S.M.A.R.T. Goals Replaced with A.B.I.D.E. Goals

You probably wouldn’t be surprised if someone told you millions of people had googled SMART goals or New Year’s Resolution Ideas.  Tis the season after all.

But what if instead of SMART goals, our goal was to ABIDE…

·       Replace SPECIFIC goals with AMBIGUOUS goals.  I want to share my faith with people as God leads me without putting a specific numeric goal on it.  I want to abide in Christ all day long, not just have a ten minute quiet time and move on.  I want my faith and trust to grow as much as possible.  I want to pursue Christ wholeheartedly.   I’m not sure how to measure any of those but they feel like worthy goals.

·       Replace MEASURBLE goals with BOUNDLESS goals.  God, help me love you and love others and care for others in ways that could never be measured.  Not only so my love is that big, but so I am not tempted to measure and keep score.

·       Replace ACTIONABLE goals with IDEALISTIC goals.   God, help me live out each and every one of the fruit of the Spirit every day.  Help me be patient and unconditionally loving as you are to me.  Help me be the person you want me to be even though it seems so idealistic.  Some of these will require actions.  Some will require rest.  Some will require prayer alone.

·       Replace REALISTIC goals with DEPENDENT goals.  It may not be realistic for humans to depend on God for everything 24/7, but I want to acknowledge that all good things, every single one, is from God so I am dependent on Him and not on what I can accomplish.  I’d rather have what God will give me in life than what I can give myself.

·       Replace TIMELY goals with ETERNAL goals.  Lord, may the impact you have through me last forever.  Please use me to draw others to you to make decisions to trust you and give their lives to you that their eternity may be changed forever. 

Want to set smart goals for 2022?  If so: ABIDE.

Lord, help me ABIDE in You like I never have before, so I can be closer to You than I ever have before to multiply Your Kingdom like I never have before.  Help me realize I can’t do anything of value without You.  Help me abide in You.