Retirement Rocks: A 14-Day Reading Plan for All That Free TimeSample

"I remember when I weighed forty pounds less than I do right now." Fred sighed as he stared down at the bathroom scale. “How did it come to this?”

He knew the answer, of course. Those late-night bowls of ice cream. Popcorn loaded with butter and salt. That cheeseburger he’d just eaten for dinner. The French fries with sugary ketchup. The weight hadn’t come on all at once, of course, but over the years he’d certainly added to his college weight.

“You can do it, Fred.” His wife, Gloria, patted him on the back. “Just set a few goals for yourself and stick with a plan until you get there.”

“Oh, it’s as easy as all that, is it?” He stepped off the scale and shrugged. “Don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself!”

Maybe you can understand Fred’s woes. You’re hoping to drop a few pounds now that you’ve got extra time on your hands. But the idea of setting goals is hard. It sounds like too much work. And sticking with it? That's even harder!

Whether you’re hoping to lose weight, get your finances in order, or lay out a plan for a home renovation, setting goals is the answer. And it’s a biblical answer! God has always been in the endgame business, after all. Consider today’s verses from Philippians. We’re not supposed to look backward. He wants us to press forward.

Pressing isn’t always easy, especially when you’re trying to change your health, your finances, or your relationships, but it’s always worth it. So, set those goals. Then do as Gloria suggested: Make a plan and stick with it. Yep, it’s really that simple!

Lord, thank You for the reminder that I need to set some goals. Show me the areas of my life that need the most work, then give me gentle nudges in the right direction so that changes can come! Amen.