January was chock-full of exciting, momentum building activities!
We made resolutions.
We created new vision boards or added to the vision boards previously created. We set fitness goals, inclusive of new or renewed gym memberships. We set financial goals, creating accounts for emergency funds, traveling, real estate, purchasing a car and the list goes on.
We did well in the month of January to get things started. The question is, how will we maintain our momentum? What are we willing to do, or stop doing, so that we increase the statistic that says only 22% of people stick with goals for more than two months’ time?
It’s not only about external goals either. Last month, we fasted, prayed or both for three, seven, fourteen or twenty-one days. Some of us went from January 1st to January 31st, which means we just ended a couple of days ago. We were intentional to take time to seek God about what’s next for our lives.
The question of the hour – how will we maintain momentum, so that we can see our goals become realized? Who or what do we need to put in place or remove from its current place so that we can attain these goals? What about maintaining momentum in our relationship with God…our quiet time…our study time…our fasting and praying beyond the expected first of the year or the upcoming Lenten season?
Truth is we can’t do it alone, and I’m not just speaking about workout partners and financial goal friends. Those are good, but there’s even better assistance, and even better means of accountability. Before I go there, let’s go here.
The idea of being able to do something or be something beyond what we are used to can be daunting. If we’ve only been accustomed to setting and keeping goals for one or two months, then the idea of going three or four is foreign. We’ll likely find every reason in the book why we don’t have time to work out, can’t save the money, too busy or tired to study the word and pray. If we don’t find those reasons, distractions and disruptions will surely try their absolute best to find us. We all know how it goes.
But there is hope. And I am one who believes there is always hope.
Hope comes by way of encouragement in Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. I don’t know that it gets any clearer than this. God is with us, period. Because of this truth, we don’t have to fear the goals we’ve set or the vision we’ve cast.
Because of this truth, we don’t have to be dismayed at the idea of going the extra mile or the extra month for our goals to be realized. We (will) have the strength and help we need, every step of the way.
Take what you need from that verse, as many times as you need in, in as many ways that interpretation and understanding take you.
God is with us to help us not only maintain momentum.God is with us to help us make it happen.
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