Many blogs that talk about setting new goals for the new year start with the idea of you imagining what you want said at your funeral.  Not a cheery thought but it does make us think.  I’m not sure though that it is the best place to start as we look at the coming year.  The thing is for many people death is the end and in a sense the funeral is the final hurrah but not for the Christian.  After our death we meet our maker (as do all mankind) and my heart’s desire is to hear Him say to me “Well done, good and faithful, enter into thy rest.” I would rather hear that than all the accolades from my friends and family left here on earth.  Therefore it should be the things that God values that I should use as the basis for my goals and plans for the coming year.

What does God value?

• My relationship with Him
• My relationship with my husband – Peter
• My relationship with my children
• The things that He has given me – what is in my hand (God values that I use these things to advance his kingdom): time, money, talents, opportunity, my home

This list is purely a thought process I went through – it isn’t a conclusive list.  I believe it is the things that the Holy Spirit prompted me with as I reflected on this question (What does God value?)  So it is my list – not a list for everyone to take as their list.  But what I do believe stands true for others to think about is – what premise do you set your new year’s goals?    On the basis of what makes you happy?  What makes others happy?  On what you feel bad about leftover from last year?  On what will be said at the end of your life?  Or on what God desires for you?

If we are to truly know what God desires for us we need to spend time with God – read his word and pray (talk to Him.)  I think we often look for the big project, the big mission, the big effort God wants from us and we miss the day to day heart stuff that God is so keen about.

If we want to set God honouring goals we need to talk to Him about it.

When we read the Bible we find out what God wants for us:

• He wants our hearts,
• He wants our lives,
• He wants us to share Him with others, to disciple others for His Kingdom
• He wants us to worship him in thought and deed

These are the things (and many more) we can do at the kitchen sink, in front of a math book, or driving in the car.  We can be, should be, doing what pleases God every day in the little stuff of our life.

So when we set goals keep in mind that God is in the everyday.  That God is okay with everyday lives.  We don’t need grand goals, grand resolutions, grand visions – we simply need to please God and to set our hearts on the things that He values.

Over to you:

Do you reflect back before planning forward? 

What is one Bible verse that is guiding your thoughts this year?