2009 Goals

I recently read a blog on New Years Resolutions recently. You can read that here.

Having now read that blog, you will better understand and appreciate my approach to 2009.

I am not calling these resolutions and I am not determining in my own power to accomplish them. I am, for lack of better word, calling them Goals. It is my hearts desire to see God's heart reflected in mine. It is my hearts desire to have all my desires and passions directed toward and found satisfied in Him. It is my hearts desire to put all else aside. I am fighting everyday to keep this goal and this priority. However, it is my passion and burden.

In that train of thought, here are my goals for 2009; Here is what I want to see God accomplish in my life.

1. Be totally satisfied in God alone.  Philippians 3:8 has been instrumental here.  Paul just got done listing his pedigree, his good works, things that other men would credit as their righteousness, as their merit for obtaining God's favor.  After all that, Paul says, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.  WOW.  I have had to ask myself, how often do I find the value of simply KNOWING Christ to be supreme above all else?  How many believers can say that the value of knowing Christ surpasses all else; to the point of being willing to give up ALL things as Paul did in order to obtain that.  We, I, claim this in speech.  I claim to value my relationship with Him above all things, but when it comes down to it, am I really willing to give it all up.  For instance, food.  I have been prompted to fast.  I can tell you, this is a struggle.  I have tried so many times in the past and always caved in half way through.  Yet, the last time I was led to do this, I used those pangs of physical hunger to drive my passion for that which I was praying.  I accomplished this task this time because I was relying on God's power, heart, and desire.  In short, my desire is to be totally and completely satisfied in Christ alone.  I want the value of simply KNOWING Christ to be supreme above all else.
2. I want to have  a heart like Christ's.  I want to be motivated and moved by what He is. I want to be angered by what He is. I want to weep at what He weeps. I want my motivations to be His. I want His heart to be mine.
3. I want to live a life of humble, submissive, and willing obedience to Him.

These are my three overarching goals.  These are not just merely goals for 2009, but for my entire life.  They really should not change much.  What might change is some specific applications to these.  Listed below are some specific ways in which these goals may be lived out.

1. Work on patience.  I need to slow down and not get so flustered and frustrated when I am bombarded with things to do, with demands.
   
2. Gentleness.  When I get stressed, I get short and chippy.  I need to be gentle, especially under stress.
   
3. Compassion.  I need to see the world through God's eyes and to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. I need to be compassionate when dealing with situations that frustrate me.
   
4. Give quality and quantity of time to family and not my interests.
   
5. Care for Gods temple better by dieting and working out
   
6. Complete the scriptures with my wife.  We are reading through the bible.  Our third or fourth attempt.  It always seems that we fail to finish.  I desire to complete this task this year.
   

My goal is simply to follow God and make Him my primary satisfaction and delight.  My goal is to be His; SIMPLY HIS.  There is no greater joy.