I was asked the other day what my goals were. I’ve actually been asked twice in the last few weeks by two different people. Each time I gave the answer of my goal is to do better. I elaborated on what I meant by that. I want to do better in all the things. Be more intentional in how I spend my time and use my energy. Both times I was told that was an unacceptable answer and to try again. Apparently that’s a subjective goal… it can’t easily be measured in terms of if I’ve achieved it or not.
I was encouraged (told) to think about goals. Goals for this month. Goals for the classes I’m taking. Goals in the different aspects of life. One area that I really thought about in terms of goals is spiritual goals.
Time and time again, the Bible talks about meditating on God’s word day and night. How can you meditate on what you aren’t reading? How can you meditate on things you don’t know? We are also told to share of the hope we have with others… to take the gospel and share it with those who have never heard it. How can we do those things if we don’t know scripture?
I’ve jumped on the Bible Recap Reading Plan train. So far, I’m on track with the day I started it which was about 14 days ago. I’m “doing better” being in the Word. I also have a Bible study on 1 Peter that I’m slowly but surely working through. Both of those things are great when it comes to being in the Word and being able to call parts of the Bible to mind, but I want to “do better” when it comes to scripture memorization.
I did Awanas for a year when I was younger. I often times found myself memorizing multiple verses a week. I wanted to finish my book and start another before the year was over. My motives for memorizing scripture and hiding it in my heart may have been wrong, but now 20+ years later, I can still remember many of those verses. Scripture memorization is so important to a believer. If little 11 year old me could memorize several verses a week, what’s my excuse now? Why can I not, or am I not, still doing it? I mean, I memorized all sorts of proofs in grad school. Proofs that were close to a page long. If I could do that with the help of caffeine, what’s my excuse for struggling to memorize scripture? (Side note: should any of my former profs come across this… sorry for all the memorization when you told us to learn it and not just memorize it )
One of my goals is to memorize a new verse or new verses every week. I’m not sure if this is just a monthly goal… a goal for the year… a new goal for my life, but I want to take the command to hide His word in my heart more seriously.
This week, I’m working on Hebrews 4:16.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
So this time next week Hebrews 4:16 should be drilled into my brain. I should be able to meditate on it day and night, and I should have the next verse picked out and ready to memorize. If you have suggestions for verses, I’m all for some suggestions- just drop it in the comments.
Goals are hard for me. Setting a goal and sticking to it is hard. I think it comes from a fear of failure. If I set goals and then don’t stick to them/achieve them, I’ve failed, right? (Maybe I should add fear of failure to my list of goals for the year… stop being afraid of failure.) While my vague goal of “to do better” might be unacceptable, I intend to do that this year with my goals. I’m going to do better in holding myself accountable to the things I want and need to do and also allow others to hold me accountable. If you’ve set goals this year, what are they? Drop them in the comments below. Are they realistic or unrealistic? Do you need someone to help hold you accountable?
In a week, feel free to reach out and ask me if I’ve memorized the verse, and if you need some accountability, I’d love to help you be accountable to your goals. If you are my brother or sister in Christ, we aren’t meant to do life alone. We need each other and are called to do this thing called life together. Big things and small things alike.
Grief. Going. Healing. 
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