It has begun. It comes at this time every year. There are printables to help you. There are guides for how to set goals that you will achieve. Numerous articles to read about the mistakes people make or how to do it in an hour or less. Even podcasts to listen to telling you about the importance of goals. The list goes on. You know what I am talking about – setting goals for the new year and how to achieve your goals. Goals are all about doing. Goals are good but not enough. You need character. What if you need to learn to be instead of do?

The new year begins and you have a list of all the things you are going to do that year. You might have the correct motivation, they can be good and helpful but what if that is not enough? Do you have the character to be what you need to be? Character is what is going to help you do achieve the goals. You need to learn to be instead of do.

What if instead of doing your focus is on being?

God’s work or actions flow from this character. Pause and think about that with me.

It comes from who he is. God is creative and so he creates. He is powerful and all that is required for creation is that he speaks. God is perfect and holy and we see that in what he created. His creation was perfect but as a result of the Fall we see the brokenness around us. God is love and from that flows his love for his people and the world. That is just a bit of how we see God’s actions flow from his character.

God’s actions come from his character.

What if in the coming year instead of focusing on your list of things you want to do you focus on being? What if you focus on building and developing the character within? How will that change your life?

Think about it. Your actions flow from your character.

As you begin to think about all that you are doing in the coming year, take the time to think about your character. Do you have the character within needed for achieving your goals?

You can have checklists, routines, schedules, planners, and lists but if you do not have the character within you will struggle. Learn how to be instead of doing.

As we think about how you learn to be instead of doing, some of the areas that we will consider this year include:

• Be Purposeful/Intentional
• Be a Listener
• Be Reflective
• Be a Student
• Be Content
• Be Humble
• Be a person of Integrity
• Be Present

This is just the beginning of the list. Do you have a be that you think should be added to this list?  Tell me a be to consider in the comments.

Using this as a guide for a period of 4-6 weeks I will look at each of these with examples, practical help, Bible verses, with the goal of building the character to be that will help us do.

In many ways, this is harder than just doing. Developing character is hard work so be prepared for that but the rewards are so great. The rewards will go beyond your goals for the year.

This will require that each of us look within and evaluate both your strengths and your weakness. It means that you must deal with the hard things in your life.

Come journey with me this coming year as we together learn to be. Let’s develop the character that will help us to do what God has called us to do.

If you would like to join this journey, sign up to receive the newsletters (sign up is on the sidebar). Also, join the As He Leads is Joy Facebook Page for discussion and encouragement.

Let’s together Learn to Be Instead of Do.

Here are some other posts to help you begin to think about this topic.

Overcoming Hindrances in Reaching Your Goals

Ready to Set Goals You need to do this First

7 Heart Issues that Hinder Growth