Standards, Goals, and Resolutions - Goals

<p>Good morning, Five Minute Families! Kim and I hope you had a very wonderful holiday season! So many Christmas parties, church nativity plays, community spirit events, and lights blinking throughout the neighborhoods have filled the days. After we enjoy our favorite treats that we only have this time of year, many of us will look to the upcoming year as one with renewed hope and possibilities.</p><p>Have you reviewed your standards this past week? Remember, as Proverbs 16:3 points out. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” You must raise your standards before setting goals or making resolutions. As we discussed last week many folks will make individual and family resolutions just to see those resolutions fade by the third week of January. But, we CAN deepen our familial relationships and improve the quality of our lives if we take a step back and remember the quick difference in our three terms of this short series:</p><p>Standard - the acceptable normal of your home</p><p>Goal - your desired result</p><p>And, last, Resolution - what you want to change</p><p>Here is a quick example for each of those three: For the five-minute family, you may resolve to have family devotions in 2023. A goal for that resolution would be to read one passage of the devotional book Dad bought each week on Tuesday evening, and the standards of completion and accountability probably come into greater emphasis with this particular goal. </p><p>As you work through your family’s goals for 2023, please keep in mind </p><p>Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.</p><p>and</p><p>Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.</p><p>Think about this, low standards can keep you from achieving your goals, and not breaking your resolutions into achievable goals will keep you from success. So, let’s discuss five points in how to reach a goal and what standard may need to be raised to achieve it:</p><p>First,