Spiritual Goals for 2011

Among many things, I live by a few axioms. An axiom is a self-evident proposition that needs no proof. An axiom is a universally accepted principle or rule. One of my favorite axioms, or principles that is self-evidently true, needing no proof is "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." Apparently this axiom is attributed to Zig Ziglar. As a result of the truth of this principle I set goals in almost every aspect or arena of my life. I don't always achieve the goals that I set. As a matter of fact in some areas I have failed miserably.

I am not disappointed nor discouraged by this revelation. I realize that I can't hit or achieve every goal I set for myself. I try to be careful in the setting of my goals and I use the following four (4) guidelines in setting goals:

• The goals I set must be for the glory of God

• The goals I set must be achievable or realistic

• The goals I set must be accompanied by practical steps or procedures to obtain the objectives

• The goals I set must be monitored in order to be re-evaluated, re-stated, or rejected

Each year during November and December I take some time to prayerfully consider the past year of my spiritual journey. I look to see where I failed, where I made slow progress, where I made progress, and how achieving some of the goals changed or affected me for Christ-sake and His glory. I then take some time and prayerfully set my goals for the next year.

I have set goals in the following areas for 2011 - Spiritual, Educational, Physical, Financial, and Personal.

Spiritual Goals - these goals include my devotional life, my reading list, what I want to study this coming year, and the utilization of my spiritual gift.

Educational Goals - these goals include the fact that I want to be more proficient in Greek, enroll in one or more seminary classes.

Physical Goals - these goals include planned weight loss and some dental work this year.

Financial Goals - these goals include selling my home and my giving to our God. Irene and I have worked hard to eradicate and eliminate credit-card debt, car payments, and loans. I want to wipe out a couple of debts related to a failed business next year if the housing market comes back in our area. Our home value dropped about 25% this past couple of years.

Career Goals - these goals are related to my need of finding employment and my desire to plant a church

Personal Goals - these goals are related to what I would like to do personally as a husband, father, grandfather, and pilgrim in this strange land as I await the return of the Lord.

I may not read all the books I have put on my reading list. I may not be able to sell the house in 2011 and I may fall short of the total weight I would like to loose this coming year.  I might not get to seminary next year, after all, due to being unemployed I did not achieve that goal this year. If I don't set goals, or put another way - if I aim at nothing for 2011 I will hit it every time.

I know that our Lord is sovereign. I know that He has predestined certain things to take place in my life. As a matter of fact I may not live to see 2011 or its completion. My life is like a vapor, it is here a short, and specific period of time, and my life is gone! At the same time I don't want to be like a leaf that is simply blown around by a wind with little or no direction. So, I set my goals, I aim at improvement, development, growth, and increased Christ likeness.

So, let me ask you - have you set some goals for 2011? Do you have some items specifically targeted that you are aiming at? Do you have steps or processes in place to help you achieve those goals? Do you have a plan in place to evaluate and monitor your progress?

What three (3) specific, spelled out, goals are you aiming at to improve your spiritual life in 2011?