No resolutions here
It’s a new year! A time when many people make resolutions. Lose weight. Earn more money. Spend more time with family. You name it, people resolve to do it. I’ve never been a big resolution fan. I feel like there’s no real commitment to a resolution. Is that silly? Maybe. I’m sure some people enter their resolutions with commitment.
There’s another trend
One word that will be the focus of your year. I always found that kind of corny too. So, I never really had a word. Until last year, that is. When God gave me a word. Yeah, sounds weird, I know. I wasn’t even asking for it. I was praying and studying and…bam! The word ADVANCE was there. I knew it was from God. So, it was my word for 2019. And you know what? I did advance, in many different ways. I wrote and published a book, grew in leaps and bounds spiritually, started a ministry. So many things advanced in my life in 2019. So this year, I kind of wanted a word. And I was so excited when God gave me another one! My word for 2020 is PURPOSE. I really believe God is going to use me in my specific purpose in ways I can’t even imagine.
So, as I sit here on January 2nd
…looking excitedly toward the year ahead, I know I need to take some steps. Just like last year, I have to purposely advance. God will invite me to step into my purpose, but He will not make me. I have been thinking about how to move forward in the purpose God has called me to. I know it requires a lot of prayer, a lot of asking God where to step next, a lot of reading the Bible and listening for His voice.
But I realized something else…
I have to be intentional about taking steps in the direction I believe God is leading me. If I want to have more opportunities to speak, I have to start looking for them. If I want to write a second book I have to schedule the writing time. I mean, that’s how life works, isn’t it? It’s the same for you and your life in 2020. If you want to be healthy you have to be intentional about doing it. If you want to start a business you have to start taking the steps to make it happen.
How do we do that?
How do we take steps? Start by writing them down. Sounds simple, right? But the truth is, according to Inc.com, we are 42% more likely to achieve our goals if we write them down. And, of course, if you go the next step and write down a plan, you’ll be even more likely to accomplish them! So, grab your journal and pen and start writing.
And while you are at it, ask God for a word and write down that too!