Commit Your Plans to the Lord in 2013

By Marilyn Moll, on January 3rd, 2013

Grandsons, Job and Peter on Christmas Eve

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3

I gave up on New Year’s Resolutions a long time ago because I didn’t stick to them. I didn’t make sure I was accountable and I was probably overly ambitious. I heard recently that fewer more realistic goals are much more likely to be successful.

In my quiet time the other day I felt like God spoke to me and said, “Why don’t you seek me for your 2013 goals?” So I did and at the top of my list was, “Get your house in order.”

Ugh! Since I have been working on decluttering my home, shop, and garage for the last four years and made significant progress, I didn’t really expect to hear this project at the top of the list! It certainly wasn’t my top priority.

However, after hosting my oldest daughter, her husband and my new grandsons along with my two older children for the Christmas holiday and various other friends and guests, my house rapidly fell apart and I recognized that “keeping your house in order” remains an ongoing process.

I mean toys, books, clothes, paperwork, mail and stuff have a way of accumulating faster than I can keep up with and maintain order.

I also have recognized that it will take more than my good intentions to achieve this goal. I need to break it down into very small, bite-sized, achievable steps to accomplish the orderliness of my dreams

It is also going to take a willingness to set aside a regular, disciplined time each week as well as a readiness to relinquish lots of stuff. My rule is when I’m out of storage space something has to go so there is no more investing in shelves, baskets, dressers, or furniture.

While the LORD and I have a little more talking to do on the specifics, I hope you will consider the following Bible verses to see what God may have planned for your 2013.

I’d love to hear what your 2013 goals are. Post away in the comments area below.

Take some time with your Bible to set small, achievable 2013 goals

The following Bible Verses and goal suggestions are adapted from Alpha and Omega’s most recent newsletter.

1. Teach with intelligence. “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness” (2 Timothy 2:23-24).

2. Pray for guidance. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

3. Forgive those who have hurt you. “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

4. Take care of yourself. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 19:20).

5. Love others. “The most important one, answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

6. Be a role model. “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity” (Titus 2:7).

7. Don’t be discouraged by failures. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

8. Value your friendships. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11)

9. Help those in need. “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me'” (Matthew 25:34-40).

What resolutions have you set this year? Please share them in the comment field below!