Resolutions to Solutions

Happy New Year friends!!  I don't know about you, but it's been several years since I put any serious effort or thought into making a New Year's resolution. I would quickly get discouraged because by the end of the first week of the new year, I had completely failed at everything I had attempted to start as a new year's resolution.

Several years later, after completing Beth Moore's Believing God bible study I decided to make my own Vision Board. I prepared my very first vision board on one PowerPoint slide, printed it off and hung it proudly on a cork board in the garage. I know, this wasn't the most prominent spot in my house but I would see it everyday, coming and going throughout my day. It's still there today reminding me that it works!!   Here's why: My vision, desires and dreams were God-given, it involved helping others, being a disciple of Christ and pursuing godly desires.  

Habakkuk 2:2-3 CEV tells us:
Then the Lord told me:
“I will give you my message
    in the form of a vision.
Write it clearly enough
    to be read at a glance. 

At the time I have decided,
    my words will come true.
You can trust what I say
    about the future.
It may take a long time,
but keep on waiting—
    it will happen!

The world wants to tell us that vision boards work based on the the "law of attraction."  I would like to encourage you to seek results and success that are based on dreams, desires and visions that come from God.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Since God knows the plans He has for us, shouldn't we be seeking the Lord for our future?

As I was doing my research on Vision Boards, I found the article The Reason Vision Boards Work and How To Make One by Elizabeth Rider. Elizabeth's article stated "There is only one major rule to creating a vision board that works, and it’s ~ there aren’t any rules. You aren’t going to mess it up, you can create your vision board on your own terms." https://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-rider/the-scientific-reason-why_b_6392274.html Don't over think it, get started documenting your dreams and visions for 2018.

After divorces, adultery and widowhood, I never dreamed that saving marriages would be a desire and passion of mine. God wants to give you new desires, visions and dreams. Here's a good reason for us to to get started on our 2018 Vision Board, we have Jesus interceding for us. We also have the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit as our present helper to guide us to achieve and reach our desired goals and visions for this year. We can't fail.

Vision boards should be fun, creative and unique to each person who makes one. Take time to pray and seek the Lord about what He would have you focus on this year.  I recently spoke to a friend who said her biggest goal this year was her health. She could create a vision board just on a healthy lifestyle. Find pictures, scriptures, motivational memes that inspire you and place them on your vision board in an area where you see it daily. The purpose of your vision board is to create a vision for what you want to achieve. What are your dreams and desires?  What visions, dreams and desires has the Lord given you?

What do you want to work on in 2018?  Here are some suggestions: relationships, career and finances, fitness, home, travel, personal growth (including spirituality, social life, education, books to be read) and health. One of my desires is to complete two writing projects that I have been working on. Seems kind of vague, so I need to create SMART goals. I don't want to put a 12/31/2018 as a completion date.  My desire is to have one completed by the end of the first quarter and the second project by the end of the second quarter. Creating SMART goals will help you breakdown the process to achieve your results by your desired dates. See below:

Take your dreams, desires and visions and apply specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely steps to accomplish your 2018 Vision.

This was my vision board from 2016. I will be expanding it this year to include those SMART GOALS. Join me and let's make 2018 our best year!

Copyright © 2017 Sheri Austin Ministries, All rights reserved.