When a person sets goals and decides what's really important to him or her, that person's life develops purpose. "Mission" might be a better word. Mission has a lasting quality to it. It stabilizes our lives for a lifetime and looks to a permanent home beyond this earth.

When I ask troubled couples about their goals and purposes, I usually get one of three responses:

  • "To raise our children successfully"

  • "To provide for our family's financial security"

  • "We don't have any goals."

Now, it's good that couples want to provide physical and financial security for their families, but these goals are incomplete. If your goals are primarily built around just the physical and financial, I'm afraid you've missed the real part, the real purpose for your family, your real mission statement.

It's not too late!
It's not too late to bring this mission focus to bear on this bright and shiny New Year. Think about your mission — what you really want your life to be about — and make plans to start this year living for something of lasting value!

For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me (Colossians 1:29 NRS).