For many people the flip of the Gregorian calendar on January 1 signifies an opportunity to set and establish new goals for the upcoming year. Your goals could include things you want to start doing (exercise), things you want to continue doing (finding a weekly time to sabbath), or things you want to stop doing (eating junk food). Either way, goals are a good way to make sure that you are moving in a direction that can change your life and the lives of those around you in a better way.

The Flourish newsletter is about encouraging you as leaders towards wholistically healthy leadership. With that said I believe it is important to spend time on a quarterly or yearly basis evaluating where you are at in your health and setting some plans for where you want to be.

Here are a few reminders to think on.

1) Planning is biblical

God’s word strongly recommends that we plan carefully and commit to completing what we choose to do, so that it will be a job well done.

In Luke 14: 28-31, Jesus says:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?… (read more here)”

You can see in this passage, that Jesus urges us not only to plan but also to prepare for a total commitment to a good outcome. [1]

2) Ask for advice

The Bible advocates seeking out good counsel so that your plans can succeed.

Proverbs 16:20 notes:

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

Or consider Proverbs 15:22:

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Who are the people that know you best and can speak into the person you want to be? Ask for their advice. Ask them where you could use improvement as a person or leader and consider their advice.

3) Commit your ways to the Lord

Our greatest prayer should always be that we are following God’s lead, not our own.

Proverbs 16:3 says:

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Surrender your goals to God in prayer. Ask him to reshape and redirect your plans and remind you of your identity and future as a leader. Remember the revelation of God is progressive so your goals may change or shift as God reveals his plans for you.

So where do you go from here? How should you set goals for a new year? My encouragement is to consider setting goals that touch on each major area of your life, to consider the total person God made you to be.

To give you an example, here are some of my goals for the coming year:

Spiritual

Scripture memorization. My commitment is to memorize 26 verses this year, a verse every two weeks. I then plan to recite them at night before bed to end my day with scripture and words of truth.

Family

Quality time. My goal is to spend the 60 minutes my daughters have between supper and sleep time as electronic free time. I want to commit to giving them my best before I relax for the evening.

Physical

Exercise (2-3x per week) and stretching (daily).

Social

Birthdays! I want to better honor my friends and family by remembering their birthdays. I am making a calendar at the beginning of the year that helps me track when birthday’s are coming so that I can respond accordingly.

Work

Intercession. I have spent time working on a prayer guide that will help me pray for each of the co-workers and ministry partners that I have the privilege to minister alongside.

Your Turn!

Those are just a few examples of what God has placed on my heart for the new year. What does your goal list look like? In what areas do you feel like God is stirring you to improve and rededicate for wholistic health. If you compile a list send it my way. I will love to ask you about it as the year passes and encourage you along the way.

There’s no doubt that God wants you to fulfill your purpose in 2017. I pray this coming year is a year that you see God doing great things in your life and in the lives of those around you!

Growth Point:

Setting goals is a good way to make sure that you are moving in a direction that can change your life and the lives of those around you in a better way.

Scripture Point:

Psalm 32:8. Reflect on God’s desire to guide you along the journey of life.

Action Point:

Spend time this week praying about what positive changes you want to make for 2017. Make a list and share them with a friend who can encourage you towards wholistic health.

 

[1] http://www.christianpost.com/news/new-years-resolutions-biblical-money-family-career-ask-chuck-bentley-153313/

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/faith-in-life/discovering-your-god-given-purpose/setting-goals-to-fulfill-your-god-given-purpose