As I mentioned yesterday, I have eleven lifetime goals. All except one were written in January of 1975. I was married and teaching second grade in Dallas, TX, while Ray finished seminary. I was in the middle of the extended and painful miscarriage of our first child, not knowing if I would be able to carry a baby to full term. Here are some of the goals I wrote back then, and how they are still shaping my life today. (Go easy on me here, friends! It is a little bit unnerving to be this open with you.)
Lifetime goal: To abandon myself in seeking to know God by spending daily time with Him.
2013 goal:
- To read the Bible through again this year spending twenty to thirty minutes in it, six times a week. To spend a minimum of five minutes a day in prayer communing more with God. (I know this is really wimpy. Good grief—five minutes? But it is where I am right now. Check with me next year and maybe my goal will be more robust!)
Lifetime goal: To spend my energies, however God leads, showing God and His Word to people.
2013 goal:
- Be at my computer every Tuesday through Saturday from at least 9–11 a.m. when I am not traveling, with email and phone off, in concentrated study and writing.
- Finish devotionals by June 1, book proposal by September 1, as well as monthly blog posts.
Lifetime goal: To keep myself trim, attractive, and appealing to Ray in clothes, weight, hair, personality, and intellect.
2013 goal:
- To exercise for thirty minutes on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Lifetime goal: To raise three (+?) godly, faithful, loving, and self-controlled children. (We now have four grown children, all married with children of their own.)
2013 goal:
- To carve out the time and money to visit each growing family for at least a week this year, Lord willing.
- To pray daily for each grandchild by name (nine so far), using Psalm 45:16, 78:6–7; Isaiah 44:3–5, 61:9; and Revelation 12:11.
Lifetime goal: To be a wise, efficient, and happy homemaker (Prov. 31:27)
2013 goal:
- To get the shutters fixed by February 1.
- To investigate and solve the mildew problem on our front wall by May 1.
Well, maybe that peek helped. As you can see, I am a person who needs a deadline. I need to write it down, or I keep procrastinating. Each year I share my short-term goals with my small group, and they pray for me and hold me accountable. That helps! Is there someone you could do this with?
May God raise up noble daughters, who by His grace plan noble things and with His help live out those plans to the praise of His glory!
May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.” (Ps. 20:4)
Have you ever made lifetime goals? What hinders or helps you? What are some of your goals for this year?
Join the Discussion