As the new year approaches, we usually start thinking about making goals or resolutions for the new year. We think about what we didn’t accomplish this year, that we hope to in the new year.
We have fresh hope and are excited as we think about a new start. However, we are still going about it the same old way. We are writing down those resolutions (again!), maybe with the wording changed a little bit, or calling them new goals.
What Could Be Better Than New Year’s Goals?
Often we aren’t realistic and the goals are too overwhelming to really stick with and follow through on. As a result, we start off with excitement then we gradually forget about those goals and before we know it, it’s the end of the year again and we have failed in our goals.
I know I have been guilty of this many more times than I care to admit!
This year I am going to try something different! I’m going to focus on PRIORITIES or my values, rather than resolutions or goals.
Why? Because by focusing on my priorities and being intentional about keeping them first daily, I will also accomplish my goals. That is better than New Year’s goals that I never reach!
I have made a list of Biblical priorities that I feel I should focus on, and you’ve heard me mention most of these before!
- Focus on My Heart – developing my relationship with God and His Word
- Caring for My Health – taking steps to better self-care
- Nurturing My Family – building strong relationships in my home
- My Home – managing the housekeeping
- Prioritizing My Time – managing my time to better achieve priorities and goals
- My Prayer Life – maintaining it all with the power of intentional prayer
The key to living by Biblical priorities and not letting them slip away like broken resolutions is to be intentional in how you live each day.
It requires being a purposeful mom, who daily chooses to focus on being what God wants you to be.
I have been thinking about this a lot the past month or so, and asking God to show me HIS desires for me.
The word that He kept bringing back to my mind is INTENTIONAL.
Intentional: done in a way that is planned or intended; done on purpose; deliberate
My life has gotten so busy, that I tend to go from one thing to another, often getting distracted from my original purpose.
I feel like I am always busy, but yet not accomplishing the things that MATTER. My days are driven by the urgent, rather than by intention.
I don’t want to just rush through my days in a preoccupied daze, hurrying and rushing from one thing to another.
Instead, I want to make deliberate, intentional choices.
Making the days count, and accomplishing what I feel God wants me to is important to me, and requires making intentional choices each day, based on His leading.
The verse I am claiming to go along with my desire to intentionally live by priorities is Proverbs 16:3:
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Intentional priorities are better than New Year’s Goals
If you want to join me in being intentional in this new year, I encourage you to join me for a FREE 6 day Intentional Living Challenge!
The challenge will focus on Biblical priorities for moms and will include a small simple challenge to help you focus on what matters each day.
I hope you’ll join me, and begin taking some baby steps to keep you living intentionally and getting back on track daily!