Goals for a New Year

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12

Focus Verse: 1 Peter 3:4  “You should clothe yourselves with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”

As we look forward to January 1, 2019 we think about the year ahead.  I have found myself looking at the calendar for 2019 and seeing the things that I want to do this coming year.  We make for ourselves dreams and goals for the year ahead.  Maybe you want to get out of debt in 2019.  Maybe you want to see your child graduate form four, or attend a university in 2019.  Maybe you want to live a more healthy lifestyle.  There are many different goals we could set for ourselves.  But many times people set ambitious goals that they are not able to accomplish.  When March gets here they can’t even remember what their goals were.

The Bible tells us to be ambitious and work hard with our hands, but at the same time it says to live a peaceful and quiet life.  Many times we are working hard because we are discontent, and unhappy.  We look for the next new thing, the next new job, the next marriage.  We think this will satisfy us, only to leave us still searching.  It is a cycle that never ends.  This year you could make it your goal to live a content, and quiet life.  Maybe you could take time this year to live a life of peace and contentment that often comes from living a simple quiet life with God.  Living a simple life doesn’t mean that you don’t accomplish much for God.  I’m reminded of the life of Evangelist Billy Graham.  He lived a rather simple life, but he accomplished so much for God.  I remember teaching my children that a house rule is to be happy with what you have. That is a simple way to think of contentment, but a good way to teach children when they are young and can help us learn contentment in whatever God chooses to provide. So this coming year let us be ambitious towards the things that matter most to God and content and grateful with how He provides for us.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries