1st Quarter Reflections
As we closed out 2023 and looked forward to 2024, many evaluated the year with questions such as: “was the glass half empty or half full this year?” The answer to that question depended on your perspective! And your perspective determined what goals and resolutions you did or didn’t set for the New Year. As we near the end of the first quarter of 2024, it’s time to reflect and evaluate our progress, and more importantly reevaluate our perspective again.
Why We Need to Reevaluate Our Resolutions
Why reflect every quarter? By mid January 50% of our resolutions are already history. And statistically by year end, 92% of all resolutions fail. How are your resolutions holding up by theses statistics?
During my years as a pastor amidst the busyness of year end and Christmas, there were many times that I would simply pull out my goals from 11 months earlier, acknowledge them as partially filled, perhaps tweak one or two a bit and call it good for the new year. While that wasn’t necessarily good or bad, it definitely kept me on the same track and didn’t avail any fresh perspective, no “aha”s or “uh-oh”s for God to guide and direct me into new territory, growth curves and positive transformation.
Perspective Changes Everything
Perspective is our unique collection of beliefs and assumptions that make up our worldview – how we view God, people, authority, the role of the church, leadership, family and life. And our beliefs and assumptions affect the options and opportunities we may or may not see, and thus the decisions we make and the results that will or won’t occur in the future.
Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed. - Proverbs 15:22 NASB
WOW – PERSPECTIVE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT!
Too often we take our assumptions for granted, that’s why Scripture exhorts us to seek the wisdom of a multitude of counsel, adding perspective to move beyond our limited understanding. This counsel comes through prayer, scripture, friends and family. Another source is a Leadership Coach – one who is trained and skilled to ask questions and challenge assumptions, raising our awareness and expanding our capacity with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit to see things with God’s perspective and respond wisely based on scriptural principles.
Practical Steps
Squeeze out time in the next week to personally re-evaluate where you are so far in 2024, with the counsel of God’s Spirit within you. Here is a link to a Personal Evaluation Inventory that could be helpful.
Ask a trusted counselor, or two, to add wisdom and perspective, maybe even having them fill this out evaluating you from their experience and perspective. Fresh Perspective is a powerful thing, ultimately bringing growth and transformation to love, live and lead more effectively to the glory of God as well as bring His Kingdom to earth.