I love the new year. It is a time to stop and reflect upon the last year and dream for the following year. One of the keys to growth is evaluation, so I evaluate my life much the way I would an event or ministry. I ask questions like, “What was the goal?” “What worked to move me toward that goal?” “What didn’t work?” “What didn’t help me but didn’t hurt me either?” “Is there anything I need to change next year?” “Is there a way to improve the outcome?” “Where did I waste time or energy?” “Who invested in me?” “Who did I invest in?”
 
I then take some time to make choices about my goals and focus for the following year. I develop plans to be more of who God made me be in twelve months than I am now. I identify action steps and make them as small and as easy to accomplish as possible.
 
Whether I am thinking as a pastor, leader, parent, or man, a few principles guide me in the planning process. They influence my choices, the goals I set, and the things I put in my calendar. 
                             

1. It Starts In Me. Whatever changes I hope to see start in me. As the leader, I can become the barrier to growth in our family or ministry. I must have a very intentional plan for personal growth that leverages my skills, motivations, passions, opportunities, and resources.

 

1. Do First What Only You Can Do. There are relatively few things that cannot be delegated, shared, or released to others ultimately. Be sure you prioritize the things that cannot be relinquished to someone else. If we don’t choose, we neglect what matters most for something someone else is called to do.

 

1. Trust is Everything. I am convinced that most personal resolutions fail because we don’t trust ourselves. We don’t believe that we can or will follow through. We don’t think we will change or do what we decide to do. Likewise, organizations operate at the speed of trust. Trust moves; a lack of trust slows everything down. The only way to build trust is through actions. Actions reveal our character, intentions, capabilities, and growth. We earn credibility and trust when we act on good character, selfless intentions, robust capabilities, and a willingness to learn and develop. 

 

1. Serve People & Serve the Mission. How am I using my role to serve others, especially those I am called to lead? Do I have intentional patterns and rhythms of service built into my schedule? Jesus taught us that the more leadership we have, the more people we serve. I must intentionally add value to the people I care about and lead. If I am not adding value, what’s my leadership point?

 

1. Do Less to Accomplish More. In the long run, there aren’t a whole lot of things that matter. Life and ministry can be simple, though it gravitates toward complexity. God designed each of us with limited resources in ourselves and our churches. Doing less requires us to focus these resources on what we have been asked to do and trust everything else to him and others. That meant we had three priorities, five ministries, and three initiatives in the church. We can’t do it all, but a lack of trust in others and planning leave most people trying to do it all.

 

1. Experiment. We built one big experiment into the rhythms of our ministry year. In a world that changes as quickly as ours, you are never entirely sure what’s going to work next. Change and experimentation should be built into the DNA of our lives and our churches. After all, if we only do what we know how to do, we never leave any room for God to do the miraculous. 

 

1. Take a Step Toward Outsiders. We tend as human beings to group ourselves with people who are a part of our family or tribe. We surround ourselves with people who look like us, think like us, talk like us, etc. Churches tend to move turn inward as well. Year by year, we become more focused on protecting what we have instead of being on a mission to reach those outside our walls. If we force ourselves to step toward people each year, we help prevent.

 

1. Engage the Community. What is one way you can engage your community? Choose a local coffee shop instead of Starbucks, go to the bookstore instead of Amazon, volunteer with a local organization. Be present, local, connected with your community. It will be more inconvenient and, at times, a little more expensive, but what is more Christian than self-denial for the good of our neighbors.

 
As you embark on this new year, remember that you have everything you need to do everything that He is asking you to do right now. The problem isn’t that we don’t have enough; the problem is usually the misuse of our time or resources on things God didn’t ask of us. ​