Encouragement & Tips for 2013

I know this is running late, but Happy New Year! 2013 is finally here!
 
I'm guessing you probably have a list of "resolutions", or as I simply like to call them, "resolves" for this year. Whether it's losing weight, spending more time with your family, whatever, it's easy to get discouraged very quickly. Here's 3 simple tips for achieving your resolution goals this year:

1. Pray. Align your goals with His goals and plans. (Matt. 6:33, Prov. 16:9)
2. Break down your Resolutions: Choose your 3 main goals from your list, and devote yourself to accomplishing them/perfecting them in 30 days. Breaking down your resolutions in this way help you pace yourself and focus better on your short-term goals, in order to complete your long-term goals.
3. Forgive yourself :) We all mess up and get off-track in our commitments sometimes. Find someone, a friend, mentor, family member, or church elder, who can help keep you accountable. God will give you all the strength you need to do what He has enabled you to accomplish!

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:3-5)

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13-14)

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2)

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

^"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:24-27)