Six Goals for 2010

So how will this be different from last year?  That’s a question I routinely ask myself this time of year.

The last week of December is traditionally a week of renewal for me.  I use the time to reflect, re-evaluate and retrofit my goals and dreams.

I maintain about dozen common goals each year.  I provide six for you to consider for yourself.

Goal #1: Read through the entire Bible.

In 2010 I will read through God’s Word for my 24th consecutive time.  I read the bible in a different version each year.  This year I am reading through the New Living Translation.

In addition to reading through the New Testament and the Psalms twice with CrossPoint, I plan to read the Old Testament once every 90 days.  I know that sounds aggressively insane, yet the rewards will be uncompromisingly inestimable.

Click here for an informative website that will help you monitor your Bible reading.

I have discovered most people who consistently read and study God’s Word enjoy a much more meaningful relationship with the Lord.

Goal #2:  Spend concentrated time in prayer.

Prayer and Bible study complement one another.  Is it possible to have one without the other?  I know the more I study, the more I pray.  And the more I pray, the more I study.

This year I have established a minimum time I will spend in prayer.  It is my desire to spend that much time or more in prayer each morning.

Sure, there will be days I walk through the habit of prayer as a ritual.  Yet I firmly believe the discipline of a consistent average time in prayer will cause me to grow closer in my intimacy with the Lord.

I have discovered most people who consistently communicate with God in prayer enjoy a much more meaningful relationship with the Lord.

Goal #3: Give more to the Kingdom of God than I gave last year.

This goal is tangible, and the process to establish it is simple.  I total what I gave last year.  Then I add a percentage to last year’s total to establish a new goal for the coming year.  Divide the new total by 52 weeks.  Write a check for that amount each week.

I have given more to the kingdom of God each year for decades.  Having a child in college for the last three years has made the goal curiously challenging.  With two in college next fall, 2010 should be a real blessing.

I have discovered most people who consistently give more to the kingdom of God than they did the year before enjoy a much more meaningful relationship with the Lord.

Goal #4:  Serve Christ by serving others.

You may think serving Christ by serving others comes naturally to me.  In some ways it does.  For example, I know I am serving Christ by serving others as I study for my messages each week.  And I am serving Christ by serving others when I preach, lead in prayer, write a note or make a visit.  Yet each year I look for ways beyond my weekly responsibilities to serve Christ by serving others.

This year I will invite CrossPoint to serve Christ by serving others during an intensive 40- day period.  We are calling it the 40 Day Experiment.  I cannot wait to see what God does with our service during Lent.

I have discovered most people who consistently serve Christ by serving others enjoy a much more meaningful relationship with the Lord.

Goal #5: Be conformed more into the image of Christ.

Goal #5 is the human side of sanctification.  Wayne Grudem says sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ is our actual lives. When I talk about being conformed more into the image of Christ, I am leaning more to the human side of that process than the divine.

How does one conform more into the image of Christ?

By practicing the presence of God in my daily routine I am shaped more into the image of Christ.  Praying continually, rejoicing always and giving thanks in all circumstances are three other disciplines that enable me to submit more to the image of Christ.

I have discovered most people who conform more into the image of Christ enjoy a much more meaningful relationship with the Lord.

Goal #6: Exercise

My age is catching up with me.  Last year I started a regimented running plan much like I have the previous seven years.  I was meeting and surpassing each goal until mid-March.  That is when I was stricken with plantar fasciitis.

Can I get a witness?  Plantar fasciitis is painful.  Imagine someone stabbing the arch of your foot with an ice pick each time you step and you might get close to the ache of PF.

Thankfully my foot seems to be on the mend after months of shots, and physical therapy.  Instead of setting a goal to run so many marathons, half-marathons, 10ks and 5ks in 2010, I am establishing the goal just to exercise.  The goal will manifest itself with a brisk walk each morning.  Who knows where that will take me?  But at least I can say I am on the road to exercising consistently again.

I have discovered most people who exercise regularly enjoy a much more meaningful relationship with the Lord.

So, there you have it.  A few of the common goals I work on each year.  I would be curious to read what you would add to this list.

It’s time for me to stop writing…I’ve got to go read my Bible!