by Scott Stephens
Scott Stephens is the counseling pastor at West End Baptist Church’s West End Counseling Center, a board member of Redeemer Biblical Counseling Training Institute, and a PhD student in the Biblical Counseling Program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. To find out more about our counseling center (WECC), please call the church at 864-232-7312.
The new year always brings a sense of renewal… a chance to start anew. Many people set goals and plans, make new resolutions, and make promises and commitments. Sadly, in an INC. Magazine article, I just read that 91 percent of resolutions and goals are abandoned and forgotten before the next year ends. Less than 10 percent of the plans for the new year are kept.
I am one of the people who makes goals every year. My problem is that I have too many goals. With so many, I’m fortunate that I complete some goals, but many stay on the list year after year. For instance, I’ve been rebuilding a car I drove in high school. For 36 years, it has been on my list of goals, but I have never completed this task.
Just recently, I was working on my goals list for next year. I usually work with music in the background to make the task more enjoyable. As it just so happens, Amy Grant was singing one of her beautiful Christmas tunes, “Agnus Dei.” The timing couldn’t have been more perfect! Listening as she sang, I heard the words:
Alleluia, alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia, alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia
Holy, holy
Are You, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are holy, holy
Are You, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen
The words of this song filled my heart with worship and gratitude! Once again, as I reflected on my goals for next year, I found that my perspective was suddenly renewed. I realized that my goals and plans must be built upon the strongest foundation I can find. That foundation is the Lord God Almighty. Scripture reminded me that I must first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. After I do this, the other things, as God directs, will “be added unto me” (Matthew 6:33).
Our goals and plans are secondary to bringing honor and glory to Jesus! He deserves to be the main priority before all other things in our lives. Goals are important, but no goal should be more important than recognizing that the Lord God Almighty is worthy of our time, honor, talents, and resources. He is worthy of and deserves our complete devotion and love. Revelation 5:12 proclaims, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessings!”
When we make our plans, there are two truths that we must build our plans upon: 1) Jesus said that if we love one another, everyone will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35), and 2) if we truly love Jesus, we will obey His commandments (John 14:15). The greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with all of our being. The second greatest commandment is to love one another.
January 1 is the starting point for the new year. Our year should begin with a commitment to love God and others so much that we want to share the good news of great joy that has come to all people: a Savior who is Christ the Lord! God and His glory are the foundation on which we should build every goal and plan. With every goal, aspiration, and task we seek, we should ask ourselves if the journey and outcome will glorify God. As we seek Him and His will, all the truly important things will become more apparent.
