We all know there’s nothing magical about the ‘January 1st’ date. And yet, as the year comes to a close, I always like to reflect on the past 12 months. What did I do well? What aspect of my life/schedule am I frustrated by? What do I want to change?
Questions like these are helpful as I attempt to effectively steward my resources. Over the past week, I’ve been thinking and praying about areas in my life that I want to change. As I started to think through each area, I came up with 10 questions. My goal for each question was to have God at the center. In other words, my core purpose for each of these goals is for God to be better glorified.
I trust these 10 questions will help you guide your thinking and actions according to God’s Word during this year.
- Can I structure my mornings to be better prepared in body, mind, and spirit for my children?
- Can I improve my level of physical activity so that my body is stronger to meet the physical demands God has given me?
- How can I adjust our meals so I’m fueling my family with the best possible nutrition for our bodies and minds?
- Is the way I treat my husband an accurate portrayal of Christ’s goal for me as a respectful, loving, and submissive wife?
- Am I developing a habit that is causing me to be unproductive with my time and resources?
- Am I intentionally discipling my children to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength?
- Do I use my time with friends primarily to encourage them in their walk with God or to serve myself?
- Am I regularly sharing the Gospel with others? How can I do this more effectively?
- Do my children know that I love to be with them? What can I do to build my love relationship with them and so teach them about God’s forever love?
- Am I effectively stewarding my night hours so that my home, body, and mind are prepared to rest?
I’ve spent some time thinking and praying through these questions and am creating monthly goals based on them. [UPDATE: I shared my goals for 2015 in this post & part 2 of my goals here!]
How about you? Any other questions you’re thinking through during the new year?
I love the list of questions, not just to review for January 1. But I’m thinking as goals to ask myself weekly, knowing in reality it will be more like monthly 🙂
Thank you for the well thought out questions to ponder for the year. I would love to read your goal breakdown. This is the first time I’ve thought of making written goals for the year and I am struggling to make them realistic and moving my life in the right direction simultaneously.
Great list of questions for introspection for new beginnings and re-sets that don’t have to be tied to any particular date! Thanks for a great post!
I think this was the first year that I used the word “goals” as opposed to resolutions. Goals are achievable.
Excellent list, and I especially appreciate the fact that you managed to touch on multiple aspects of a woman’s life — home, husband, health, kids, spirituality. It’s all there to be pondered and prayerfully evaluated.
These are really helpful questions! Thanks for sharing! Would love to see your goal breakdown as I find it can be tricky to move from the big picture answers to practical realities for day to day life.
These are really great! Would love to read your ‘goal breakdown!’
Ouch! These are excellent questions that I truly need to consider. Thank you!
I don’t remember how I found you…but wow am I so glad I found your questions for mom in the new year. This list will be printed and posted so I can see it daily. Thank you.
Ouch!! Great questions, thank you for sharing. I would LOVE to read your goal breakdown!!
I found your post through a “Thankful Homemaker” post. I found your questions to be most beneficial and provoking in my heart and mind. I am grateful for your willingness to share and desire to receive the information regarding how you breakdown each of your goals.
Kindest greetings.
Thank you for such helpful questions. I’m revisiting them after a conversation with a friend reminded me of them. May I see your goal breakdown? Appreciate it.
Natalie, I’m so thankful they are helpful to you! I just updated the post with links to my goal breakdowns. I hope they’ll be encouraging to you as you pray to determine what goals God has for you in your season of life!
Revisiting again in 2016, these are tremendous.
Also, that picture connected with “joelswife” is troubling. That, people, is Joel himself, not his wife.
Great questions, thank you for sharing. I would LOVE to read your goal breakdown!!
would be a great start for 2017 for me.
So thankful they’re helpful, Margot! I linked to my goal breakdowns at the end of the post! 🙂