Ready, Set GOals!

By Philip K. Hardin, M.A., M. Div., LMFT, LPC

How about NOW? –time to grow and take charge of the direction of your life!

New Year’s is a time of deep reflection, both on the past year and on the one ahead. As a Jesus Follower, New Year’s has unique significance. It offers a sense of new beginnings. It is a time to reflect on important questions, such as: Where am I? Where am I going? What do I want? What am I afraid of?

I want to pause and reflect on the past year and the year ahead. Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses. He asked of the Lord (Psalm 90:12),

“So teach us to number our days, That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.”

Time —seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years—is a gift to us from a good God. To wisely follow him, then, is to redeem our time (Eph. 5:16). I want to be deliberate and intentional about how I live my life and use my time.

Are you ready to take charge?

Jesus provides a model of growth as is described in Luke 2:52 –

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom, and stature, And in favor with God and men.

Jesus grew in wisdom—becoming emotionally mature, in stature—taking care of his physical body, with God—developing an intimate relationship with His Father, and with men—relationships were important to him.

God has a plan for your life.

I suggest you get focused on your God-given purpose with setting goals for the year ahead. Personal goal setting is linked to personal and professional success, but somehow many people question whether they should set goals. Once convinced that it’s a good idea, the question then becomes ‘how’.

Here are 4 tools that can help you take charge of your life’s direction:

All of these are available as Resources on our website.

1. 100 Reflection Questions for the New Year

This is a great resource for helping you to think through each area of your life as you prepare to set goals for the New Year. This is also a great resource to use for a date night as a couple. Go on a date and work through 10 questions at a time.

2. Couples’ Planning Weekend Worksheet

This is a great resource for helping to revitalize and restructure your marriage over a weekend. Karla and I have lived our life in “90 Day” increments as we have enjoyed planning weekends on a regular basis, breaking the year into four pieces. This resource will guide you through a weekend getaway to bring focus and direction to your marriage and family.

3. Write Your Life Mission Statement

This resource is from Pat Morley and his ministry “MAN IN THE MIRROR.” This tool will guide you through the process of writing your Life Mission Statement. Why are you here? Important question to answer.

4. Goal Worksheet

This resource is a simple goal sheet that will help you address the important areas of your life. We have used this form for years in our personal life and our family. We taught our girls how to set goals when they were small. Family vacations consisted of everyone working on their goals for the year.

The New Year is a great time to set goals to grow in all areas of your life, and lead your family to do the same!

Growth –real change will not happen if you have no real motivation. What is the goal of your resolution?

Setting goals for a new year is an important step towards becoming all God has called us to be in work and business, home and church, private and public witness. As Christians, we always have an ultimate goal: to glorify God. Therefore, we see that at the end of every goal we set.

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step.

1 Corinthians 9:25-26 NLT

For instance, I don’t exercise my body just so I look and feel better, rather I do so to be a good steward of my body so I may serve him better. Or, I don’t work to just get out of debt, rather I want to create more financial freedom for God to direct the use of my money for His glory, however He sees fit.

God wants to see you do great things and do His will on earth, not to do your will in a godly way.

This year could be the BEST YEAR EVER! Take some time to think through your life and where you can be more glorifying to God at the end of the year. Set goals as a deliberate desire to make trust God and allow Him to grow you this year!!

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Phil Hardin works as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with Hardin Life Resources practicing in both Jackson, MS and Fairhope, AL.

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