4 Truths about Goal Setting in 2017 —Vol.1 Ch. 7

#1 - Don't forget in the darkness what you
learned in the light.

John 1:5 "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Light penetrates and pierces darkness. In the midst of confusion, in the depth of despair one thing upon which you can hold is what you have learned in the Light. You might be there now, you might be there in the future. More than likely you have been there in the past.

New Year's is filled with the making of goals and the excitement of the future. I myself am a huge new year calendar planner. I make goals, and I  stick to them. I was blessed with a boss years ago that gave all of her teacher's a calendar already filled out with every meeting we would be required to attend, all of the important dates were there, and all of our scheduled observations were filled in. I loved building in around that structured monthly calendar.

Because of her example I have done that every year since. I became accustomed to it. (Modeling is so important)

And Jesus modeled leaning into the Light. He didn't fret. He didn't concern Himself over the little things. He simply leaned into the Light. The structure of His life was already planned out. He set out and followed the plan.

And yet, there come times when we are in the dark. Even Jesus was in the dark in the Garden of Gethsemane. The place of confusion, darkness, despair is not a pretty place to visit. It is not a wise place to live. But when we are there, sometimes it is hard to get ourselves out of it.

Jesus leaned into the light of His Father and did not forget in the darkness what He had learned in the Light.

In John 1:5 we find that Light shines in the darkness. If you are in the darkness you can depend on light being there too. He is. Jesus is there. He is the light and He can and will break through the darkness. Never forget in the darkness what you learned in the light. Begin to repeat that truth and Light will grow.

I memorized this verse years ago. Often, I forget how deeply it is embedded in my heart.

Until, I need it and then it comes up and out of my mouth. "The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Praise God.

Do not forget Jesus when you are faced with the dark overwhelming problems that will come up in 2017. He is there and He will bring light and clarity. Don't forget Him when you are making those decisions.

Never forget in the darkness what you learned in the Light.

#2 Light has a desire to guide us to the path of peace.
Why?
Because of God's tender mercy.

Luke 1:78-79 "Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."

Zechariah and Elizabeth were gifted with their son John later in their lives. He was a promise that seemed impossible. But Elizabeth had a baby way beyond child bearing years. John was to usher in the Messiah. Zechariah prophesied about John being the one that would prepare the way for the Messiah. In this prophesy Zechariah foretold of the Messiah as the morning light from heaven. This light that will be given to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. The light that will guide us to the path of peace.

Never forget how merciful our great Father God is, who sent us Jesus, the Light, to guide us to the path of peace.

#3  Follow Jesus and you will have the Light of Life!

John 8:12 "Again Jesus spoke to them saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

OK. Can I just get an Amen? Listen to this truth. Jesus is the light of the world. Following HIM leads us out of darkness into the light of life.

 In the last few years I have heard a lot about knowing the Why of your plan. 

I have now seen 6 decades come and go. I could almost mark my life off in decades. My 20's married-with-small-children. My 30's divorced-single-university-student-mom-and-then-
teacher. My 40's single-mom-with-teenagers-growing-into-adults. My 50's single-missonary-learning-foreign-language/culture/life. My 60's beginnings? They are new-life-new-husband and-new-God-calling.

Since my mid-twenties I can honestly say I have had only one Why in my life, where major goals are set. That is this:

I will follow Jesus and not walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life!

There has not been one decade since about age 28 that I would say I desired anything more than to follow Jesus. NOT that I have had an easy life. As you can see in my line up of decades, there have been some pretty hard and lean years. To live a life of divorce when one doesn't believe in divorce isn't easy. To raise three children alone is never easy. To spend years on a mission field alone is never easy. But my why? My why was to follow Jesus and I can testify as well as others that have walked shoulder to shoulder through this life with me:
                                    I have had the Light of Life with me! Make Him your Why!

#4 If you aren't experiencing His Light of Life get real with Him.
He really is wanting you to.
He knows EVERYTHING about you  anyway.

 
John 12:46 "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one that believes in me should stay in darkness.


Enough said.


2017 is here. Are you planning for this year? Do you know your Why?
I encourage you to share your thoughts here. Do you agree?

***I don't add any personal thoughts to the membership community daily verses. The power there is the Word standing alone, being read, pondered, and shared within the community. I read, pray, and share like all other members. Find the membership page in RR&BC - We invite you in!

---

RR&BC,LL© All writings protected by copyright laws. Contact author or link to this page or website if you use or reference.

---