I stumbled across a note I had written to myself at my desk as I was having a clear out two weeks ago. At the back it dated 9th January 2019. It has been six months since I had made these jots. They were sentences, prompters, food for thought probably gleaned from a Ted Talk of some sort. I’ll share them with you in bold and elaborate on the progress of each one. I’ve really sat down this evening to ponder these through, maybe you could do the same and see where you are at mid 2019?
Aiming at the right goal!
It’s so funny that I underlined ‘right’ in my note. Because to be honest, that’s what it needs. Emphasis! What is the right goal? Have I really been aiming at it this year? What is this ‘right goal’? Imagine having so many different boards you could potentially shoot at but there is one with the big red dot you need to hit? And yet instead you fire at all the others. What a terrible error. You’ve missed the mark! (Kind of reminds me of the description of sin, our aim [heart] will always be bent, twisted at the core. It can only be made right by regeneration, Christ becoming Lord of our lives).
Okay, I’ve gone off topic. But really, a sit down like this needs some quiet and honest reflecting. By no means am I saying your goals can’t change within the year, but I think going back over your initial thoughts and developing them through prayer and consideration with the Lord is not a bad thing.
What I need to think about is how I can achieve whatever ‘the right goal’ is. Maybe some bullet points will help me? Maybe a cheeky brainstorm of a word will begin the process. First of all though, I need to re-establish what goals I actually set for myself at the start of this year and go from there.
What kind of person do I want to be a year from now?
A heels down, firm soled woman with a grounded soul and more stories to tell.
A person filled with more joy knowing that the Lord whom I have searched out in Scripture Is Who He Says He Is and Does What He Says He Will Do. These are the assurances in my heart and mind that I need to rest in and be anchored with when all of life’s tests come my way.
In short – a more faith-filled woman.
Don’t let life just happen.
When I wrote this down it resonated with me so much. I have always been one for adventure, one for something new, one with the mind to learn different things, one with the heart that is set on expression and creativity. Too often though, we can let life just happen to us. We get comfortable in the systems, the cycles.
There’s nothing wrong with doing something you enjoy, usually that thing will challenge you and stretch you and may actually end up no longer looking like your favourite thing anymore. But when you find yourself in a position where things just happen to you and you are simply like, “How did I find myself here?” I think that calls for an evening similar to mine of self-reflection and examination.
REGULAR TIMES allocated to reading the Word and prayer – commitment.
How much have I been committed to the Word of God? To the study of what God has said about Himself in His writings to us?
Thankfully God has been faithful in this area. He has caused me to draw near to Him in times of loneliness, uncertainty and darkness. This has meant I have been in His Word more, learning what it really means to ‘mediate’ on it day and night. And the fruits have been a calmness, a quietness of my spirit. Not as fretful or as anxious, but instead a quickness to remember God is my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in times of need (Psalm 46:1). Carving out that intentional time with God has caused my eyes to be opened more to His many different attributes displayed in His Scriptures.
Living for those behind; LEGACY
This is big. How have I been living this out this year? What have I been putting in place for the glory of God to be seen through my life?
Well, this isn’t something that started at the start of 2019 but probably stems from as early as 2011 and it’s simply journal writing. So much has happened, so many unspoken words have been hidden in my untold journals. These memoirs speak of the unmistakeable, redefining and regenerating work God has done in my life through His power and His Son, that’s a piece of His marvellous work worth leaving behind…
What area in my life do I most need simplifying?
My thought-life. “Take every thought captive and bring it under the obedience of Christ Jesus”(2 Corinthians 10:5). “Trust in the Lord with all [my] heart and lean not on [my] own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
Why add more crosses to the one Christ has asked us to carry?
It makes no sense burdening myself with thoughts unending when “His thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His ways are higher than my ways”? (Isaiah 55:8-9). I
t’s about praying more isn’t it? Leaving our thoughts at His feet, surrounding in trusting obedience. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). The more I carry things in my mind, the more I realise I am not humble enough to give them to the Lord.
There is so much more to ponder on but I think trusting God with the rest of the year is probably most important. So let’s do that shall we? Cheers to the remaining months ahead, may we have God’s glory in mind and as our fore gaze!
~ G