
Hands up if you like lists! I do. I have a To-Do list for work, a shopping list, a reading list. When I’m packing for a trip, I write a list so I don’t forget anything. I also have a “get it out of my head” list!
These are all tasks – a list of small jobs that get me to a goal.
What is a goal? A goal is something that you are aiming for, a desired result that you want to see. You may have heard of SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
A goal of losing weight is hard to achieve as you have nothing to measure it against. A goal of losing 10 kilos by 30 June 2025 is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and has a set time limit to work towards.
Let’s go back further. Why would someone set a goal to lose weight? Is it just to lose weight? Or is it part of a priority that they have set that year? For example, this year I want to prioritise my health so I am going to set a SMART goal to lose weight, another SMART goal to become more flexible, and so on.
I have noticed that socials are full of posts of couples who are going away and planning their year, having vision days to set their big rocks, family time, work and so much more. Maybe you do one of these.
At GoChurch we have a Vision: As a family of churches we are working together to reach the world.
This defines our Purpose: As churches planting churches, by 2025 we see a global family of 25 healthy churches working together to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus.
This then leads to our 3 Priorities:
· Strong Healthy Churches
· Developing Leaders
· Planting Churches
From here we set SMART goals that may change each year and then under each goal, tasks that help us achieve those goals.
Vision -> Purpose -> Priorities -> Goals -> Tasks
What about you? Your family? Your work? Are you just focussed on the tasks that day and getting the job done? Can you come out wider and see the goals you are working to achieve this year, and the reason you are doing those tasks. And even wider to define your priorities. And even wider to define your purpose.
When we see the bigger picture, our vision becomes wider. Jesus is always wanting to expand our vision.
When we read the account of the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6:30-44, the disciples were given a task to find some food. All they found were just 5 loaves and 2 fish, a meal for one boy. His goal was to feed the 5,000 that night. In fact it became a priority because they saw the people were hungry. However, Jesus had a much greater purpose in this miracle. After taking the food and blessing it, He put the food in the hand of the disciples to distribute. He wanted them to participate in this miracle.
This year let your vision be expanded and consider your priorities because it’s from your priorities that you set your clear goals and then your tasks.
I am praying for you all to have an incredible fruitful year as the Lord expands your vision.