Skip to main content

February Goals

            For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:17)

 

I’ve heard that it takes 3 days to break a habit, and 21 days to establish one. I’m not sure those are right, and I think attitude has a lot to do with it if they’re wrong. And what today’s verse suggests is that even if we build a good, spiritual habit, the flesh will continue to fight against it.

This morning, I sense myself falling to a good/bad habit. It’s the end of January. I haven’t done all I’d like to have done in January but it’s really time to set goals for February. At the same time, why set them for February if I haven’t managed January’s? And, while I could easily set a bunch of goals that would require that I accomplish a lot, what goals would make me a better person? And the problems with goals that would make me a better person are ego and definition. What does “better person” mean? What does it look like? How does one measure it? And how do I go about it without arrogance slipping in?

The answer, at least for February, is prayer. Ultimately, it comes back to wisdom, direction, and attitude (as usual), but at least partly prayer with this verse in mind. Prayer about the things the flesh wants, things the Spirit wants, and once those are identified, prayer that the flesh would be overcome and the Spirit’s will rule my life. And part of that, I think, involves praying about the things that irritate me – the things I think “Someone needs to do something about,” which tends to lead to “I guess I must do something about…”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more