Well school for me is almost over. As I look over the year and what I have done I realize that I did not accomplish anything I set out to do this year. I had three goals: write my minor field, take my qualifying exams and defend my prospectus. Unfortunately I did not complete any of those things.
In October my goal was to be ABD by the end of June. I was going to focus solely on school. That was my priority. Unfortunately, other things distracted me, and school became overwhelming so instead of being productive I let the stress of what I had to do get to me and now it is June I realize that none of my goals got accomplished. I say this because in the spiritual sense we might have had goals this year to get closer to God or to do certain things for Him. In January we might have said ‘this year I am going to pray more, I am going to read the Bible more, I am going to get closer to God.’ We might have said ‘I am going to lead Bible Studies, take a young person out to eat every month, come to prayer in the morning once a week.’ Yet now that it is June we look back and we say, ‘I am not reading the Bible as much as I should, I am not praying as much as I should, and I am in the same place relationship wise with God that I was in January.’ We might be saying ‘I did not take one young person out to eat, I didn’t even make it to prayer once a month.’ And we get discouraged. We can even think that we are the biggest losers for not accomplishing our goals.
But God does not see us that way. Rather than saying ‘I did not accomplish anything I set out to do,’ and rather than condemning yourself for the mistakes you have made this year, rather than seeing the glass as half empty (or the year as half over) see it as half full (as six more months to go). Rather than saying ‘I did not go to the church once this year to pray,’ say ‘this week I am going to try to make it.’ Rather than saying ‘I did not read my Bible as much as I should have,’ say, ‘this week I am going to call an accountability partner and I am going to start reading more of the Word.’ Rather than saying ‘I did not lead any Bible Studies,’ say ‘I am going to call Pastor or Bro. Ben and ask them if I can lead a small group.’ Rather than saying ‘I did not clean a widow’s house like I purposed,’ say ‘I am going to call a sister tomorrow and on Saturday I am going to clean their house.’ Rather than feeling like you did not do anything, think of what you still can do.
I let the stress get to me and I ended up not being as productive academically as I should. It got to the point that in March I was like ‘Well I have not accomplished anything yet, so I might as well stop fooling myself and stop trying.’ It might be that you are thinking that as well. That you are thinking that because it is already June and you have not done what you should have, that you might as well stop trying. God wants us to admit that we have not been as consistent as we should. He wants us to tell Him that we got our priorities messed up. He wants us to tell Him that we recognize that we have not accomplished our goals. But He wants us to continue to draw closer to Him. He is not condemning us for not praying as much as we should, or for not reading His word as much as we should. He is saying the opportunity is still here. It is not too late. So think of the glass as half full and those goals that you had in January, strive to meet them.
June 4th, 2007 at 10:21 am Kim, God continues to amaze me in how He uses you. I feel like I can relate in this situation…we often look at what we have yet to accomplish or what we did not accomplish rather than taking a step back and saying “You know what, I may not have done this or that, but I will do it.” We must have a drive to succeed in ALL we do. Thanks Kim, May God continually use you to speak and be that encouraging light!
June 11th, 2007 at 11:52 am Kim, I never even knew this blog existed. I don’t even know how I got into it this morning. I can honestly say that it was the Lord who led me here. Thanks so much for taking your time and writing down what the Lord places in your heart. I really needed to hear this. As I write these words of Thanks tears are flowing down my cheeks. You see this is the second time God speaks to me this morning. Thanks so much! You may not have accomplished all the goals you had set for yourself this year, however, Jesus has accomplished much greater goals in you. Goals that lead to eternal and heavenly triumph and riches. Again, thanks so much!