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The year is officially half over! I wrote a post at the quarter of the year mark, so I wanted to continue the process and guide you through a mid-year checkup.
Mid-Year Checkup – Goal
Did you make a New Year’s Resolution six months ago or jump in at the three months mark? Pick one word, or a phrase to guide your year?
As I described in the previous checkup, I decided to pick one word for 2018: Growth.
But more important than the actual goal. Why did you pick the goal? What was the intention and drive behind it? What were/are you wanting from this goal?
My work on this blog shined a light into areas of my own life that I wanted to continue to grow in all areas of my life. And I wanted God to be the driver of my growth. To seek Him and His desires for all aspects of my life.
In reflecting upon your goal and your “why” behind it, is it still the goal you want for 2018? Do you need to change it or refine it?
Mid-Year Checkup – How’s it going?
Are you doing awesome at meeting and exceeding your goals? Or is this the first time you’ve thought of your 2018 goals since my last post in April and that was the first time since sometime in February?
Were your expectations reasonable and so attainable or are you still fighting (or have given up) on reaching the first one?
With the goal of growth, I had broken it up into each area of my life: spiritual, personal (emotional and health), relational, career and blog.
Proverb 21:5 (NIV) The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
This verse struck me a couple of weeks ago and reminded me of my plans and goals.
Because ultimately it is about doing all things for God, as He designed. And then to be diligent and steadfast in those plans.
I have to recognize I can’t do all things well. And the more I add to my plate the more I have to cut corners on the important things. Or my attention has to get divided.
I am not called to do all things. You are not called to do all things.
We are first and foremost called to love God well, seek Him well. And then it is to love our spouse well and care and guide our children well.
And then, only adding the other things to our life that we are able to also do well – without allowing the previous – most important things to slip.
“It is well with my soul” reminds me of where to be placing my measuring stick. My mark of success. If it is not well with my soul, then I need to reflect and go back to the only One who can make it so.
[ctt template=”7″ link=”F2AcH” via=”yes” ]”It is well with my soul” reminds me of where to be placing my measuring stick. My mark of success. If it is not well with my soul, then I need to reflect and go back to the only One who can make it so. [/ctt]
Mid-Year Checkup – Forward Progress
Merriam Webster describes forward progress as moving forward or toward a place; the process of improving or developing something over a period of time.
Even if that is one goal. Or even just one step towards that one goal. Because that one step will lead to the second. And then the third.
If we look at our whole big picture, our ultimate vision for our life, it’s too big. We need to then break that down into our personal mission statement and then our goals to achieve that. Small, bite-sized, manageable goals.
2 Chronicles 15:7 (CSB) But as for you, be strong; don’t be discouraged, for your work has a reward.
Continuing our Faith Journey
As Christians, we are called to become more like Christ. A journey to continue forward progress.
How does your 2018 goal fit into that ultimate vision?
Forward progress requires change for growth to happen. Thankfully, we don’t have to do it alone, but we have to do something different to expect differing results. And the process of change is hard.
It is also important that you are patient with yourself during the process. And allow God to lead you in the areas He wants you to focus on. Because sometimes His desires for you are completely different than what you envisioned.
I was recently completing an online bible study that I reflected on this very point.
“The areas of growth I thought were going to take place have definitely not been the areas God has been shining light into! …more intimate relationship with Him, greater priorities on my husband and children, identifying lingering food issues, areas of pride, still stuck issues of self-worth: I don’t have to do and be everything, and learning to be more hospitable and open to real-life relationships.”
These were not the areas I had initially identified back in January, however, my vision is to become more like Christ in all ways. And my mission is to meet people where they are to better love them and provide help and guidance. Then my goals need to first address areas that can stop me from completing my mission and ultimately my vision.
I pray this mid-year checkup prompts you to reevaluate or establish for the first time your big, huge, amazing vision for your life and then work backward to what you can do every since day to achieve it.
That this reminds you of your most important things and allows you the freedom and peace to let go of other areas.
To utilize this mid-year checkup worksheet and all of my other worksheets and printables, signup below to gain access to my resource library
God bless!
Melissa
p.s. Check out all of the beautiful sites I link-up with.
My word for the year was “hope,” and I continue to have hope despite difficult circumstances. Most years I set goals after asking the Lord what He wants me to accomplish that year. This year I heard, “Come away with Me,” so I took it as an invitation to abide in His presence.
What a beautiful thing to hear from the Lord! Thank you for sharing your word and your experience. God bless, Susan!
My phrase for this year is “point to Jesus” and I’m still working on it. Some days I succeed, other days I know I fail. But I’m always thankful for God’s grace and that even my failures are a chance to point back to Him.
That’s a beautiful phrase and one I hope my life shows. I agree, failures are a beautiful chance and opportunity to point to Jesus. Thank you for sharing! God bless!
I am just refusing to give up, even though discouragement sets in. Every page, every follower, ever hour spent in research is another small step forward.
And small steps are always progress! Keep on keeping on! God bless all of your endeavors, Alice!
LOL I picked a word and repeatedly forgot it. Well, God picked the word “No”. No to anything outside of what He’s called me to do. And I’ve had to go back and say no when my auto pilot said Yes by mistake. Now He is leading into a New Word. Joy.
“No” can be such an important word that we can tend to neglect at times. It’s amazing how implementing “No” well can lead to “Joy”! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experience. God bless!
I pretty much blog about this very thing as I journey on in the writing life, so amen! Spinning plates crashing to the floor never did anyone any good, yet we so often try don’t we? I am thankful for God’s mercy, that he is more into my heart than rushed living, and of accumulating things that are of lesser importance. Blessings to you!
Yes, I am forever grateful for God’s mercy and humbled that He wants more of me and not more out of me! Thank you for stopping by Meghan and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
This is so wise! I used to quarterly assess my goals and my overall direction in life, and I need to get back to this! Thanks for the sweet reminder!
I know I do much better when I keep my God-driven vision and goals in focus. I’m glad you found it beneficial. God bless!
These are great questions! I am a terrible goal setter, and need to work on that. Hey! Maybe that’s my goal for the second half of the year!
🙂 Yes, having a goal of making some goals is a good place to start. Thank you for stopping by Lauren! God bless!
I love the reminder that we are not CALLED to do all things. This is a valuable reminder of the importance to keep priorities straight!
It is certainly a good reminder for me! Anytime I am feeling like I need to be doing it all I can refute it as a lie!
I did this as well unofficially. I think I’m doing better now than I was in January. My motto in January was that “if I saw a toilet in any of my dreams to never use it cause it’s a trap” I also wanted to grow my blog and I accomplished both. I’m more consistent and see growth. It’s always fun to look back and see how much you’ve grown. You always have excellent topics on your blog. I’m a huge fan of the things you do
Ha! Both very sound goals to have! It is nice to see how far God brings us, often in ways we never anticipated. Thank you for your kind words, Prescott! God bless!
My word for 2018 is “wonder.” After spending time praying and pondering, wonder is what I was drawn to, even in the midst of painful, sometimes desperate-feeling circumstances. Over and over I have been reminded that my wonder is not of this world/feelings/emotions. That my wonder is solely focused on my God and His Word. Thanks for the mid-year check! Crazy that the year is half-over!
Such a neat word! It can be both a sense of curiosity to know something and an experience of admiration and awe. Clearly God is to be at the focus of both! Thank you for sharing. God bless!
I am behind, This year, I wanted to accomplish so much; but, my goals took backseat to my family’s needs because of illness. I hope the second part will be more fruitful. I enjoyed the scriptures that you shared. Thanks for joining us on the #LMMLInkup this past week.
It’s amazing how our goals can change given life circumstances. And yet we know God’s timing is always perfect! Here’s to a growth-filled and prosperous second half of 2018. God bless, Mary!