My 2016 Be Goals

It's a new year and everyone always starts by making resolutions. My kids got me a Fitbit for Christmas and I am already addicted to this thing. It tells me in real time how I am tracking to my goals. It is laser built for someone like me who is obsessive about goals. The challenge is making goals sustainable. So many times I set out for example to lose weight and I can't get past the change in myself that has to occur such as forsaking bad stuff to see the change in weight through.

Be Goals are a change in who I am as a child of God. So every January, I have to remind myself of who I can be as a child of God and turn to Him to make the impossible possible. So here they are with only a brief comment on each one.

Be Holy
It always starts with the most difficult one. Holiness is something only God can truly be yet we are reminded to be holy as God is holy. A difficult proposition but possible if the Christ is living through me.

Be Prayerful
Prayer is dialogue with the creator God. God has made that possible. God wants me to talk to Him the way a child talks to their father. How precious little time I truly spend in dialogue with God. The Holy Spirit is in me and helps me along in my weakness.

Be Patient
Yikes - this is a challenge for me. The man who tailgates people and loses his temper at every little thing. Patience is basically frustration when you are held back from expectations. It starts with improper expectations.

Be Mindful
Similar to patience, this is a awareness of others and my surroundings. Coming from the man who realizes things on the wall that have been there for years, this is a truly daunting challenge.

Be Supportive
This takes mindful to another level because it is a proactive reaction to being mindful. How can I be supportive of others in my work, community, relationships, etc.

Be Trusting
It is a danger to yourself to always be skeptical of others. I would rather be let down than be constantly skeptical of others. So many times I held off on sending that bad e-mail because I assumed the worst in people.

Be Accountable
Hardest thing for a man to be. We like living in our own cocoon and yet we have to be accountable to others. It is critical for men to have those relationships where we can be transparent and listen to brothers as they see areas of change needed in our lives.

Be a Friend
Deb and I were just talking about how much value we place on friendships as we have grown older. We have such a wonderful core group of friends and it is so important for me just to be a friend. I also want/need to develop new relationships.

Be Diligent
These words ring out in my head as Paul says to Timothy - "be diligent to present yourselves as one approved". It means we have to be proactive. This is one of Coveys 7 Habits.

Be Consistent
Finally, being consistent throughout the year is the path. It is January 3 and by God's grace by January 10, I won't have violated most of these already.

Note that Be Successful is not on the list. I believe that by God's grace and Him living through me, that these 10 goals. God says to Joshua two additional Be Goals - "Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous, do not be terrified or be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go."