I used to set goals for each year. I got away from it because somehow in setting goals it also implied a deadline.

Now, I am trying to realize that I need to take time to re-evaluate my goals from time to time. Forget the timeline in many cases.

For instance, I need to set a target weight for my health and stay at it. I don’t need to say, “I need to lose 20 pounds.” (Once I’ve lost the 20 pounds, back I go!)

This coming year I’ve set goals to keep my mind and spirit sharp. I’ve also made it my goal to develop some writing that I feel is necessary for ministry and for the church. Along with that I hope to develop another blog for pastors. But in those goals I need to have them mind, work at them, but forget the timelines. If they are not in full swing by this time next year, I need to re-evaluate and see if I need to keep at it. I don’t need to feel like a failure.

We say farewell to 2011 and hello to the last year of the planet (for the Mayans, anyway). There is really one supreme goal I carry with me, which I pray for all of us:

¹² It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. ¹⁴The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ So, all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. ¹⁶ Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached. (Phil. 3:12-16, CEB)

Many blessings in this new year!