I have to admit I really hate New Year’s resolutions.  For years I would come into the new year with a lofty list of resolutions that were completely abandoned by the second week of January.

As the years went on, I said to myself that I would  just have one or two goals to focus on, and maybe I could stick to those. Those resolutions lasted a little longer, but soon enough those fell to the wayside as well.

As we were closing out 2020, I started to think about resolutions again to see if there was a way that I could actually stick to them.

I came across something from the Dave Ramsey organization about having SMART goals.

SMART is an acronym for:

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Time Sensitive

I also found a Goal Tracker worksheet that laid out 7 areas of our life where we should have goals.  Those are Spiritual, Financial, Social, Physical, Intellectual, Career, and Family.

For someone who couldn’t stick to one resolution, having 7 resolutions seems like quite a jump!  But I am giving it a shot and I’ve put together 2021 goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time sensitive.   And now that we’re 6 days in, I’m still on track! :)

I know that I want 2021 to look different for me personally than 2020 did.  Although I can’t control what happens to the economy or whether or not there will be another global pandemic, there are some things that I can do that can make a difference in my life, and ultimately in the Kingdom of God.

Each day when I pray, I now bring my list of goals and pray over it, as I ask God to help me accomplish these this year.

If this is the year you want to make a change, I want to encourage you to use the Goals Tracker worksheet as a guide.  Be specific, have a realistic action plan, and put a target date on it.  

Even the smallest effort that is done daily will get you much closer to your goals one year from now.  

Galatians 6:9 says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

I am praying for you to to not give up this year, and maybe you can pray the same for me too.

~ Vijoy