There’ve been some really great things this past year, but it hasn’t been all laughs and giggles. I bet your 2015 story is similar. Most of my new year’s goals were blown out of the water early on. There was the occasional, “Let’s get back at it,” but after a while these goals just seemed trivial compared to the ups and downs of life.

Looking at 2016, I still want to work on my waistline and still believe that health and hobbies are honorable and should be taken seriously. But I would also like to challenge myself and you to consider setting goals that can better equip us for whatever type of season we might face this next year. If I’m honest, there’s never a year that is smooth and easy. As Christians, we are promised hardships, trials, and testing. (John 16:33) So here is a thought: what if this year we work on our souls so that no matter what comes, we can walk faithfully through it? Here are some God-glorifying goals, which will set us up for victory in any situation, good or bad.

WORSHIP GOD

I just can’t recommend this one enough. At times, it’s seems cliché but it truly is exactly why you were created and why you are still alive, walking this planet as a Christian. Your purpose is to worship God, through the Son, by the power of the Spirit in all that you do, say, and think.

1 Corinthians 10:31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Imagine this year -- as you parent, run a business, pursue a job, go to school, make or build friendships, work on your marriage, spend your money, give time to hobbies, watch TV, post on social media, or whatever else your eyes see online -- doing this to worship the Lord. Imagine what this year could look like if you did everything to the GLORY OF GOD! What kinds of outcomes could happen by the end of 2016?!

LOVE OTHERS

When we worship God, the natural by-product is love. God is love and He loves us with a special type of love that is unconditional. When we experience this type a love, we just can’t help but pour it out on others. Loving others is worshipping God!

Now if you haven’t noticed, its probably going to be a tough year to be a professing Christian without someone saying something offensive about you or your faith. If you’re like me, you’re going to want to fight back. But maybe there is another way? What if we were known by our love even by those who hate us? What might happen as we seek to serve, share, care for, show compassion, and just flat out love others who don’t love us back rather than talking about the things we are against?

Consider what happened when Jesus loved unconditionally: He defeated Satan and His enemies by choosing to love us wretched people and die on the cross so that we would be reconciled to the Father. That was unconditional love at its finest! Who needs to be shown love in your life? Who is against you that you need to just love and not fight against?

LIVE LIFE IN COMMUNITY

The day that Jesus opened your heart and called you His own, it wasn’t just between you and Him. God saved you into community -- what He calls His Bride or the universal Church. He did this on purpose because He is a communal God, in perfect community with Himself: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Since we have been made in His image, why do we think we can walk through this sinful world by ourselves, without the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ?

In a war situation, a soldier left on his or her own is easily killed and Church, we are in a spiritual war. When we choose to be alone, we are an easy target for the enemy. He is on mission to destroy our marriages, our families, our testimonies, and ultimately to kill us. This year, find a few brothers and sisters in Christ and have them over to your home to live life together. Laugh together, cry together, pray, love, serve, care for, and submit to one another. There is safety and accountability in this. Honestly, it’s a total joy and pleasure to have like-minded people living life together with you in all of its ups and downs.

Hebrews 10:24-25And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

My wife and I have a group of four couples that meet weekly together to watch TV, eat dinner, and laugh. We do life together – gathering all the kids in each other’s homes or out in the community. But we also pray for one another, encourage one another, talk about scripture together, and serve each other. This has been good for our souls and when tough times have popped up, guess whom we call first? And guess who responds to us in our need? Our community. Tough times are probably coming this year for you. Who will help carry your burden?