“Most people don’t keep their new year’s resolutions because they don’t translate them into their schedule” writes Matt Perman. “It’s that simple. If you make a resolution, but don’t plan time to actually accomplish it, it usually won’t happen. It won’t happen because it remains merely an intention.”
There is a great deal of truth in Matt’s observation. How often have you made a new year’s resolution only to break it early in the new year or never even start it?
I find new year’s resolutions extremely difficult to keep. My understanding might be wrong, but when I think of resolutions, I think of a solemn resolution to always do, or live, or speak a certain way. If you fail once, your resolution is broken. The most notorious resolutions are Jonathan Edwards. Here are the first 6 of his 70 resolutions.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Instead of resolutions, my preference is to think in terms of goals when I start the new year. A goal is something you actually achieve. You can actually accomplish a goal. I find that accomplishing goals gives me incentive to work harder and go after more goals.
Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People suggests identifying your goals around your major roles. I find that extremely helpful. So, I develop my goals as around my following roles: (1) follower of Christ; (2) husband; (3) father; (4) pastor (your vocation). In my role as a pastor, I further break my goals down to my major responsibilities at CrossWay: (1) evangelism; (2) mission; (3) care groups, etc.
Then, as Perman suggests, I identifying times in the day, week, or year where I plan on pursuing that goal. This last step actually prioritizes time in my schedule to accomplish my goal. This keeps my goals from becoming merely a thing that would be nice to do.
So here is my challenge. What do your goals look like for 2010? If you have goals, do you have any goals related to evangelism, or outreach, or mission? What do you want to personally grow in your obedience to bear witness to Jesus Christ? How do you want to grow in how you invest your resources of time, energy, and finances for mission? How do you want to grow in leading others, especially your family and Care Group members, in living in the world for Christ? I pray God would not only lead you for formulate some goals in 2010 as a follower of Christ, but I pray you would accomplish your goals.
Happy New Year!
