"New Year's Goal"

"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." Psalm 27:8 

As we have entered into a new year many are making resolutions, setting new goals, reevaluating their lives and developing plans to make some changes. There is nothing wrong with this, in fact we should judge ourselves to see where we are, what we are doing and if our lives are being productive. But as we are doing that we need to consider-- are our goals and changes focused on the eternal or the temporary.

 

Are we just focused on "self-improvement"? Are we focused on achieving some material gain? Are we focused on things that are good but have no eternal value? For example, almost everyone, at the beginning of the year, has a goal to get in better shape physically. That is good, we need to, I plan on doing better in this area myself- after all, our bodies are the temple of the Lord. But the Bible says that "bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable in all things". (1 Timothy 4:8) Don't neglect to take care of your body but make it the "little" not the "major" part of your focus- spiritual things should be your primary focus and goal (godliness has more profit to it).

 

If we truly want to be successful, productive and make the most out of our lives, we must set a goal to achieve greater spiritual depths. And having said that, let me go one step further and say that it is not just about being focused on some "spiritual thing" like reading the Bible through in a year, doing more ministry, doing more for God, stepping into God's destiny, no, it is about being focused on God Himself. HE should be our goal. He should be the mark that we are pressing toward. Seeking Him, setting our affections on Him, drawing closer to Him, getting to know Him in more intimate ways should be our "new year's" commitment and goal. I am not saying that we should not strive to do those things, but knowing Him should be our first goal. Seeking Him produces the greatest profit- in the here and now and in eternity. It also puts you in a position for those "physical" and "temporary" things to get in line and in their proper place in your life, and will cause you to be more productive in them because as you "seek HIM first" all these things will be added unto you.

 

Have a great day. Our New Year's goal should be God Himself. 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 6:33

Philippians 3:10

Psalm 119:10; 24:6