It is time to look back on the year, to reflect and to plan my goals for 2023. Just typing out the word “goals” makes me very uncomfortable because I am not one who sets goals. There are several reasons for this, but mostly because I think it doesn’t allow for the interruptions that happen in our lives. I don’t want to become frustrated or disappointed when a plan does not happen. Disappointments are a part of life and I figure I can avoid some of them by not setting goals.
So, as I sat here thinking about this, I decided it would be best to open my Bible to see what God has to say about this angst I have about setting goals. As I took some time to study His Word on this topic, I learned that the Bible offers a balanced approach to setting goals and making plans with wisdom and humility.
I have a very dear friend who I talk to on a regular basis when it comes to my faith life. It is such a blessing to have a friend like her who also studies God’s Word daily. We both know the value and necessity of learning from the One who is in control and knows all the details of our lives. When I discussed with her that I was not going to make any commitments in 2023, she became very concerned with my decision. My guess is because she knows that to live with no motivation or planning is not God’s desire (Proverbs 6:6-11). Once I explained in more detail about why I landed on this decision, she was relieved and said maybe I should use a different word like spontaneous living instead of no commitments.
As one who deals with a lot of anxiety issues, I have learned over the years that one way to overcome anxiety is to live in the precious present moment (which is hard for me to do). I believe that living like this requires surrender of my time to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So again, if this is what I desire, then setting goals seems useless. So, I continued studying what God has to say and found this verse in Proverbs 21:5: “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance….” So, wisely setting goals leads to better results.
One of the best books I have purchased regarding setting goals is from Arabah Joy. Her Grace Goals book is all about setting goals with God as the focus. I want to set my goals around God and His perfect ways and not follow any of the world’s way of setting goals. However, the process of setting goals must be done with humility. Just because we’ve done our planning doesn’t guarantee our goals will be met (precisely why I have never been a fan of setting goals). Plus, God’s Word also talks about this in James 4:13-14: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
So, as I am studying, I am learning that the Bible teaches against two extremes: never setting goals and setting goals with no thought of God. As I kept reading, in James 4:15, I found the balance. “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” This verse reminds me of my mother because she always said, “Lord willing” when saying yes to her plans. It is good to make plans as long as we leave room for God to change our plans. His goals take precedence over ours. In fact, a Pastor I worked for had a brilliant solution. He kept a tablet with two columns. In one column he titled it “My Plans” and in the second column he titled it “God’s Plans”. As the day went on, he wrote out his daily tasks in whatever column fit the situation. This was brilliant because if we truly believe that God’s plans are perfect and for a purpose, then when God interrupts our days, we can come along side Him and do whatever He has called us to do rather than what we typically refer to as interruptions.
A few years back, I chose Proverbs 16:9 as my verse for that year and my word was STEP because I really wanted to be in alignment with God’s will for my life and this is still the case today. We have our ideas and plans, but ultimately God will accomplish His sovereign desire. The big question is, do we love God’s will more than our own and are we willing to accept His will? So, in planning for next year, I need to make sure that my goals make room for the unexpected.
As I look back on this year (2022), I am so grateful that I was finally able to create this blog, which I have wanted to do for a very long time. Even though it has been a desire for a long time, God allowed it to happen this year. The purpose of this blog was to have a place to share with you all the things that bring me JOY. However, I don’t want to send the wrong message that without these things I would not have JOY. I wanted to emphasize that to choose JOY (or at least the type of JOY I am referring to), Christ has to be at the center of my life. So choosing my blog name was primarily a reminder to myself that without Christ, none of this would be possible. JOY is something we all long for but often seems difficult to find. Experiencing JOY should be a part of the Christian life. JOY is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced by God’s work in us, and it is part of God’s will for us.
Don’t misunderstand me, I struggle big time with finding this biblical JOY. However, when I study God’s Word I can see that many of God’s people experienced joylessness. For instance, Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality (Psalm 55:6-8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16-46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3-5). I can totally relate to each of them because I have had those same thoughts. However, as I continue to study God’s Word, there are many verses that teach us how to experience the JOY that is part of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
One way is to realize that JOY is a gift from God as well as our response to this gift. I am grateful for all of God’s gifts and I ask Him to help me use all the gifts He as given me. I never ever want to abuse His grace because one day when I enter into His Kingdom of Heaven, I want to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant” as I enter into the JOY of my Savior. So it is evident, that one way to experience JOY is to focus on God. In fact, FOCUS was my word for this year (2022).
One of the reasons (I believe) I struggle with anxiety is because I dwell on my difficulties and those things that rob my contentment. But God’s Word tells me that is the plan of the enemy, to kill, steal and destroy, but that His plan for me is to have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). I don’t deny my discontent or stuff my negative emotions but I do pour out my heart to God. I tell Him bluntly all the things that I am not joyful about and surrender it all to Him. It sometimes feels like I am giving up but I view it as surrendering it all to my Lord and Savior.
Recently, I poured out my heart to God about my anxieties and had a very blunt conversation with Him. After that conversation, I realized that I needed to live out the book of Philippians if I was going to see any relief from my anxiety issues. For many years, I believed that this was my thorn and decided that my anxiety would never go away and I just needed to accept it and accept that God’s grace was sufficient like the story in 2 Corinthians 12 with Paul and his thorn. But now I have a strong desire to not only study Philippians, but to take action and live it out. I have read this book many times but have struggled to live it out. Transformation can only happen when we live out what we learn. So instead of just picking a verse for next year (2023), I am picking the book of Philippians to be my focus. Plus, it aligns perfectly with the whole idea of this blog, choosing JOY, because this book has a lot to say about JOY.
Jesus gives instructions regarding JOY in John 15 where He talks about abiding in Him and obeying Him. There is so much more to the Christian life. It is not just about a way to get to Heaven, it is a way of life. It is about obeying our Heavenly Father. It is all about the love we have for our Heavenly Father. Compare it to our earthly father. I loved my earthly father and I am very blessed that God gave me such a loving and caring father. To disobey my earthly father would just send the message to him that I did not value him or his instructions. It would send a message that he was not worthy of my love so obeying him did not matter. I would never want my earthly father to feel that way about me and I definitely don’t want to send that message to my Heavenly Father. Taking advantage of their love is just wrong, disrespectful and selfish. John 15 talks about how obeying God keeps us in His love just as Jesus kept His commands and remains in His love. Had Jesus disobeyed His Father, you and I would not have a way to get to Heaven and spend eternity with Him and all those who have gone before us. Our JOY is complete when we live in obedience to God.
JOY is meant to be a hallmark of the Christian life. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a gift of God. We best receive this gift when we focus on the truth of who God is, commune with Him regularly through prayer, and rely on the community of believers He has provided. The Christian life is to become more like Jesus not to abuse His mercy and grace. I don’t want to meet Jesus one day and hear Him say to me, I never knew you!
Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
So, as I plan for 2023, I am making room for the unexpected. I have come to realize that as a widow, time gets away from me because there are a lot of other tasks that need my attention. Plus, I don’t move as quickly as I used to in my younger days. My primary goal is to allow my days to be guided by the Holy Spirit and this verse from Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” I have so many desires for what I want to do in 2023 as it relates to my craft business and I really can’t nail it down to specifics. I do know that I want to make more time for my other craft interests that I have neglected (home décor, decorative painting, Bible journaling). A couple of plans have been established and will be announced on my YouTube channel (@Choose Joy With Carmen) once they begin. So, I am going to take each day as it comes delighting in the Lord and studying His Word and trusting that He will give me the desire for what I should accomplish each day. I am excited to start 2023 and see what new things will bring both you and I JOY.
So, as I enter 2023 with an action plan regarding my anxiety issues according to the Word of God, I will end this blog post with a couple more verses that I want to become part of my thoughts so that the renewing of my mind will continue on the right path toward an anxious free life (God willing). Oh, and by the way, my one word for 2023 is TRUST because I am going to need a lot of it.
Matthew 6:27: “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Carmen, this is beautiful. I soaked up every word. I am on a similar path, and your words are full of encouragement for me. Thank you.
Thank you so much Joyce for your comment. It encouraged me to know that what I do is making a difference in the lives of others. It is hard sometimes to know what I should do next. But if I am responding to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, then I just need to TRUST and keep moving forward.