
Those who know me well know that I love setting goals. I’ve studied the art and science of taking a large dream and breaking it down into doable chunks. I follow the rules of setting a timeline, giving myself rewards, and sharing my goals with others to keep me accountable. I love to write out lists of goals for the day, the week, the month...
So you can probably guess that I love New Year’s Resolutions.
Last January, I had big plans. I made a list of ten resolutions, typed them out, and posted them on the fridge for all to see. I made a point of looking at that list every day to excite and inspire my imagination. This past week, I’ve spent some time with that list. Some of those resolutions have now become great memories from 2008 - I made my NQC debut, released a song to radio, and gave more time to outreach work. Some never quite got off the ground - my goal of writing two songs a month fizzled, and I just never found the time to paint my living room with that snazzy faux finish.
But here was one of the great lessons from 2008 - you can set all the goals you want, but sometimes, God has a different plan in mind. One of my big goals for 2008 was to apply for Green Card status, but after meeting with lawyers, we discovered we can’t legally apply until July of 2009. Even then, we may not be able to qualify for Green Cards; we may just have to renew our work visas. Needless to say, this isn’t how I had it planned out in my head, but it’s a wonderful and challenging reminder that my plan isn’t necessarily the same as God’s plan. I know His plan is perfect. I know God will bring me where He wants me when He wants me there. And, I guess, sometimes I just need to let go and let God take control of my goals.
So this month, I’ll spend some quiet time with God, thinking about 2009. What do I want to accomplish? What does God want me to do with my time, treasure and talents? And how can I use my goal setting skills to serve God and His people? That’s just one of the beautiful things about God. No matter how much we’ve accomplished or failed, each year, each day, we can resolve to start anew.
Happy 2009!
Allison Lynn
http://www.allisonlynn.com
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Happy New Year Allison! I also love to plan things out. It is a great help to me in organizing my time. Unfortunately sometimes I don't take the time to look at my plan!
Thanks for the great article, do you have any additional resources you can point us to learn more?
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