A. Harper
Dear Father,
I pray that our hearts, minds, and ears, are open to you. Guide us this year onto the path that you have laid out for us. Give us the tools to accomplish the goals you have for us so that it will fulfill the purpose you have for our life. I pray for our protection this year and that our minds stay on you. Help us to not get discouraged but stay motivated and realize that what we are doing will not be done in vain. Give us peace and comfort as we embark on new journeys that you are calling us on. I pray for motivation and that our eyes are fixed on your power, not our own power that fades. I thank you for your love and patience as we continue on in this journey called life. I love you and I pray we have a great and blessed 2019!
In Yeshua/Jesus name I pray,
AMEN!!!