I have been setting my goals for the year in December for a few years now. Some years are better than the others as far as sticking to them, but I like January 1st for no other reason than the clean slate I have ahead of me.
Lofty goals take time, planning and effort to reach them.
Since Genesis 1 is listed on the first day of just about every published daily Bible reading plan, that clean start feeling is enhanced by reading it on January 1st. God’s creation is complete and is in the same state as our new goals (or resolutions):
- The world is fresh and new
- Adam and Eve haven’t had to make a critical decision yet
- Nothing but perfection is visible
Keeping up with our goals is easy in the beginning. In the beginning nothing has caused us to choose between sticking to the plan and chasing another temptation. In the beginning, it looks like we’ll easily develop our new goals into lifelong habits.
Goals, like ideas, look great on paper. Goals, like ideas, without a plan to carry them out will most likely remain on the paper. Goals and ideas on paper aren’t worth very much.
Solomon reveals the basic philosophy behind making things happen. He tells us that there is a time for everything. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Meeting goals requires prioritizing everything into its proper time.
Let me repeat that:
Meeting goals requires prioritizing everything into its proper time.
What that means is that items at the bottom of the priority list will probably not happen. The bottom of that list is where the time wasters belong – not the activities required to meet our goals.
Solomon said there is a time for every purpose – so for me, I want to ask myself more often if what I am doing has a purpose.
Have you set any goals for the year? Remember to plan sufficient time to work on them.
January 1, 2014
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