As my wife and I were making plans for this upcoming Labor Day weekend, we were both amazed by how quickly this year has flown by. It felt like summer just started a few weeks ago, and yet here we are with kids back in school and the official end of summer approaching. The goals that we set at the beginning of the year have now either become part of our daily routine or have fallen off the list.
Growing up, it felt like summer was endless and full of opportunities to learn a new sport, go camping, and accomplish all the goals that kids can come up with. Now, it feels like summer just passes right by, and there is rarely any downtime to relax, learn something new, or work on existing goals. However, it’s not just summers that fly by—it feels like all seasons fly by just a little faster with every year.
With time flying by, setting new goals—and actually accomplishing them—becomes more and more challenging. A study found that only about 8% of goals that are set are actually accomplished, leaving 92% of goals unfulfilled. There are lots of reasons people can come up with to explain why they didn’t accomplish their goals. Some blame it on lack of time, setting unrealistic expectations, or just lack of discipline.
Reflecting on my life, whether I was busy or not, I find that success in reaching my goals has hinged on two main factors: does my goal help me grow in my walk with God, and did I seek God through prayer to give me wisdom in setting the goal. The goals that are set in the moment usually tend to fall within the statistical average of unmet goals. However, when I commit my works to the Lord and pray for His discernment, the result is very different. As believers, we all know this, but many times, the busyness of life and how fast time flies carries us away. We can easily fall into making plans that actually take us farther away from what God is calling us to, and because of that, along with the lack of prayer, our plans get lumped in with the statistical average. As we enter the fall season, with ministries starting up after the summer and a new school year upon us, I would encourage you to sit down, see how you can set goals that not only “better your life” but that can be committed to doing what God has in store for you, and to pray for discernment in how to live that out in your daily life.
