Based on a message by Ps Sharon Kelly at Wave Sisters on January 31st, 2018
Blog by Sandy Hopkins
If you have children, or are anywhere near my age – you’ve realized that time has started flying by! Maybe it’s the fast paced lives we live, but I know if I don’t make definite plans to do something, before I know it the opportunity is missed and I’m too late. We all seem to fall into the trap of wanting to be happy and feeling like it is somehow just out of our grasp, when in fact we may have more control over our happiness than we think. Only 10% of our happiness actually comes from anything circumstantial
Psalm 1:1-3 The Passion Translation
“What delight comes to those who follow God’s ways! They won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat. Their pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of I Am, meditating day and night in his true revelation of light. They will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss; bearing fruit in every season of their lives. They are never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.”
I was recently on vacation and had an “aha” moment where I remembered myself in exactly the same place 25yrs earlier – in the same pool and at the same hotel with my own 2yr old son. This time I stood in that same spot wondering how life had gone so quickly – that little 2yr old son is now 27yrs and has a little baby himself and I am now the grandmother of 3 gorgeous grandbabies – one of which is a 2yr old boy. It still stuns me that I’m old enough to be a grandmother, though I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m a firm believer that a person should have goals. Since the age of 15, I’ve always been part of a church that has a vision for the future, sets goals and actively encourages its congregation to set goals for their own lives. January 1st has come gone and “New Year’s Resolutions” are not something I bother with anymore. I’m talking about sitting down and thinking about what I want to achieve this year. What I want to see come to pass in my life this year.
I’m sure you’re aware that for a dream to come to pass we must have a plan, but are your plans measurable? For your plans to succeed they need to be…
– measurable
– realistic
– have a time limit
– be achievable
– have accountability
For example, if your goal is to lose weight – how much weight do you want to lose? Who are you going to be accountable to? Be weighed each week. Keep a log. Work out. Make sure your goal is achievable and that you’re not trying to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks for a dress you need to fit into. Realistic looks more like 1 to 2 pounds per week. Also set a time limit – how long do you want this to take 6, 9, 12 months?
If your goal is in the area of finances so that you can save – how much $ do you want to save? And what’s it for? How much per week can I really take from my paycheck? Meet with your spouse or accountability person each month about those goals. How are we going? What’s the time frame I want this money by? Make sure you have a budget and stick to it.
Putting these changes into practice starts on the inside of you and I. We must be invested in them. Be in control of it and not it in control of you. Goals give you momentum and you have a say in the outcome.
You are in the driver’s seat – this time next year you could be amazed at what God did in your life during 2018! What’s this year going to look like to you?? Go ahead and start the journey now…