It’s hard to believe that we are only 27 days until the New Year. It seems like it was just yesterday I was talking about the beginning of 2013. Where does the time go?

In the past, I’ve worked on resolutions. I created them. I’ve worked at them for a bit. Then I’ve forgotten them. Oh maybe some of them I continued to work on, but for the most part, resolutions haven’t had the impact on me that they should have.

This year however, we are working on goals at work. We have to come up with five goals to work on between January 1 and Easter. After reading an article on goal-making (and keeping), we were given the task to write our goals.

Here are some of the guidelines.

Goals:

Are few in number

Are action-oriented

Are measureable

Are attainable

Are time-bound

Are prioritized

I wrote down five goals. Vague at first, but then I began working through each one and determined the logistics of each goal. I even found a worksheet to help with making each goal fit into the guidelines above.

But here’s the thing. The goals I’ve chosen for this coming New Year must be done. My boss will ask me if they are done. I won’t be able to drop them when they get too difficult. I won’t be able to forget them when they aren’t at the foremost in my mind. I won’t be able to just not do them.

I’m being held accountable for attaining my goals.

I believe it’s no different for our spiritual life. I have set goals for myself spiritually and have allowed those goals to go unattained for the same reasons above. But I must realize that I am accountable for my spiritual goals as well.

Take a look at Romans 14:10b-12 (NIV). “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

On that day when I stand before my God and give an account of what I’ve done in my life, what excuse will I give for not accomplishing my spiritual goals? I forgot? I lost interest? They were too hard?

I somehow am not sure God will give me a pass on not accomplishing my spiritual goals.

So as I look forward to the New Year, I have decided to set spiritual goals for myself. At this moment, I don’t know what they will be, but I have 27 days to prepare them just as I am at work.

I don’t know if you set New Year’s resolutions for yourself, but if you do, perhaps you might consider setting a few spiritual resolutions as well.

Perhaps you might commit to reading one chapter of the Bible each day. This would be especially good if you read God’s Word sporadically.

Perhaps you might commit to writing a daily prayer in a journal. A good goal if you don’t speak with God on a daily basis.

Perhaps you might commit to consistent giving to your local church. If you haven’t tithed, this would be a good way to start.

Perhaps you might commit to joining a small group or Bible study. Or what about opening your heart to go on a short-term mission trip. Or speak to your neighbor about going to church with you.

They can be small or they can be big. Remember they must be attainable. And also remember you will be held accountable for them.

What I do know about spiritual resolutions is that when I make them, God will give me the resources, the energy, the strength and the desire to complete them. God’s Holy Spirit within me is there to help me through each day.

I believe we started working on our goals at work three weeks ago so that we wouldn’t take them lightly. So that we would take the time to really focus on what we need to do in the work place and then figure out how to do it.

I believe the same can be said of our spiritual goals. It’s not too early to begin thinking of where I want to be at this time next year. It’s not too early to consider the important things God has in store for me for next year. It’s not too early to allow God’s Spirit to work on me so that I can be a better woman of God in the year 2014.

What are your goals?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna