You guys, we made it! We made it to the end of 2020!!! At different points of this year it felt like this day would never come. But here we are, the week of New Year’s Day!
The start of a new calendar brings me joy. I love dreaming about the new year and all of its possibilities. The idea of setting goals and making plans for the year fills me with excitement. Maybe you are like me and you already have your planner and colored pens and you’re ready to go.
Or maybe you are the exact opposite, and the word “Goal” is equivalent to a 4-letter word in your house. Your experience with goals may have left you with a sense of disappointment or frustration. Maybe it brings the label of “failure” into your life.
No matter what kind of feelings the word “goal” brings to mind, I want to challenge you to think about it in a whole new way. Instead of thinking of goals as a checklist of accomplishments or a list of potential failures, think about your goals as a way to have a God Ordained Adventurous Life.
God
God should be our number one consultant and counselor. It is extremely important to consult Him before we finalize our goals for the year. God knows what you will face this coming year. He knows what valleys you will walk through and what victories you will accomplish. Spend time in prayer. Have a conversation with Him. Have fun brainstorming with the most creative and all knowing Person.
Ordained
God has a very specific plan for your life. It is so specific that only you can do it. There are so many good things to do in this life…more than we have the energy or resources to do. That is why it is so important that we stay in our own lane and only do what God has called us to do. Ask Him how to narrow down all the possible goals to 2-3 main things to focus on for 2021.
Adventurous
Life is supposed to be exciting and fun. Not boring and mundane. When we are doing the things God has created us to do we should be invigorated and full of joy. Examine your current life. Think about what makes you come alive. These are potential things to keep doing in 2021. Think about what drains you or causes negative emotions to rise up. Talk to God about these. Ask Him if they are things you are supposed to stop doing, change how you are doing it or just have a perspective change.
An adventurous lifestyle does have ups and downs-that’s what makes it an adventure. What’s important is being on the right adventure. One that God has given you the strength, wisdom, patience and grace to go on.
Life
One definition of life is “a condition that distinguishes something from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity and continual change.” In other words, if you aren’t growing, you might be dead! We were created to be in a state of constant growth. I love how my pastor says it, “God loves us too much to leave us where we are at.”
Real life requires change. Our goals should be centered around the change God wants to do in our lives that year. What hurts needs another level of healing? Is there a character trait that needs to be strengthened? What is your primary purpose for this specific year?
Make 2021 Count
So as we start 2021, instead of making new year’s resolutions, I challenge you to spend time talking with God. Ask Him to guide you as you make your goals for the new year. Invite Him into the process. If you’re not like me and don’t have or want a list of goals under each area of your life, keep it simple. Ask these three questions.
- What is one topic/skill/character trait I can focus on to improve this year?
- What is one area of growth or healing that I need to devote time and energy into this year?
- Which Bible reading plan should I do this year to deepen my relationship with God?
Our prayer for 2021 is that we would all walk in our God Ordained Adventurous Life and we would encourage others to do the same.
