"Grace" Expectations

How SMART are your goals for 2014?

Setting SMART goals makes success more achievable.

Ask yourself these questions:

Are my goals purposeful ?

Do I have them posted in front of my eyes to look at every day?

Am I giving myself a time-frame in which to complete them?

 Remember, making a mental note without putting pen to paper doesn't usually get you anywhere...

Motivational speaker and author Brian Tracey says,

 "Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines."

Let me extend some grace to you today, though....

BECAUSE our expectations almost always undermine our well-intentioned plans. 

That doesn't mean we shouldn't have plans....goals....resolutions...

It just means that we need to allow for life to interrupt them from time to time.

Here are some "Grace" Expectations for you (and me) to take to heart in 2014:

1. Give yourself grace if you miss a day on your new workout schedule.

Set your alarm clock for an early day tomorrow.

Start again.

2. Give yourself grace if you get writers block in the middle of attempting your first novel.

Listen to some mood music to clear your mind.

Then put down in words what God brings into your focus.

3. Give yourself grace if you eat that piece of cake after dinner when you are trying to cut out sweets.

Don't get discouraged and eat the whole cake in bed out of self-condemnation.

Get up the next day and eat a healthy breakfast.

4. Give yourself grace if you yelled at your little one last night when she spilled her milk at the table.

Remember that you, too, make mistakes.

Then apologize to your sweet baby and go drink some milk together. 

You see, we think that the beginning of the new year is the only time 
we can start over or begin again.

THAT IS A LIE!

2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

"Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. 
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

If Jesus is your Savior then every day is a new day. 

We are constantly living a life of "newness" when we follow Christ.

Second chances are freely given. 

And let's face it.

We all mess up from time to time.

Inconsistency and flaws are part of being human.

BUT GOD'S GRACE COVERS US AND ALLOWS US TO BEGIN AGAIN.

Every single day!

So, in regard to those new year's resolutions and high expectations, 

here's my recipe for success:

Set your goals.

If you miss the mark on some days, it's ok. 

Forgive yourself.

Thank God for His grace and that His mercies are new every morning.

Start over. 

REPEAT AS NEEDED