New Year's Resolutions for 2012
Have you made your resolutions yet? I suppose theoretically you are suppose to have these in place by January 1st, but seriously does it matter? As long as you set resolutions, goals (or whatever you choose to call them) and write them down you are ahead of most the people around you.
Statistics say that somewhere between 15-20% of people actually make New Year's Resolutions and even a smaller percentage actually write them down.
Writing them down gives you a shopping list, a "to-do" list if you will. It also provides some accountability. Somewhere it is written what your plan is/was, that is your word (and it matters because our word is supposed to mean something -integrity).
So What are your goals, what are your resolutions?
I believe our resolutions should tie in with our priorities in life. So we first have to assess what are our priorities in life? What do we care most about?
For example, my general list of priorities are:
1. God
2. Wife
3. Kids
4. Friends
5. Job
So those are general, but all involve a large quantity of time investment. If I want to have a great relationship with 1-4, I have to be willing to invest time (time management). If I want to be successful at my job, I have to do the things that are required of me to help my company (organization or place of business) move up to the next level. This also requires time. If I'm not healthy, it cuts into my focus and quality time.
So the point is, are your resolutions pushing you toward your priorities?
If not are your resolutions good for you?
Goals are good, we should all set them. But let's make sure our goals are "others focused as well".
So my list (some are re-occurring yearly):
1. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with God.
2. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my wife.
3. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my children.
4. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my friends.
5. Devour the Word (the Bible). Read it for fun, wisdom, and because i have the freedom to do so, to garner God's wisdom for my life. (M'Cheyne One Year reading plan - YouVersion)
6. Pray more with my wife.
7. Hold hands with my wife...Everyday.
8. Hug and kiss my kids everyday.
9. No pop, soda, coke. Call it what you want if it has carbonation, it is a no-no for me.
10. Read a book a month (constructive and helpful book, not talking Cat in the Hat).
*U.S. Department of Labor and Yahoo!, business people who read at least seven business books a year earn 2.3 times more than those who read only one book per year.
Whelp, there they are. Nothing special. They will be a daily challenge and will take discipline to accomplish. I will have to focus each day when I awake to focus on Christ. With Him in first place, everything else will fall into place.
I hope that you have goals/resolutions as well. I hope that you are moving towards the prize. My prayer for you this year will be challenged to be "what" and "where" God needs them, focusing each day on mirroring Him to a lost and dying world.
Peace and love
B
