Cheers to 2016! It’s a new year and many of us are starting the year by writing resolutions, goals and plans. As you consider the new year – Let’s plan together.
1. Reflect on the previous year. You can start by answering these questions:
What did God do in 2015?
What lessons did you learn?
What were your blessings?
What were the challenges/opportunities for growth?
2. Ask God what He wants for you this year
Spend time alone with God and ask Him what He wants you to focus on this year. Before you write anything, spend time in prayer asking specifically for God to give you wisdom and guidance as you set goals. If you’ve already written goals, you can also go back and ask God to show you which goals to give attention to.
Some areas to focus on include are:
Spiritual
Personal (becoming a better you)
Relationships
Health
Financial
Business/Career
3. Identify 1-2 foundational scriptures that will guide your year.
Write this scripture down and revisit it often throughout the year. Reflect on the scriptures by asking yourself:
What are the key words in the scripture? Highlight, underline and write them down.
What is God saying to me in this scripture?
How will this scripture guide my decisions and actions this year?
4. Write out your action items.
Have Faith that God can do it! Actually take the steps to execute the action plans. Faith without works is dead!
What do you need to do in order for these goals to be realized?
How will you track your success? Do you need to have deadlines?
Revisit those goals often! Adjust them as needed. Pray about them and continue to ask God for wisdom and guidance.
Here’s to big dreams and the fulfillment of those dreams in 2016. Dream big because you serve a Big God!
P.S. Here’s what a part of this process looks like for me:
One of my foundational scriptures for 2016:
“Call to Me and I will answer and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
Key Words (my thoughts in parentheses):
Call to Me (spend time in prayer, consistent, quality)
Answer (You will get results when you pray, expect answers to your prayers)
Show (Revelations, Hidden things will come to light, opened eyes),
Great and Mighty things (these things will blow you away, they are bigger than you!)
that were not known before (I[God] will show you new, different things, be ready for a change of mind, new thinking)
Action Items: I need to:
-Identify a prayer plan – When? How Long? Structure?
-Determine how I will track myself. Am I staying consistent?
What will be your guiding scripture(s) this year?
