Making Better Declarations | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

This morning, an interesting news segment on making better resolutions caught my attention and I immediately began taking notes on my Blackberry because I sensed something valuable was about to come into my hearing.  This brief segment packed quite a punch and I just had to share with you all how it impacted me.  However, instead of using the term "resolution," I prefer to use "declaration" because it aligns much better with the teachings of the Kingdom to which I espouse.

When setting goals, we must frame them in the first person declarative.  It's important to see and say the phrase "I will" because it creates a relationship between one's will and the goal, thereby attaching the manifestation of the end result to actions motivated by one's will.  Thus begins the process of us both thinking and visualizing the achievement of the goal as an act of our will (Proverbs 23:7).  A goal is then no longer perceived as an impossibility becoming a probability, but rather a probability becoming a reality.

Additionally, the phrase "I will" should ideally be followed by one of the following action-oriented words: become, improve, conquer or commit.  It's important that we perpetually see ourselves performing these four actions.  Ultimately, our days should be planned around the completion of tasks specific to meeting our goals.  We must take the INITIATIVE and "make time" to pursue our goals because, if the truth be told, we never "have time" for them (James 2:17).  You know as well as I do that SOMETHING more "important" will ALWAYS arise and take greater priority simply because the squeaky wheel is known for getting the oil.  Therefore, our declarations must always indicate our willingness to take action and not idly sit by in hope of our goals SOMEHOW being reached.

Now, as part of our goal setting, we must plan for the process because, "If you fail to plan, you've planned to fail."  Our plans require accountability measures to ensure we remain focused on what matters.  Therefore, we need to publicize our goals to individuals who can hold our feet to the fire of their respective timetables.  Since it's so easy to get discouraged and quit upon hitting roadblocks during the process, our plans must identify any potential setbacks (Luke 14:28-30).  When we plan for the worst and expect the best, we're covered across the entire spectrum of potential experiences throughout the process of meeting our goals.  This then should lead to determining what failure will look like for us.  Our plans must indicate some understanding of what the worst case scenario in the process could be and how we plan to handle it.

In order to ensure our goals are met, we should strive to make goal setting an everyday habit, not just one for the New Year.  Goal setting is a lifestyle choice that promotes our ongoing growth and maturity, not a placebo for temporarily alleviating our guilty consciences every January for what we didn't accomplish the year before. We have the power and authority to decree and declare over our lives that which must be accomplished. Moreover, we have the GOD-given ability to change our situations. Thanks be unto GOD!