New Year, Same You

Then the Lord said to me, write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NLT) Tyndale House Publisher

This is the time of year when most of us make goals to change, some calling them new year resolutions. Goal setting is a great tool to get things done and moving in the right direction. In-fact the bible encourages such behavior in Habakkuk 2:2-3. It’s not the writing down of goals that are the problem. Without a goal, we often wander through life aimlessly instead of waiting purposefully.

About a month ago, I started a 300 things list. Not really a bucket list, but 300 things I want to accomplish, do or give. I said started because I’m still working on writing things down. I’ve made it to 219 at the time of this post. Had no idea how challenging it would be to write down 300 meaningful things that are important to me. Things that I would like to see happen and that I can participate in making it come to pass. We write goals, lists, and resolutions and forget that we must do something to progress to the finish line.

It is never enough to want something badly; we must take action to get it. Yes, just like Habakkuk we must wait and be patient for the goal, vision, or resolution to come to pass but waiting is not nothingness. Waiting is a season of preparation for what’s to come. In that season between goal setting and goal fulfillment, we can take actions that move us in the direction closer to the goal.

I have a goal to write 100 books in my lifetime. Yep, it’s a lofty goal, but book 1 was published last year so I have 99 more to go. Here is where it gets challenging, I have the goal in mind and I have started so I know I can write and publish, but the day to day task of writing and research are tedious and not as exciting as starting. Then there is my stinkin’ thinkin’ of “who am I to write 100 books and who even wants to read them.” I’m sure most of you can relate. Unless we change our mindset about the day to day task, those goals remain just that, goals.

So, before January 1, 2020, let’s get started:

1. Write the goals
2. Visualize yourself at the end, picture goal accomplished
3. Check your mindset and adjust if necessary (find truths to defeat the lies)
4. Break goals down into small necessary steps, tackle one step at a time
5. Share that goal with someone you trust, that can check in and hold you accountable

Repeat steps 2-5 weekly, if not daily

Here are some resources to help set smart goals: