The first pages marked "The Year of Our Lord, 2013" in my journal are dominated with sections of one to three goals labelled Spiritual, Personal, Marriage and Family, Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Professional. I make sure my goals are specific, or else it's just wishful thinking. For instance, "I'm going to read my Bible more," won't happen unless I specify when and how much. Same with weight loss, etc.
I'm doing a few things with my goals for the year that go beyond the scope of Edmondson's blog post. I've chosen three scriptures for the year. Now, Lord willing 2013 will be a year in which I read, study, teach and preach a lot of Scripture, but there are three I've chosen that I want to keep coming back to all year: 2Timothy 1:7, Proverbs 16:3, and Colossians 3:17. I've also written out a short prayer for the year. I intend to come back to my journal and re-read it a couple of times each month to remind me what blessings I'm asking God for this year, and how I hope my life will praise him. If this old world makes it through 2013, and I along with it, it'll strengthen my faith to read the prayer and think of all the ways god has answered it. I encourage you to include these important things in your goals for the year.
I heard a sermon illustration several years ago that went something like: "A man from a small town picked up a client from out of state at the airport and was driving him back to town. As they got to town they passed a street sign and on it a target painted in red and white--an arrow stuck in the center. They went a little into town and there was another target painted on the wooden siding of an old building--an arrow dead center. Finally, as they drove through the town square there was a thick old tree with a target on it and an arrow shot straight into the bulls-eye. The client asked, "Do you folks have some kind of champion archer in town?" "No," the businessman replied, "An artist. He shoots an arrow and paints the target around it."
The point? (No pun intended.) It's easy to settle for less than the best from ourselves. We're tempted to pretend where we are in life is the bull's-eye, because that's easier on us emotionally in the short-term. But, it's the lazy way; definitely not the spiritual way. It'll disappoint in the long run. So, it's not too late to do a little soul-searching and make some decisions about what you want to accomplish this year. "If you aim at nothing you'll hit it."
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2 comments:
The prayer idea is interesting, but I'm not entirely convinced it will necessarily strengthen your faith. I remember rereading a prayer in an old journal years later, and my heart sank with the realization that it hadn't been answered positively.
Hey Jenny,
Thanks for reading and commenting. You have an interesting blog yourself.
I understand where you're coming from, as I've certainly heard God's "no" on several occasions, but a mentor once told me, "God always gives us what we ask for or better." That may sound a bit idealistic, but it's what I've found to be the case even if it takes a while to realize it.
Paul asked the Romans to "strive together with [him] in [their] prayers to God" (Rom 15:30). When God says no to me, I'm convinced it's his invitation to deeper relationship. Considering the great promises he's made about answering prayers in Scripture, when he says "no," I think he's expecting me to blink, swallow, and ask "Why?" This is my process, and looking at it this way, journalling prayers has always (so far) ultimately increased my faith.
Feel free to disagree, sister, but do think about it, and you're welcome to share further thoughts.
---JLP
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