Do you review your
yearly goals throughout the year? If so, how often? What is your process like?
If you don’t review your goals, what would be the challenges and benefits you
could derive from doing so? Tell us about your process.
“A View from the Balcony”
This
morning I’m basking in the sunlight on the porch of my next-door neighbours’
house, notebook and coffee with me. My neighbours have asked me to house-watch
while they’re on vacation, and this morning I’m finishing my goals
review and writing this blog.
I
often review my writing goals every six weeks or so while outside the city. In
the wide view of the parkland and mountains beyond, I’m enveloped in God’s
creation. My head clears as I gain a new perspective on life and writing.
Last
summer I discovered a wonderful set of questions to guide my review process.
Rochelle Melander advocated getting away from your usual space—to a balcony, as
it were—to rethink your goals. (Check the link.) Her questions were as revealing
as they were thorough.
As a
result, I’ve developed better action plans. Part of the plan was to break down goals
into three-month or even one-month segments.
It worked! I couldn’t believe how much doing so focused me on the
immediate and realistic priorities and tasks.
I’ve
also begun to interweave a spiritual component with goal setting. This summer
as I reset my goals, I prayed for God’s grace, insight and wisdom.
Insight
came from our pastor’s sermon on Ruth and Orpah, the two young widows faced
with a choice: they could walk into an unknown future in Israel with their
mother-in-law Naomi, or they could return to their native Moab (Ruth 1:1-18).
Orpah
chose to return to Moab and to her gods—she played it safe and lost so much of
God’s potential for her.
But
Ruth, drawn to Naomi and Naomi’s God, dared to believe that He could do great things.
Decisions
And
without knowing her place in history, Ruth became the great-grandmother of King
David, and Jesus’ ancestress.
In reviewing my notes from that
sermon, I came across these profound quotes:
“It takes faith to walk in a new direction. A
bold choice."
"When you honour God with your decisions, He honours you.”
“Pay attention to His tugs—His promptings.”
“Bold decisions impact our faith. God wants
you to risk boldly.”
“Believe God can do great things!”
“Step out from the familiar and attempt
something daring.”
God is
challenging me to be a Ruth and step into God’s greater plans. As a result, I've asked Him to:
·
Do
something to bring the greatest glory to Himself.
·
Confirm
me in the next stage of His greater plans.
·
Bring
people into my life at the right time to implement components of those plans.
·
Fill me
with His words: to exalt Jesus and to impact people in my generation and in the
next.
“For God is
working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him”
(Philippians 2:13, NLT).
“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for
God.”
William Carey
“It always seems impossible until it's done.” Nelson
Mandela
I'm a huge goal setting nerd, so I am really looking forward to this month and hearing about everyone else's great ideas. I'm heading over to Rochelle's site now. Thanks for starting us off right, Sandi - as usual!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Tracy, that this month's topic will be inspiring. I will add that finding Rochelle Melander's "View from the Balcony" was a small step--big leap for me.
DeleteI love those sermon notes! "Pay attention to those tugs," and "risk boldly." What I've been discovering is He will realign us when we get off track, so no choice is a 'wrong' direction, but just a lead to the next step boldly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Lynn. You were so true when you said "He will realign us when we get of track". A story I heard once was that space ships to the moon were off track much of the time and had to be constantly realigned. God is faithful, and we can trust Him with our future.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love what you say about Ruth and Orpah. I too would like to do as Ruth did and step into God's greater plan for me. I appreciate the resources you have given us to help us along the way: the list of your notes from your pastor's sermon; the list of ways your are asking God to guide and help you; the lists of Scriptures; the list from Rochelle Melander to guide our review of our goals.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your user-friendly lists, Sandra. I am looking for a balcony. I can see I have lots to do when I get there. Soon, I hope, even for an afternoon.