MANAGE YOUR TIME/MANAGE YOUR LIFE PART III

MANAGE YOUR TIME/MANAGE YOUR LIFE

PART III

When I was a teenager I loved aquatic spots. I loved swimming in the ocean and the lake. I therefore collected every aquatic Boy Scout merit badge. This included the mile swim. I even became a certified Boy Scout Life Guard.

But I had a little trouble in my rowing merit badge class. In a row boat you sit in the opposite direction from where you are headed. You can't see where you are going. So I kept turning my head to see the direction I was rowing the boat. This prevented me from rowing the boat in a straight line. I was all over the lake.

My rowing instructor came to my rescue. Now this is what he told me to do. “Pick out a tree on the opposite side of the lake. Keep your eye on the tree, and row your boat in line with the tree.” It worked. And it worked immediately.

Remember the first principle of time management is to know your God given mission or purpose in life. This is what we looked at last week. But this is the second principle in time management. Create and maintain the goals that enable you to fulfill your mission or purpose in life.

The goals you create will enable you to row your boat or your life in the right direction. And the right direction is to fulfill your mission or purpose in life. Let me therefore make the follow suggestions to you about goal setting.

1. Set your goals in the fall and re-adjust them in January. Perhaps I like this approach because I spent a lot of time in the academic arena. The school year begins in the fall. But you can start your goal setting at anytime. But this is my suggestion. Take time to set your goals, and re-adjust them six months later.
2. Take a personal retreat to pray and set your goals for the year. Setting goals in a quiet place with little or no interruptions makes a big difference. If a personal retreat is impossible then do your best to find a quiet place with uninterrupted time.
3. It is best to set no more than seven major goals for the year. Too many goals will hinder you from focusing on your mission. Years ago I worked for an organization that required me to set goals in 13 different areas. I don't remember the 13 areas, but I do remember my frustration. I became more productive when I limited myself to seven goals.
4. Always set your goals in an attitude of prayer. You want your goals to please God rather than yourself.
5. Set goals for every major area of your life. For me that means setting goals for family life, sermons, writing assignment, finances, etc. But remember you only want to set seven major goals.
6. Review your goals on a regular bases. Some read their goals every morning and evening. Some review their goals each week and each month. Your goals are useless unless you stop to evaluate your progress. You need to determine if you are reaching your goals or falling behind.
7. Expect delays. Last month I received the news that a relative was very sick. I decided it was important to visit my relative. That meant putting my goals aside for a week. And that's OK. Since I had written goals I was able to get back on track when I got home.
8. Expect changes. As you set out to fulfill your goals you may discover you need to change direction. Remember goals setting is just a tool to help you fulfill your mission or purpose in life. If you discover that a goal is not beneficial it's OK to change.

Remember your goals will help you row your boat or life in the right direction. But above everything else, make sure your goals glorify and honor God. For Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”