Well, I did it. Yesterday, January 1st, I bundled up, got on my bike, and braved the 18-degree wind chill to ride my first mile of the year. (That’s me in the picture.) It’s a tradition that I started for myself several years ago, because there’s something about biking even a short distance on New Year’s Day that gets me excited about the riding adventures that lie ahead in the coming twelve months.
By the way, my goal for 2025 is (wait for it) … 2,025 miles. I know, that’s not very creative, and so far, I’ve only achieved .00049 of my goal. But, hey, it’s a start!
So, do you have a goal for this year? Maybe it’s not a riding goal. Maybe it’s a weight loss goal or a home improvement goal or spiritual improvement goal like having a daily devotional time. Whatever it is, it can sometimes be hard to get started and even harder to keep it going. So, here are a couple of tips to help you keep it rollin’ this year.
1) DEDICATE YOUR GOAL, YOUR EFFORTS, AND YOURSELF TO GOD. In Colossians 3:23 we’re told, “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” Remembering this can help you stay focused upward, rather than inward. Which leads to my next tip.
2) REMEMBER: YOU’RE NOT ALONE. If there’s one theme woven throughout the entire Bible, it’s this: “I am with you.” God says it repeatedly in the Old Testament, and it’s the last thing Jesus says to his followers before he ascends to heaven. (Matthew 28:20) So, be sure to look to him for your strength. And remember that God has given us other people to support and encourage us as well. Even Jesus surrounded himself with a support group, so don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help. Like Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”
3) WHEN YOU FALL, GET BACK UP. I don’t know many people who, having set a challenging goal for themselves, haven’t stumbled at some point along the way. But our God is a God of second chances (and third and…), so give yourself the same grace, get back up, and keep going.
Let’s pray.
Loving God, you are the one who calls us to give our best for the sake of your glory. So, help us to set godly goals and to strive for them with courage and strength, that we may be blessed and be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
May God bless you and make you a blessing as you roll on into 2025!
Dave Marty is a retired pastor who lives with his wife, Mary, in Brownsburg, Indiana. They have two beautiful daughters, two great sons-in-law, and two creative teenage grandchildren. In addition to cycling (including unicycling), Dave also enjoys gardening, Scrabble, hosting Holy Land tours with Mary, and tutoring kindergarteners at a nearby school