Success In 2015 And The One Thing You Must Wait On

So, it's a new year. 2015, I can hardly believe it! Time waits for no one, right. My guess is that you've been bombarded lately through news and social media, friends, family, and even in your jobs with the tradition of new year's resolutions. Which is why I held off on this post, to avoid joining the overwhelming voices. Whether or not setting resolutions is productive is arguable. One report shows that less than ten percent of people actually follow through with their aspirations each year. Those that actually attain their wishes would be advocates, those that don't, would not. Which is probably most of us and why it's debatable. My second guess, would be that you've either decided on some of your very own and are gung-ho about them! Or, you've failed at them enough in the past, that you just don't see the point and are therefore strongly against the idea. Either way, you're not alone.

On one of the blogs I follow the author has been posting a lot about resolutions.  And the very fact, that most of us that do set them, often fail.. And yet, we continue year in, and year out, to set...more. Doesn't really make sense. Does it? Michael proposes something I agree with. He states that instead of resolutions, we should be... setting goals. And while the two can sound quite equatable, they are indeed different creatures altogether.

Resolutions: These are normally internally focused desires. They typically have vain, surface level fulfilments in general. And most importantly, they are often "wish lists" at best.

Goals: These should consist of internal desires that will propel you in a given area of life that will ultimately help you become better for others... in the process.

What's more is that resolutions are usually never physically visualized, goals must be. What I mean by this is that goals should not remain in our minds. We should write them down, make a plan, and implement that plan...adjusting as needed along the way. As Eisenhower is quoted "The plan is nothing but planning is everything." We must be flexible while working our plan, but we must, plan. Planning does many things for us, one of the most important is, it naturally creates a step-by-step process that we can measure our progress against.

All that said, I know you've been slammed with resolution requests and such. So I'm not going to ask you to do either... set goals or set resolutions. I, want to discourage you in regards to 2015... and then... encourage you. I believe this familiar passage of scripture will help us consisely valuate the true reality of both approaches to the new year.

Isaiah 40:31 reads as follows:

but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

My Discouragement For You

Let's look at this text a bit differently than we usually do.

In 2015 There Will Be Times When:

1.You will walk.
    Progress at this stage is slow, long, continuous & often laborious.

2. You will run.
     This includes both running to beneficial avenues & running from things or people that just don't help move you closer to your ideal path forward.

3. You will have cause to soar
     Situations might happen, where you must rise above, choose the high road, be the bigger person.

4.  You will have no more strength
      There's a great probability that life in this coming year may weaken you at some point.

In case you're depressed yet too, let me say, I lean on the thinking that one of the most beautiful aspects of scripture is that in the very same passage that you find such discouragement, you can also find hope! Remember, I said I also wanted to encourage you(:

My Encouragement For You

When we read this passage traditionally, we can clearly see what our benefits are.

1. Progress may be slow at times, but you'll have the endurance to keep going.

2. At times you'll cover more ground... by running. Note that this running won't be arduous to the point of weariness. It sounds like it will be revitalizing.

3. An eagle is a predator. They hunt. So a main benefit of them being in flight is... vision, perspective. You will be able to see what you need for sustenance from an angle of attainability.

4. Though you find yourself weak, your strength won't run out, it will be re-filled!

Every year holds successes & failures, triumphs & tragedies, aspirations & accomplishments. While you're on this planet there will never be one that doesn't. So again, I'm not asking you to set goals or resolutions. I would urge you to consider though, that whether you give the two thought or not, there are inherent things that are on your agenda for 2015, some of which will be inadvertent, some that must be pursued. So if you'd like things to work out in your favor... being proactive is always the way to go. Lastly, I would point out the obvious pre-condition to the points of encouragement. It's found at the beginning of this verse... but they that wait upon the LORD....  

See everyone will face the discouragements this new year but only those that have relationship with Jesus, will experience the promised encouragements/success. So regardless of how you label your hopes for 2015, true progress can only be achieved through Him. Your goal/resolution this year, make it waiting on the Lord, and I'd be willing to bet that any others you should have will not only be revealed, they'll likely come to pass. I'll be praying for you in 2015!

How do resolutions and goals differ to you? 

Helping the growth within, come out

Rodney